The Second International Zakat Conference (INZEC 2025) hosted by the Maldives Zakat House kicked-off at the Islamic Center’s Conference Hall in Male’ on Saturday.
Aimed at promoting a sustainable Zakat system in the Maldives, the conference brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders to design strategies that strengthen Zakat administration as a vital tool for social welfare and economic stability.
The conference was officially inaugurated by Malaysia's International Center for Education in Islamic Finance University's Associate Dean for Students and Internationalisation Dr Aishath Muneeza.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Director General of Zakat House of Maldives, Izzaddeen Adnan said the seminar will provide an opportunity for scholars and policy makers to exchange ideas on the Zakat system and Islamic finance. There will also be extensive discussions on the changes that can be made to the Zakat system with new technological innovations and the ways in which the system can be developed and improved, he said.
In addition, the seminar will highlight the legal challenges in Zakat collection through modern income sources such as crypto currency and discuss solutions to various problems encountered within the system with tools such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, he added.
"Emphasis on linking social finance instruments such as microfinance with Zakat will be discussed along with ways on raising awareness on the important role of Zakat in empowering society and eradicating poverty in a sustainable manner,” he explained.
This year’s edition will place special focus on the social aspects and digitalisation of Zakat affairs, alongside addressing the challenges of developing the Zakat system within the Maldives’ digital and socio-economic framework.
The event will feature participants from both Maldivian and Malaysian institutions, with panels comprising renowned Maldivian religious scholars and experts in Islamic finance and economics.