Charitable Endowments and Islamic Social Welfare in Taraba State Muslim Communities

Charitable giving in Islamic law encompasses both the obligatory Zakat and the voluntary Sadaqah, as well as the Waqf endowment mechanism through which permanent assets are dedicated to public welfare. In Taraba State, where Muslim communities exist in a religiously pluralistic North East environment, the operation of Islamic charitable and welfare mechanisms reflects both doctrinal obligations and community self-help traditions. This study examines the role of charitable endowments and Islamic social welfare mechanisms in Muslim communities in Taraba State. A descriptive survey is applied to community leaders, mosque administrators, and Islamic social welfare organisations across six communities in Jalingo and Ardo-Kola local government areas, with structured questionnaires administered to 120 participants. The study examines the volume and distribution mechanisms of Zakat and Sadaqah, the management of mosque-based social welfare services, and the role of Waqf in sustaining educational and welfare institutions. Available literature from North East Nigerian Muslim communities identifies the absence of formalised Waqf administration and ad hoc Sadaqah distribution as sources of welfare fragmentation. The classical Fiqh framework of Amwal al-Sadaqat (charitable assets) and the jurisprudential distinctions between obligatory and voluntary charity provide the analytical basis. Findings are expected to reveal vibrant informal welfare mechanisms alongside institutional governance gaps. Recommendations address formal Waqf registration, coordinated Zakat distribution, and partnerships with state welfare agencies in Taraba State. Keywords: charitable endowment, Waqf, Sadaqah, Taraba State, Islamic social welfare.