Religious Affairs Minister Affirms Zakat is Only for Eight Groups, Dismisses Claims it Will Fund Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Jakarta, VIVA – Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, has affirmed that Zakat should not be used or allocated outside the provisions for the eight designated recipient groups (asnaf) as outlined in the Quran.

This statement was made to refute disinformation claiming that the Ministry of Religious Affairs is maximizing Zakat funds for the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG).

“Zakat cannot be used outside of its designated recipient groups. It is important that Zakat is not given to those who are not among the asnaf. This is a matter of Sharia,” said the Minister in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The Minister stated that Zakat has strict Sharia rules and should not be used outside the established recipient groups. He referred to the verse in Surah At-Taubah, verse 60, which outlines the eight groups (asnaf) who are eligible to receive Zakat.

The verse mentions that Zakat is intended for the poor (those who do not have assets or employment to meet basic needs) and the needy (those who have employment but whose income is not sufficient to meet daily needs).

It also includes those who collect and manage Zakat (amil), new converts to Islam (muallaf), slaves (riqab), those in debt (gharimin), those who strive in the way of Allah (fii sabilillah), and travelers (ibnu sabil).

“I think that is very important. Zakat should be given as specified in the asnaf. I think that is very important. Do not give Zakat to those who are not entitled to it,” said the Minister.

Previously, the Head of the Bureau of Public Relations and Public Communication of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Thobib Al Asyhar, also affirmed that there are currently no policies to allocate Zakat funds to the MBG.

“There is no policy to allocate Zakat for the MBG. We ensure that the distribution of Zakat is carried out in accordance with Sharia and applicable laws and regulations,” he said.

According to Thobib, Article 25 of Law No. 23 of 2011 concerning the Management of Zakat stipulates that Zakat must be distributed to those who are eligible (mustahik) in accordance with Islamic Sharia. Mustahik are those who are entitled to receive Zakat. Meanwhile, Article 26 states that the distribution of Zakat, as referred to in Article 25, shall be carried out based on a priority scale, paying attention to the principles of equity, justice, and regionality.