Ministry of Religious Affairs Assures Zakat Funds Will Not Be Used for Free Nutritious Meal Programme

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has stated that Zakat cannot be used outside the provisions of the eight categories of recipients as stipulated in the Quran. Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, made this statement in response to circulating content alleging that the Ministry is maximizing Zakat and Waqf funds for the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG).

“Zakat must not be used outside of its designated categories. It is important that Zakat is not given to those who do not fall within these categories. This is a matter of religious law,” said Nasaruddin at the Ministry of Religious Affairs headquarters in Jakarta, as quoted from an official statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Nasaruddin stated that Zakat has strict religious rules and cannot be used outside the established recipient groups. He referred to the verse in Surat At-Taubah, verse 60, which explains the eight categories of Zakat recipients.

The verse mentions that Zakat is intended for the poor (those who do not have assets or jobs to meet basic needs); the needy (those who have jobs but their income is not enough to meet daily needs); amil (officials who are appointed to manage Zakat); muallaf (new converts to Islam); riqab (slaves); gharimin (those in debt); fii sabilillah (those who strive in the way of Allah); and ibnu sabil (travelers).

“I think that is very important. Give Zakat as it is stated in the categories. I think that is very important. Do not give Zakat to those who are not entitled,” said Nasaruddin.

Meanwhile, the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) has affirmed that Zakat, Sadaqah, and Infak (ZIS) funds collected from donors and the public are not used to finance the MBG project.

The Head of Baznas’s Fundraising Division, Rizaludin Kurniawan, said that the use of ZIS has clear rules and cannot be diverted outside the purposes established in Islamic law.

“We emphasize that Zakat, Sadaqah, and Infak entrusted by the public to Baznas are not used, not even one percent, for the Free Nutritious Meal Programme. All of it is distributed for the benefit of the community in accordance with the provisions of the eight categories,” said Rizaludin in a written statement in Jakarta, Monday, February 23, 2026.

Rizaludin explained that, both institutionally and in terms of funding sources, the MBG programme and the management of Zakat are in different systems. The MBG programme is a government programme funded through the state budget, while ZIS funds come from public donations, the use of which is strictly regulated in Islamic law.

“Therefore, the use of Zakat funds cannot be diverted for programmes that do not fall into the categories of recipients, including the MBG programme,” he said.