The third sector in Islamic economics: A case study on Tabung Haji and model proposals on Turkey hajj fund

The aim of this study is to propose a model for a pilgrimage fund specific to Turkey. In this context, we first discussed the third sector ecosystem in Islamic economics in a theoretical framework and then conducted two separate case studies. The first one was conducted in Malaysia as part of the TUBITAK- 2214 overseas research program on Tabung Haji (TH), the world's first and oldest Hajj fund. In this research, we conducted semi-structured interviews with eighteen (18) people, including TH employees/managers and clients, using a case study design from qualitative research methods. In this context, our study is the first case study in the literature on TH based on in-depth interviews. The second case study was based on interviews with relevant actors in Turkey to explore how to adapt the TH model to Turkey. In this research, we conducted unstructured interviews with twenty-one (21) individuals/institutions in Turkey that correspond to the functions of TH in collecting savings, managing funds, and organizing pilgrimages. In light of the findings from these two studies, we have presented two models of the Hajj Fund in Turkey, a short-term model that does not require structural changes and a long-term model that does require structural changes, as well as policy recommendations to facilitate the realization of these models. The models include the scope, functioning, institutional structure, legal framework, incentives to be offered to stakeholders, and a sample calculation of the size of the fund. In this context, this thesis, which has been written based on field research, has three main significance: -It addresses the third sector ecosystem in Islamic economics in a comprehensive theoretical framework, which is the first such study. -This is the first time a field study has been conducted on the applicability of Tabung Haji, a modern UCC that is still in existence, to Turkey, -Proposing an institution that does not exist in the Turkish ecosystem and will make an economic contribution to the Turkish economy, which has a savings deficit, with the Turkey Pilgrimage Fund.