President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has inaugurated the Maldives Zakat House.
The inauguration took place at a special ceremony held at the Islamic Centre, with Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef in attendance. The event also saw the participation of various state ministers, the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Fatwa, and several former ministers from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed expressed his joy, highlighting the significance of the day in the Islamic history of the Maldives and the history of the Islamic ministry. He extended gratitude to President Dr. Muizzu for establishing this institution to promote the benefits of Zakat, emphasising that the Zakat House was founded with a noble commitment to carry out important initiatives.
The Maldives Zakat House is mandated to fortify the Maldivian Zakat system and do all necessary to expand the Zakat Fund by investing in areas where Shariah has approved Zakat, thereby increasing distributor benefits.
The official Dhivehi name for the Maldives Zakat House is Dhivehiraajjeyge Zakat House. In accordance with the numbering system for state agencies, the President's Office has issued a directive that all correspondence to the Maldives Zakat House should use the number 496.
The Maldives Zakat House aims to provide a mechanism for accepting and disbursing Zakat, announce the Nisab for Zakat Al-Mal, or Zakat on Wealth, twice a year, and regularly update the national registry of individuals below the poverty line.