URBAN MUSLIM PHILANTHROPY: SEEKING THE ROOTS OF GENEROSITY IN SOUTH TANGERANG CITY

Abstract

This study aims to deeply analyze the construction of the philanthropic culture of the urban Muslim middle class by integrating the Living Qur'an Hadith approach and Social Identity Theory. This qualitative research employs a case study method in South Tangerang City, utilizing in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document studies for data collection. The results reveal that urban modernity does not erode religiosity but rather spawns commodified piety, where religious texts are reinterpreted into institutionalized empowerment philanthropy. Sociologically, the roots of generosity in South Tangerang reflect a strong "cosmopolitan-professional" identity driven by white-collar workers within elite residential ecosystems. Philanthropic practices in this region demand corporate-level transparency and are increasingly shifting toward non-financial volunteerism driven by hobbies and digitalization. It is concluded that Islamic philanthropy in this peri-urban area is not merely a ritual obligation, but a strategic instrument for the middle class to negotiate their social identity, accumulate social capital, and maintain communal cohesion amidst metropolitan alienation