Choosing to Pay Zakat at the Start of Ramadan

With Ramadan just a few days away, I’m usually busy preparing a lot. From forgiving and being forgiven by loved ones, to drawing up timelines for activities and work, planning sahur and iftar menus that never quite go to plan, arranging buka puasa gatherings, to the classic question: ‘what day should zakat be paid?’ In the past, the answer was almost always, ‘Later, there’s still a long Ramadan ahead.’ In truth, Ramadan is short. Very short. Before you know it, you’re in the last ten nights, before you know it you’re busy looking for Lebaran clothes, not to mention making parcels for close friends. Before you know it, zakat becomes a task that’s shuffled around. Not because it’s heavy or because I don’t want to; rather, it’s simple and delayed by other things. Since then, I decided on one small but impactful change: paying zakat at the start of Ramadan. Before all that busyness piles up. It’s not a big decision. It’s not a change that makes life suddenly drastic. But for some reason, it feels different. So there aren’t many excuses. Because I know myself. If something can be postponed, it’s likely to be postponed. Whether due to being busy, tired, playing with my child, or simply wanting to lie down. By paying zakat at the start of Ramadan, I feel I have ‘secured’ one obligation from the outset. There’s no longer a little nagging thought in my head saying, ‘don’t forget zakat.’ My mind feels clearer, in a good way. Strangely, afterwards, worship feels lighter. Not more diligent, but calmer. Moreover, at the start of Ramadan, people often have greater needs. Especially for zakat recipients themselves. Perhaps while I’m busy organising my fasting schedule and buka puasa, there are people out there entering Ramadan with anxious thoughts. While those around them are pleased with a variety of buka puasa menus, some can only break their fast by hunting for iftar treats at mosques. As prices of essentials rise, expenses increase, but income remains the same. Fasting continues, but anxiety accompanies the fast as well. At that point I felt paying zakat at the start of Ramadan is wiser. Not waiting for a final, festive moment, but being present from the outset when people truly need help to endure. Perhaps towards the end people become swept up in the euphoria of giving. But early on, this does not happen. Everyone is busy with themselves. Returning to the opening paragraph: if zakat could be transformed into staple grains, school fees, or small seed capital for a month’s living, why hold it back? I also learned another thing. Zakat isn’t simply about ‘disposing’ of others’ rights that reside in us, but about how it is conveyed wisely and accurately targeted. That’s why I choose to channel it through Dompet Dhuafa. Yes, I work at this organisation too. (And as for zakat al-Fitr and donations for Palestine, I always and will always go to Dompet Dhuafa.) So that my zakat doesn’t stop with one hand, but can move. It can become a programme for education, health services, economic empowerment, or humanitarian aid. I’m at ease because I’m helping to oversee the flow of funds. And then a blessing follows. May the recipients be happy and find it beneficial. There’s another reason. I don’t know if this is suggestion or not. But after paying zakat at the start of Ramadan, there’s a sense of relief that’s hard to describe. It’s like tidying a room before sleep. It doesn’t make you rich, but it makes you feel comfortable. So fasting isn’t just about restraint (hunger), but also about learning to let go. Letting go of some wealth, some ego, and the habit of delaying goodness. It’s not mandatory. But for me, it’s a small choice I want to keep repeating. (H-2) A complete guide to zakat al-Fitr: Conditions, timing, and how to pay correctly according to Islamic law. Pay your zakat al-Fitr easily and understand its rulings! Rizaludin Kurniawan, head of the Collection Department at Baznas, praised the Ministry of Forestry’s efforts to promote zakat payments within government agencies. DT Peduli again hosts the Ramadan Peduli Negeri (RPN) programme for 2026 with the theme Strengthen Compassion for Your Brothers and Sisters in Remote Areas and Across the Nation. As a National Zakat Organisation, Laznas Yakesma continues to uphold transparency and accountability in managing zakat, alms, and charity. Ramadan always arrives with the same mission: a pause from the bustle of life, an opportunity to recalibrate within, and a call to purify relations between humans, God and each other. The Dinas Sosial of South Jakarta stated that the perceived large economic opportunities in the capital are among the triggers for the arrival of those in need of social welfare services. Tjandra Yoga Aditama (PDPI) reveals why Ramadan is the best time to quit smoking. Read seven medical tips for breaking the addiction.