P042 REGULATORY AFFIRMATION OF SHARIA-BASED BUSINESS CAPACITY TO STRENGTHEN THE SELF-RELIANCE OF ISLAMIC WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS

A Comparative Study of the Roles of Islamic Women's Organizations in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Islamic women's organizations face complex social challenges, particularly in addressing the unmet basic needs of women. Economic self-reliance constitutes one of the fundamental pillars for strengthening the role of these organizations as agents of social transformation, education, and Islamic outreach (da'wah). However, many organizations continue to encounter significant obstacles, including limited entrepreneurial capacity, weak business governance, and the absence of comprehensive internal and legal regulatory frameworks that systematically support sustainable business capacity development. Empowering women requires not only knowledge and determination but also strategic approaches, including the financial independence of organizations to enhance institutional empowerment. This study aims to analyze the strategies adopted by Islamic women's organizations in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam to strengthen their financial independence. Reliance solely on government funding and donor assistance is insufficient; therefore, regulatory frameworks are needed to encourage Islamic women's organizations to develop business capacities grounded in Sharia principles to achieve sustainable economic self-reliance. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach through a literature review, enriched by conceptual analysis of organizational regulations, government policy support, Sharia values, and women's empowerment practices from an Islamic perspective. The findings reveal that neither East Kalimantan nor Brunei Darussalam has established comprehensive regulations or a strategic roadmap for developing the business capacity of Islamic women's organizations. Regulatory affirmation should therefore focus on formulating organizational policies and legal frameworks that integrate Sharia-based entrepreneurship education, business competency development, professional business governance, Islamic financial literacy, digital innovation, and strategic partnership networks. These initiatives should be grounded in core Islamic values, including trustworthiness (amanah), honesty (ṣidq), justice (ʿadl), professionalism (itqān), mutual cooperation (ta'āwun), and public benefit (maṣlaḥah). Government intervention is essential in facilitating social engineering through regulations that promote organizational capacity building. The implementation of such regulations can serve as a strategic instrument to enhance human resource capacity, strengthen the sustainability of organizational business units, and expand the contribution of Islamic women's organizations to socio-economic development. This study concludes that Sharia-based regulatory frameworks function not only as administrative instruments but also as ethical foundations for developing independent, professional, and adaptive organizations capable of responding to socio-economic changes while promoting collective welfare in accordance with the Islamic principle of rahmatan lil 'alamin (mercy to all creation). The proposed regulatory model is expected to serve as a reference for Islamic women's organizations in strengthening their socio-economic resilience and institutional sustainability.