Towards developing an Islamic affairs management index in Malaysia: A framework based on the analytic hierarchy process

Background and Purpose: In Malaysia, Islamic affairs significantly influence various aspects of governance, social policy, and community life. Despite their importance, there is currently a lack of an index to evaluate the efforts and policies implemented in this domain. As a result, policymakers face challenges in monitoring and guiding the progress of these initiatives. Therefore, this study aims to develop a framework for the Islamic Affairs Management Index (IAMI) to assess the performance of Islamic affairs management in Malaysia. Methodology: The study employed the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine and prioritise indicators and sub-indicators of Islamic affairs. The index framework was constructed based on input from twelve (12) experts, including policymakers, policy executors, academicians, and representatives from non-governmental organisations. Findings: The study found that Islamic Religious Education (LW = 0.160) is the top priority in evaluating Islamic affairs management, followed by Islamic Family Management (LW = 0.152) and Performance of Islamic Affairs Management (LW = 0.128). At the sub-indicator level, the ‘Quality of Religious Schools’ (GW = 0.068) was identified as the most critical, followed by ‘Performance of Religious School Students’ (GW = 0.055) and ‘Children Management’ (GW = 0.052). These results highlight the key role of educational quality and family management in evaluating Islamic affairs. Contributions: This study provides a practical tool for Islamic institutions to evaluate and enhance the management of Islamic affairs, supporting informed policy decisions and strategic improvements. Keywords: Islamic affairs management, index framework, performance assessment, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Malaysia. Cite as: Zulkefli, M. I. I., Endut, M. N. A., Abdullah, M. R. T. L., Che Jamaludin, F. I., & Zulkipli, S. (2026). Towards developing an Islamic affairs management index in Malaysia: A framework based on the analytic hierarchy process. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(1), 214-231. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss1pp214-231