Evaluation of Sustainable MSME Empowerment Through the BRILiaN Cart Program: A Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah Approach

Abstract

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a strategic role in Indonesia’s economic development through employment creation and poverty alleviation; however, their sustainability is frequently constrained by limited access to capital and inadequate digital capabilities. In this context, productive zakat has emerged as an alternative Islamic financial inclusion mechanism aimed at fostering inclusive and value-oriented economic empowerment. This study evaluates the sustainability of MSME empowerment through the BRILiaN Cart program implemented by YBM BRILiaN SBO Malang, which is funded through zakat distribution. While existing studies have widely discussed MSME empowerment and zakat-based economic programs, empirical evaluations that employ a comprehensive maqāṣid sharī‘a framework in real operational settings remain scarce. This study offers novelty by systematically assessing a zakat-funded MSME empowerment program using all five dimensions of maqāṣid sharī‘a based on field-based empirical evidence. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation involving ten program beneficiaries in 2024. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns of empowerment outcomes. The findings indicate that the BRILiaN Cart program contributes positively to beneficiaries’ economic resilience, spiritual awareness, and social welfare, although the degree of impact varies due to differences in innovation capacity and digital literacy among mustaḥik. From a maqāṣid sharī‘a perspective, the program reflects an integrated realization of hifz al-din, hifz al-nafs, hifz al-‘aql, hifz al-nasl, and hifz al-māl, despite the absence of structured business mentoring. Beyond the local context, this study provides broader implications by demonstrating how maqāṣid-based zakat empowerment can serve as a normative and operational framework for sustainable and inclusive microenterprise development in diverse socio-economic settings