Baznas RI Sends 18 Preachers to Support Mualaf in Maluku

The National Zakat Agency (Baznas) RI, in collaboration with the Dzikir Al Fath Sukabumi Modern Islamic Boarding School, has strengthened its dakwah synergy by dispatching 18 preachers under the Ustad Garis Depan (UGD) VIII programme. The preachers will serve on Buru Island, Maluku, to enhance the guidance and support for new converts (mualaf) in the area.

Baznas RI Vice Chairman Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi stated that the programme reflects Baznas’s commitment to supporting the strengthening of faith and community development for mualaf, particularly in frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) regions.

“Baznas acts as a bridge connecting muzaki with mustahik. One of the groups we focus on is mualaf and fisabilillah. Therefore, this dakwah partnership programme is an important part of delivering zakat benefits to communities in need of religious guidance,” he said, as quoted from an official statement on Sunday (21/6).

According to Zainut, the collaboration between Baznas RI and Al Fath Islamic Boarding School represents a complementary synergy in expanding the reach of Islamic dakwah. He likened the cooperation to a “gayung bersambut” (a mutually responsive effort), where the pesantren provides dakwah resources while Baznas supports through empowerment and funding programmes.

He stressed that preachers in the field must prioritise the bil hikmah method of dakwah, an approach carried out with wisdom, good counsel, and polite dialogue.

“Dakwah is not done by judging or blaming. The duty of a dai is to embrace, guide, and accompany the community with wisdom so that they increasingly understand and love the teachings of Islam,” he said.

Zainut also emphasised the importance of understanding the conditions of the target communities. He noted that approaches to ordinary people or mualaf must be gradual and full of empathy.

“If we encounter communities that are not yet familiar with Islamic teachings, then a humanist approach and building closeness must be prioritised. The dai is present to guide, not to judge,” he added.

Through this programme, Baznas RI and Al Fath Islamic Boarding School hope to improve the quality of mualaf development on Buru Island through various educational activities, training, and sustainable mentoring. Besides strengthening the faith of the mualaf, the programme is also expected to reinforce Islamic brotherhood (ukhuwah Islamiyah) and serve as a model of dakwah collaboration for various institutions across Indonesia.