Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia During Handover of Zakat for 2024 to the National Zakat Agency, State Palace, Jakarta, March 13, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Distinguished Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia,

Distinguished Chairman and leaders of high state institutions,

Distinguished Coordinating Ministers, Ministers, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI),

Chief of the National Police Chief,

Regional Heads,

Distinguished Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama Central Executive bBoard (PBNU),

Distinguished Chairperson of the National Zakat Agency (NZA) and its personnel,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Alhamdulillah, we are grateful for the blessings of Allah subḥanahu wataʿala because we are still in a good health and have the opportunity to observe the holy month of Ramadan and to do fasting during Ramadan.

We are also grateful that we can enjoy the holy month, which can give us an opportunity to increase our piety and our good deeds, including charity and zakat.

Zakat is an obligation for every Muslim to show gratitude for God’s blessings. By paying zakat, we strengthen our faith, help the underprivileged, remove parsimony from our hearts, and bring peace of mind.

I order that the zakat funds collected be well-distributed to those who truly need it, [so it will] bring happiness to the beneficiaries and peace to the givers.

I hope the zakat we pay can complete our worship during Ramadan and strengthen our belief in Allah subḥānahu wataʿala

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. 

(EST/EP)