MVR 6.7M collected as zakat in Male’; MVR 4,200 distributed per head

Islamic Ministry states MVR 6.7 million was collected as zakat al-Fitr from Male’ City this year.

The payment of zakat was open from the first day of Ramadan to the last, during which period 164,392 people paid total MVR 6,746,896 as zakat from the Maldivian capital.

Islamic Ministry states that 1,498 people are registered as poor and motherless in Male’. They were distributed MVR 6,274,800 as zakat, which amounted to MVR 4,200 per person.

Of those eligible for zakat, 1,472 people provided their bank account details to Islamic Ministry within the designated period. They were disbursed zakat via bank transfers. 22 people who did not provide their bank account details have also been disbursed zakat, and only four have yet to receive their zakat.

MVR 472,096 collected as zakat was donated to shelters - Fiyavathi, Amaan Veshi, Kudakudhinge Hiyaa and Center for People with Special Needs in K. Guraidhoo.

A review of zakat collections over the last four years shows, the highest amount of zakat was collected this year. The zakat this is year is MVR 97,199 more than the zakat collected last year. However, the number of people registered as poor was lower this year. 1,715 people registered as poor last year, but a lower 1,498 registered as poor this year. This also resulted in a higher zakat per person.

Zakat al-Fitr is required of every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of their needs. It must be distributed before Eid al-Fitr prayers at the latest, so that the poor can enjoy the day of Eid.

In Maldives, zakat collected from each island is distributed among the registered poor and motherless people living in the island. Islamic Ministry noted that this results in differences in the amount received as zakat.

Islamic Ministry said that zakat was distributed before Eid al-Fitr prayers in Male’ and other residential islands. And that details of zakat distribution in the atolls will be released once they receive the information from all local councils.