Insecurity remains a major development and humanitarian challenge in Northwestern Nigeria, and Zamfara State severely affected by many types of insecurity such as; banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and communal displacement. Despite government efforts, insecurity continues to erode human dignity, livelihoods, and social cohesion, highlighting the limitations of coercive, state-centric responses. This study examines the potential of waqf, guided by Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah principles, as a sustainable, faith-based mechanism for addressing insecurity in Zamfara State. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study draws on in-depth interviews with religious leaders, waqf administrators, community leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to explore the drivers of insecurity, stakeholders’ perceptions of waqf, and Maqāṣid-aligned waqf strategies for insecurity mitigation. The findings reveal that insecurity in Zamfara State is driven by socio-economic deprivation, governance failures, and weakened communal solidarity, undermining the Maqāṣid objectives of protecting life, property, and human dignity. Participants widely perceive waqf as a viable institutional mechanism for strengthening community resilience through poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, social welfare provision, and support for victims of violence. The study concludes that integrating waqf into broader human security and peacebuilding frameworks can complement state interventions and contribute to sustainable solutions to insecurity, and it recommends policy support and capacity building for effective Maqāṣid-aligned waqf governance.
Keywords: Waqf; Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah; Insecurity; Peace building
Article-7-Abubakar-et-al