Transformation of Economic Paradigms: A Reconstruction of Monzer Kahf's Thinking on Islamic Man and the Distribution of Wealth

Abstract

This research aims to examine and reconstruct Monzer Kahf's thoughts on the concept  of Islamic man and wealth distribution as an effort to transform the economic paradigm to overcome economic inequality. This research is a qualitative research with a literature study approach that uses documentation techniques in data collection, with primary data sources in the form of original works of Monzer Kahf and secondary data sources in the form of related researches. Data analysis was carried out using content analysis and concept analysis. The results of the study show that the concept  of Islamic man is the anthropological foundation of Islamic economics which was built as a critique of the assumption  of homo economicus in conventional economics, with three main pillars, namely the absolute possession of Allah with man as the caliph, monotheism as the basis of obedience to the law of Allah, and orientation to the virtues of the hereafter (falah). Kahf's view on wealth distribution includes three key instruments that are systemically integrated, namely Zakat as a mandatory redistribution instrument that must be managed professionally and productively, Waqf as an instrument of sustainable distribution across generations through the development of money Waqf, as well as the role of the state in maximizing natural resources, minimizing distribution gaps, and making regulations for economic actors. The reconstruction of Kahf's thinking offers a holistic model of economic paradigm transformation through the reorientation of basic assumptions about human behavior, the strengthening of professional Zakat and Waqf institutions, as well as the synergy of the roles of individuals, society, and the state. This thought has strong relevance to the Indonesian context, where the Gini ratio is still at 0.368 with a poor population of 22.93 million people, while the potential for Zakat and Waqf reaches hundreds of trillions of rupiah, but the realization is still very low. This study recommends strengthening the institutions of Zakat and Waqf, developing regulations that support productive management, and increasing public literacy as an effort to overcome economic inequality in Indonesia.