Zakat Must Be Well-Targeted and Improve Communities’ Welfare, President Jokowi Says
President Jokowi Tuesday (03/28) submits zakat through BAZNAS, at the State Palace, Jakarta. (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Jay)
Funds collected from zakat (alms) must be well-targeted and improve welfare of the communities, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said.
“In this holy month of Ramadan, we are taught to improve our piety to Allah the Almighty, not only by fasting, but also by performing more good deeds and competing in doing good deeds, including giving donation, charity, and zakat,” the President said Tuesday (03/12) at the State Palace after paying his zakat through the National Zakat Agency (Baznas).
“We hope our zakat can perfect our fasting and our piety to Allah the Almighty,” he added.
The President also said that paying zakat is an obligation for every Muslim as a token of gratitude for all the blessings given by Allah by sharing happiness and some of our wealth to those in need.
The Government, the President added, also continues to seek to reduce poverty, especially extreme poverty, and the move needs support from the entire communities, including through the collection and distribution of zakat, alms, and charity funds by Baznas.
The Head of State also appealed to Muslims, especially state officials, state civil apparatus, SOE officials, and regional leaders across the country to pay their zakat through Baznas so that the funds can be managed professionally and transparently.
Chairperson of Baznas Noor Achmad reported that the collection of zakat, donation, and charity, as well as other religious social funds nationally in 2022 reached Rp22.4 trillion, an increase of 58.03 percent. He also said the increase was reported in zakat collected by Baznas.
“Baznas’s zakat collection reached Rp638 billion, an increase of 22.5 percent. The increase was also accompanied by an increase in the number of muzaki (zakat giver), both individual and corporate muzaki, nationally,” Noor said. (TGH/UN) (FI/EP)
