DSN-MUI Chief Urges Companies to Pay Zakat Through Baznas

The chairman of the National Sharia Board of the Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN-MUI), Cholil Nafis, has invited all companies, especially sharia-based ones, to pay their corporate zakat through the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) as the official state institution that manages zakat professionally, transparently, and accountably. He made the statement during the Baznas and DSN-MUI National Gathering and Awards 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/7). “I invite all Muslims, Muslim entrepreneurs, to pay zakat to the National Zakat Agency. Pay your employees’ zakat, pay your company’s zakat, and this can make the best use of government incentives, where it can reduce taxable income,” Cholil said. Cholil assessed that the zakat management system through Baznas is now increasingly transparent and accountable. All distributed zakat funds can be traced, ensuring the public and companies that the funds are used for the benefit of the community and the nation. Furthermore, Cholil requested that all sharia institutions and companies make zakat compliance a part of their sharia compliance indicators. He stressed that sharia compliance is not only measured by the correctness of contracts but also by the company’s commitment to fulfilling its zakat obligations. “We ask that sharia compliance reports not only be based on correct contracts but also on diligent and compliant zakat payments. This must become part of sharia compliance,” he asserted. Cholil hopes that synergy between DSN-MUI, Baznas, the government, and business actors can further strengthen the national sharia economic ecosystem. By optimising corporate zakat, he believes the benefits of zakat will be more widely felt by the community, reinforcing its role as an instrument for welfare distribution and national development. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Baznas RI, Sodik Mudjahid, expressed appreciation to all business actors and companies that have shown commitment to developing the sharia economy through the payment of zakat, infaq, and alms. He noted that Baznas has received positive testimonials from companies, stating that their taxes were reduced by the amount of zakat paid and that the distribution of zakat through Baznas is credible because it truly reaches the mustahik (beneficiaries).