Zakat Potential and Household Welfare in Türkiye: A Development-Oriented HRMZ Model

This study critically examines the potential role of zakat within the framework of development economics in Türkiye by introducing a novel Household Welfare and Property Based Zakat Estimation Model (HRMZ). Unlike existing literature that primarily relies on macroeconomic indicators and overlooks key factors such as income persistence, accumulated wealth over one year (hawl al-hawlan), and regional welfare disparities, the HRMZ model integrates multidimensional variables including Welfare Score Welfare Model, Property Index, Income Continuity Coefficient, Zakat Continuity Filter, Regional Weight Coefficient, and Zakat Liability Threshold. Empirical analysis based on data from 2010 to 2024 indicates that zakat could finance a significant portion of social expenditures, reaching an estimated 4.5 billion Turkish lira in 2024, which corresponds to approximately 15–20% of the central government’s social budget. The model’s sensitivity to regional inequalities highlights the importance of incorporating zakat into development policies focused on underprivileged areas such as Southeastern Anatolia. This research positions zakat not merely as a religious duty but as a practical and sustainable mechanism for wealth redistribution, poverty alleviation, and social justice enhancement within the economic development agenda.