Baznas partners with Al Jam'iyatul Washliyah to expand zakat benefits for the community

The National Zakat Agency (Baznas) RI together with Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah are strengthening collaboration on a number of Baznas flagship programmes, in order to expand benefits, improve community welfare, and support the acceleration of poverty alleviation in Indonesia. Baznas RI Chairman Sodik Mudjahid stressed the importance of building professional collaboration with various pillars of the community, including Islamic mass organisations and strategic religious groups. Sodik assessed that such synergy is necessary so that the distribution of zakat funds can have an increasingly broad impact on society. “Regarding the structure of zakat fund distribution at Baznas, it refers directly to the eight asnaf (categories of zakat recipients),” he said. Sodik explained that Baznas does not only act as a charity distribution institution, but is also part of a strategic movement in building an Islamic economy that grows fairly and sustainably. “The development of schools, hospitals, and pesantren will continue, but the strengthening of community economic institutions within mass organisations must also be enhanced,” said Sodik. To realise this, he continued, Baznas opens up collaboration opportunities through various flagship programmes that are already running. According to Sodik, Baznas’ flagship programmes share common goals with the empowerment movement that Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah has been carrying out. Meanwhile, Baznas RI Leader for Distribution, Utilisation and Empowerment Idy Muzayyad said a number of programmes that can be synergised include the Baznas Social Security Programme, Baznas Clean Water, Baznas Cendekia Scholarships, and the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) empowerment programme. “We view these programmes as highly relevant to be run together with Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah as one of the Islamic mass organisations with a long history and extensive network in Indonesia,” said Idy Muzayyad. Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah Chairman Deding Ishak expressed appreciation for Baznas’ work in managing community funds and stated Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah’s readiness to support and synergise in realising community welfare. He added that the programmes run by Baznas are not only in line with Islamic teachings, but also support the national development agenda. “What Baznas is doing is very much in harmony with religious teachings, as well as aligned with our President’s vision. We feel proud, insyaallah we fully support and are ready to synergise,” said Deding Ishak.