Ministry receives over MVR two million as Zakat Al-Fitr
16 މެއި 2020 | ހޮނިހިރު 09:09Only people registered as heavily low-income families or individuals will receive Zakat
Locals make zakat payments
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has received over MVR two million for Zakat-Al-Fitr thus far this year.
In an interview with state media PSM, the Islamic Minister, Dr. Ahmed Zahir Ali revealed that they have collected a total of MVR 2,480,200 as Zakat-Al-Fitr thus far.
The ministry earlier revealed that they will be collecting funds for Zakat-Al-Fitr online from the Greater Malé Region this year.
As such, arrangements have been made for residents of the Greater Malé Region to efficiently make their Zakat payments, online. Four online platforms have been established for this purpose.
The region’s residents may make payments through Dhiraagu Pay and Lifestyle Application, SMS as well as Ooredoo m-Faisaa application and SMS.
Further, payments will also be accepted through Faisa-Net and mobile banking, Faisa-Mobile through the Maldives Islamic Bank as well as the Bank of Maldives website.
This comes at a time the Covid-19 pandemic has been sweeping across the country and the Greater Malé Region has been locked down along with several islands. The ministry revealed that should the situation return back to normal during the ongoing fasting month of Ramadan, they will be making arrangements to accept Zakat payment through the ministry’s hall. However, the fasting month is close to coming to an end.
Island Councils will be making arrangements for island residents to make Zakat payments.
The amount for Zakat is deemed to be money worth 2.4 kg of rice grain per person. Islamic Ministry said that one must donate money worth 2.4 kg of the general type of rice grains used by the individual throughout the year. The average person in Male' has to pay MVR 15 per person if calculated with normal rice grains, MVR 48 if its Thai rice grains, MVR 105 if its Basmati rice, MVR 65 if it is red rice, MVR 12 for normal flour and MVR 55 for Atta flour, as Zakat al Fitr.
Only those registered as low-income families or individuals will receive Zakat. A total of 8,764 individuals are registered as poor in the Maldives currently. This includes 1,717 from Malé and 7,047 from outlying atolls.
According to ministry statistics, they received MVR 5,644,118 in total for Zakat payments, during 2019 which is an increase of MVR one million compared to the previous year, where the ministry received MVR 4,256,495.
