Viral Zakat Distribution in Gresik Ends in Chaos, Allegedly Due to Queue Jumping

A zakat distribution worth 50,000 rupiah on Agus Salim Street in Gresik City was marred by disorder. The disturbance occurred after hundreds of residents feared missing out on money being distributed by a sarong entrepreneur, following the incident going viral on social media.

According to detikJatim, the money distribution took place on Friday 13 March 2026 at approximately 08:00 WIB. Initially, residents queued orderly to receive the money from the organisers.

Several organisers were also on hand to ensure that residents who had already received money did not rejoin the queue. However, approaching 09:00 WIB, the situation became tense following shouts and altercations from outside the queue.

As a result of the shouting, residents who had initially been orderly became involved in a disturbance that escalated into mutual violence amongst several youths. In the incident, a woman at the location became a victim after being struck and suffering facial bruising.

The disorder prompted organisers to temporarily halt the zakat distribution process. It is suspected that the chaos was triggered by a youth attempting to jump the queue to collect the zakat for a second time. However, this youth’s actions were caught by another queuing resident.

“Yes, there was indeed chaos yesterday, there was fighting,” said Hanif, one of the residents, on Saturday 14 March 2026. “I’m not entirely sure, but it seemed like there was a youth trying to jump the queue to get the money again and was caught by other residents waiting in line.”

Hanif added that the zakat distribution is indeed an annual event held every last Friday of Ramadan. However, he participated in the zakat distribution queue for the first time this year.

“I only joined yesterday because I haven’t been working this year. It’s quite helpful, so I queued from the morning. But the first time I joined, there was chaos,” he added.