The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has revealed that over 31,000 people have made zakat payments within the first 15 days of Ramadan.

According to the ministry, people have made zakat payments in Male' atoll as well as through banks and via SMS.

The ministry had revealed that they have collected over MVR 1.2 million as zakat so far this Ramadan. These are the payments made via the ministry, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), Villimale' unit, national bank, Bank of Maldives (BML), local bank Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) and telecommunications providers Dhiraagu and Ooredoo.

Most payments were collected through BML, HDC, and Ooredoo.

Residents living in outlying islands can make zakat payments through their respective local government councils while individuals residing in Male' can make their payments at the Islamic Center, the community center in Hulhumale' and the Ministry of Housing premises in Villimale'.

The levy for zakat is set at 2.4kgs of rice. This is MVR 13 per head if it is regular rice, MVR 43 for Thai rice, and MVR 81 for Basmati rice. Those residing in the outer lying atolls may pay zakat according to the prices available to them, given that they give away nothing less than the required 2.4 kg.

While 'zakat' is any Islamic mandated charity, the word ‘Fitr’ refers to breaking fasts in Islam and is used in relation to the fasting month of Ramadan.