The Influence of Islamic Values in the Enhancement of Households' Wellbeing: A Study of Poverty Alleviation in the Malaysian state of Kelantan

Poverty is a multi-faceted phenomenon. Many have studied the concept in diverse prisms and employed a variety of theories to understand it. Previous Islamic studies found Islam a viable system of philosophy that can respond to poverty through its socioeconomic, cultural and political mechanisms and principles. These attempts remain marginal as the key interest of these studies relied on the role of Islamic policies and institutions that could eliminate poverty. The role of Islamic values and principles are well documented theoretically but not empirically. This paper will attempt to shed some light on underlying gap between Islamic values and principles that substantially could enhance people’s wellbeing and alleviate their vulnerability to poverty. Using a structured socio-economic questionnaire instrument, 100 households randomly selected from state of Pulau Pinang in Malaysia. The results indicated that poverty can be fought with commitment, faith and guided principles based on fait