Prof Asrorun Niam Calls Muzaki Salurkan Zakat For Palestine

Prof. Dr. KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh invites Muslims to distribute zakat to Palestine. (IST)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Fatwa, Prof. Dr. KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh invites Muslims and BAZNAS as well as all LAZNAS to channel zakat funds to support the struggle of the Palestinian people.

This was conveyed by Kiai Niam in the third Muntada Sanawi of the Sharia Supervisory Board (DPS) of the 2023 National Amil Zakat Institute (LAZNAS) which was held by the MUI Fatwa Commission at the JS Luwansa Hotel, Kuningan, South Jakarta, Wednesday, November 1.

"How to optimize the benefit? The distribution of zakat is for the benefit of the area closest to you. But fiqh there are exceptions. Except for the Muslim community who are much more in need, or more considerations, more benefit, especially in urgent needs, this is prioritized. Therefore, MUI invites all Muslims who are obliged to zakat, as well as BAZNAS and LAZNAS throughout Indonesia to distribute their zakat there to support the struggle of the Palestinian people, "explained Kiai Niam.

This professor in the field of fiqh added that the distribution of zakat to Palestinian Muslims can enter from all asnaf zakat, let alone asnaf Fi sabilillah. "Today the condition of Palestine is in a war situation. The Palestinian people are in need of the help of all of us. So zakat can be distributed to Palestine, with all possible asnaf, let alone asnaf fi sabilillah," said Niam.

Furthermore, the Postgraduate UIN Jakarta lecturer explained that during a visit to Cairo for the International Fatwa Congress on October 19, he had a chance to meet face-to-face with Mufti Diyar Mishriyah, and there was a common view of the importance of distributing zakat to Palestine.

"Therefore, once again, through this forum I hope BAZNAS and all LAZNAS distribute some of their zakat funds to Palestine. It is coordinated properly so that it can optimally help Palestine," he continued.

The caretaker of the Al-Nahdlah Islamic Boarding School, Depok, West Java emphasized that zakat is part of worship. Therefore, zakat managers must comply with sharia principles, but at the same time Amil has a responsibility to optimize the community.

"The basic principle of worship is haram, there should be no initiation, innovation, unless there are arguments that show and regulate it. There are benefits that must be targeted, these two dimensions must go hand in hand," he concluded.

The Muntada Sanawi event is an annual activity carried out by the MUI, attended by the entire Sharia Supervisory Board (DPS) of LAZNAS to discuss various sharia problems in the management of national zakat, including the distribution of zakat to Palestine. This year followed by 81 DPS from 38 LAZNAS. Present at the event, Chairman of BAZNAZ Prof.Dr. Nur Ahmad, Director of Zakat Empowerment and Waqf of the Ministry of Religion Prof. Dr. Waryono Abdul Ghofur, LAZNAS directors as well as MUI leaders and MUI Fatwa Commission.