THE ROLE OF ZAKAT POTENTIAL IN REDUCING POVERTY IN TURKEY

Abstract

Poverty has been the leading social and economic problem of societies both in the past and today for the decades. This study examines the status of poverty in the Turkish economy and the role of zakat in poverty reduction. The zakat potential is analyzed in three methods and it is concluded that poverty in Turkey could be completely resolved via a potential zakat fund. It is suggested that to reduce poverty in Turkey, zakat should be enforced by favor of the state and it should be based on institutional foundations.