Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Launching of the Cinta Zakat (Love Zakat) Campaign and the Almsgiving to the National Zakat Agency on 15th April 2021, at the State Palace, DKI Jakarta Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Distinguished Vice President of Indonesia Ma’ruf Amin,

Honorable Coordinating Ministers and Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet,

Honorable Chairperson of the National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) Prof. Dr. KH Noor Achmad, M.A. and all heads of the Regional Zakat Agencies all over Indonesia;

Honorable Governors;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Alhamdulillah, today I, along with the Vice President and Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet can still pay zakat amid the pandemic. In order to obey and observe health protocols, our zakat now can be paid online.

Zakat is obligatory for Muslims to share our fortune and happiness with our brothers and sisters, especially the rightful zakat recipients mustahiq. I hope that zakat raised by the BAZNAS can be utilized wisely to our brothers and sisters who are experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19 pandemic and also to help alleviate the poverty in our country.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On this auspicious occasion, I would like to officially launch a campaign called the Cinta Zakat (Love Zakat) campaign to encourage public participation in improving zakat or alms, donations, and charity and to ensure that its distribution is well-targeted to our beneficiary brothers and sisters. The Cinta Zakat (Love Zakat) campaign goes hand-in-hand with the Government’s programs to alleviate poverty, handle calamities and disasters, and to realize Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) programs.

I also would like to call on all state officials, state-owned enterprises, private companies, and regional heads all over Indonesia to pay zakat via official managers or amil zakat to contribute in building social welfare and providing blessings to all people. We hope that the zakat we pay will perfect our fasting during Ramadan, our piety, and our obedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby officially launch Cinta Zakat (Love Zakat) campaign this afternoon.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (AP/MEP)