Paying Zakat Strengthens Faith, Bring Peace of Mind, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi and VP Ma’ruf Amin pay zakat through the National Zakat Agency at the State Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (03/13). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Oji)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin Wednesday (03/13) at the State Palace paid their zakat (mandatory charitable contribution) through the National Zakat Agency (NZA).

Several ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet and heads of state institutions also took part in the activity.

According to the President, Muslims are obligated to pay zakat 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,” he said while expressing hope that zakat can complete Muslims’ worship during the fasting month of Ramadan.

“I hope the zakat we pay can complete our worship in Ramadan and strengthen our belief in Allah subḥānahu wataʿala,” he said.

The President also ordered the NZA as the agency in charge of zakat distribution to distribute it properly.

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

Head of the NZA Noor Achmad reported that Gerakan Cinta Zakat (Love Zakat Campaign) rolled out by President Jokowi in April 2021 has brought significant impacts to the national zakat collection.

“The Gerakan Cinta Zakat that the President and Vice President rolled out has had major impacts on zakat collection nationwide in many sectors, including ministries/government institutions, state-owned institutions, and the private sector. The campaign has also improved the compliance of state civil apparatus across Indonesia in paying zakat,” he said.

Achmad pointed out that in 2023 the total amount of zakat, donations, and charity collected by regional NZA offices across the country reached Rp32 trillion, a 43.74 percent increase from that of the previous year.

“The central NZA office recorded that the amount of zakat collected grew 39.8 percent. In 2023, we collected Rp881 billion,” he said.

On that occasion, the NZA also conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award to President Jokowi and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin for their major role in zakat payment. (FID/TGH/UN) (DH/EP)