What is "Islamic Agrarian Reform"?

 Islamic Agrarian Reform can be understood as agrarian reform based on Islamic values ​​that goes beyond the concept of classical agrarian reform. It goes beyond land redistribution, but also incorporates spiritual and ethical dimensions and unique instruments such as land zakat (alms). Academic studies indicate that this topic is beginning to receive attention, although it remains limited. Essentially, this concept aims to establish a system of land ownership and utilization that is just, productive, and oriented toward the welfare of the people.

From an Islamic perspective, land and all natural resources essentially belong to Allah SWT, while humans are only entrusted with the responsibility to manage them. Therefore, land distribution and utilization should not be carried out freely and without limits, but must comply with the provisions of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Islam shifts the agrarian system from an exploitative and feudalistic one to one that is more just, communal-religious, and oriented toward the common good. Thus, humans act not only as economic beings but also as responsible religious beings.

The Islamic agrarian concept shares many similarities with customary law in Indonesia, which both view land as a unique resource and not entirely tradable as a commodity. Various studies have shown that principles such as the absence of absolute ownership, inclusiveness, and the appreciation of human labor over land are shared values ​​between customary law and Islam. This contrasts sharply with Western agrarian concepts, which tend toward individualism and capitalism. Therefore, it can be said that there is "Eastern wisdom" in more equitable agrarian management.

In practice, agrarian reform in Muslim countries is not necessarily fully aligned with Islamic principles. Experience in various regions shows that agrarian reform needs to be accompanied by changes in other socio-economic aspects, such as work patterns, consumption, and farmers' household life. In other words, managing land access must be accompanied by a comprehensive overhaul of farmers' livelihoods to optimally impact their well-being.

One highly potential instrument in Islamic Agrarian Reform is land waqf. Waqf is considered a permanent solution to various structural agrarian problems, such as inequality in land ownership, fragmentation, and land conversion. Based on the principles of permanence and utility, waqf land cannot be traded, thus deviating from the logic of the commercial market. Various models of agrarian waqf have begun to be implemented in several regions in Indonesia and have proven effective in expanding land access while strengthening social solidarity. Thus, waqf can be key to perfecting agrarian reform toward a more just, sustainable, and prosperous system.

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