Ministry of Islamic Affairs has begun collecting Zakat Al-Fitr payments.
The Islamic ministry will be collecting Zakat Al-Fitr payments until April 18. Local councils are accepting Zakat Al-Fitr payments in the atolls while the Islamic ministry is accepting payments online and via the desk established at the ministry’s hall. The desk will be open from 1000-1300hrs on working days starting from March 26 and services will only be available for the elderly and those who are unable to make their payment online.
The Islamic ministry said online payments will be accepted through Ooredoo, Dhiraagu, Bank of Maldives (BML), Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB), as well as via the FahiPay application and the BandeyriPay portal. The ministry added that it will begin accepting payments for food in the last few days of Ramadan.
Zakat al-Fitr is collected during the month of Ramadan every year, to be distributed among the poor. The minimum amount due is the equivalent of 2.4kg of wheat flour, rice, or other staple food, per member of the household. The rates of Zakat range from USD0.78 to USD8.12 in Male' City, depending on the type of wheat flour or rice used by residents.