Determinants of intention to Waqf participation in Malaysia: Empirical insights from entrepreneurs’ perspectives

Waqf is an Islamic financial instrument that helps in various economic matters around the world. The growth of waqf in Malaysia has become ever more significant, primarily due to the increasing recognition of its importance to Malaysia’s economy. Besides, the importance of waqf has also been demonstrated by the utter value and breadth for entrepreneurs of the support structures and policies. This study aims to investigate the determinants that contribute to the intention to participate in waqf among entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Questionnaires were distributed online to 40 entrepreneurs by using purposive sampling. There were two sections of the questionnaire: firstly, demographic information and the second relating to the determinants of intentions to participate in waqf. This study used Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 for data analysis. The result indicates that attitudes have a significant relationship with the intention to participate in waqf among entrepreneurs. The responses obtained reveal that the respondents believed that waqf is beneficial for the development of the ummah. Hence, the SMEs should devise promotional strategies for waqf to increase public awareness and, consequently, participation in waqf, particularly among entrepreneurs. This study sheds light on the knowledge and attitude towards waqf especially among entrepreneurs, while offering practical implications for the government and practitioners.