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Gov’t issues USD195 per person as Zakat al-Mal

Ministry of Islamic Affairs has stated that USD195 per person has been issued as Zakat al-Mal.

The Islamic ministry has collected USD1.7 million as Zakat al-Mal and distributed it to the accounts of 8,959 individuals registered as poor and needy. The ministry noted that this year has seen the highest amount collected as Zakat al-Mal. As such, USD175 per person was issued to 7,778 individuals last year, while USD130 was issued per person to 10,944 individuals in 2020.

The ministry changed the Nisab for Zakat al-Mal to USD416 in June. Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth that must be owned by a person before he or she is obligated for Zakat al-Mal. The Nisab for Zakat al-Mal had previously been set in March as USD471. However, the ministry revised the amount and announced the Nisab has been changed to USD416.

Zakat al-Mal is a part of the wealth and property that Muslims must pay annually, to help the poor of their community. Zakat is levied on specific assets only, identified by Islamic Law as assets having the potential for growth. Any man or woman who meets the minimum requirements of wealth must pay their share of Zakat al-Mal.