Paying zakat to non-muslims and charity organizations / Nur Athirah Ab Aziz … [et al.]

Zakat is an Islamic faith pillar that demonstrate the development of society and economy. Like the obligation to pray, zakat is clarified in general and not in detail in the Al-Quran. The Qur'an does not explain the rate, nisab, type of property subject to zakat, or zakat conditions, but the Hadith of Rasulullah s.a.w. does. However, the Al-Quran clearly states that zakat must be distributed to eight specific asnaf (Wahid, H., et al. 2010).

Based on Malaysian law, the authority to collect and distribute zakat is delegated to the state. The State Islamic Religious Council (MAIN) is in charge of the task. The Zakat Law Year 1374H (1955 AD) in the state of Kedah states in Section 9 that "there is no legal and syarak for any person or party to collect zakat in this state and there is no valid zakat given anywhere that person or party" (Saad, R., et al 2009). Therefore, self-distributing zakat without going through a government-appointed representative is a violation of the law under Section 16 (b) of the Shariah Criminal Offences Act (Federal Territory) 1997 (Act 559) and can be punishment if convicted. Even the National Fatwa Council Committee has ruled that those who distribute zakat on their own are in violation of the government's instructions (Naqiuddin 2019).