Ministry of Religious Affairs Oversees Distribution of 473 Billion Rupiah in Zakat Funds During Ramadan

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is overseeing the distribution of religious social assistance valued at 473 billion rupiah during Ramadan 1447 Hijriah. The programme is targeted at reaching approximately three million poor households across 117 districts and municipalities that are prioritised for addressing extreme poverty.

The distribution of aid was launched during the “Selasar Hangat: Harmoni Lintas Keyakinan Kolaborasi Joyful Ramadan” event held at Jakarta International Velodrome on Thursday, 12 March 2026.

Waryono Abdul Ghafur, Director of Zakat and Waqf Empowerment at Kemenag, stated that Ramadan represents an important moment to strengthen the role of zakat, infak, and sedekah (Islamic charitable giving) in assisting those in need.

According to him, strengthening the management of zakat funds aims not only to distribute aid on a charitable basis but also to encourage economic empowerment of beneficiaries. “Optimisation of zakat, infak, and sedekah must be directed towards programmes that truly reach the most vulnerable members of society, whilst also encouraging them to become economically self-sufficient,” said Waryono.

He explained that this approach also implements Law No. 23 of 2011 on Zakat Management, which positions Kemenag as the regulator in managing religious social funds. “As a regulator, Kemenag ensures that zakat management operates transparently, accountably, and reaches the correct beneficiaries so that its benefits can be felt directly by the public,” he clarified.