The Ministry of Religious Affairs has stated that Zakat cannot be\nused outside the provisions of the eight categories of recipients as\nstipulated in the Quran. Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar,\nmade this statement in response to circulating content alleging that the\nMinistry is maximizing Zakat and Waqf funds for the Free Nutritious Meal\nProgramme (MBG).<\/p>\n
\u201cZakat must not be used outside of its designated categories. It is\nimportant that Zakat is not given to those who do not fall within these\ncategories. This is a matter of religious law,\u201d said Nasaruddin at the\nMinistry of Religious Affairs headquarters in Jakarta, as quoted from an\nofficial statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Thursday,\nFebruary 26, 2026.<\/p>\n
Nasaruddin stated that Zakat has strict religious rules and cannot be\nused outside the established recipient groups. He referred to the verse\nin Surat At-Taubah, verse 60, which explains the eight categories of\nZakat recipients.<\/p>\n
The verse mentions that Zakat is intended for the poor (those who do\nnot have assets or jobs to meet basic needs); the needy (those who have\njobs but their income is not enough to meet daily needs); amil\n(officials who are appointed to manage Zakat); muallaf (new converts to\nIslam); riqab (slaves); gharimin (those in debt); fii sabilillah (those\nwho strive in the way of Allah); and ibnu sabil (travelers).<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that is very important. Give Zakat as it is stated in the\ncategories. I think that is very important. Do not give Zakat to those\nwho are not entitled,\u201d said Nasaruddin.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) has affirmed that\nZakat, Sadaqah, and Infak (ZIS) funds collected from donors and the\npublic are not used to finance the MBG project.<\/p>\n
The Head of Baznas\u2019s Fundraising Division, Rizaludin Kurniawan, said\nthat the use of ZIS has clear rules and cannot be diverted outside the\npurposes established in Islamic law.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe emphasize that Zakat, Sadaqah, and Infak entrusted by the public\nto Baznas are not used, not even one percent, for the Free Nutritious\nMeal Programme. All of it is distributed for the benefit of the\ncommunity in accordance with the provisions of the eight categories,\u201d\nsaid Rizaludin in a written statement in Jakarta, Monday, February 23,\n2026.<\/p>\n
Rizaludin explained that, both institutionally and in terms of\nfunding sources, the MBG programme and the management of Zakat are in\ndifferent systems. The MBG programme is a government programme funded\nthrough the state budget, while ZIS funds come from public donations,\nthe use of which is strictly regulated in Islamic law.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, the use of Zakat funds cannot be diverted for programmes\nthat do not fall into the categories of recipients, including the MBG\nprogramme,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministry-of-religious-affairs-assures-zakat-funds-will-not-be-used-for-free-nutritious-meal-programme-1772093002", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }