This year has recorded the highest amount of zakat paid in the history of the Maldives, while the past two years have brought significant improvements to the country's zakat system, Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said.
The amount collected as zakat on wealth has reached about USD 7.07 million so far this year, compared with about USD 6.87 million collected as zakat during the corresponding period last year.
In a social media post, Minister Dr Shaheem said the Maldives' zakat system is protected by a law founded on strong principles. He noted that the central bank holds zakat funds and that the funds are spent in accordance with Islamic Shariah, following a publicly available Shariah guideline. He also said details of how the funds are spent are publicly disclosed each month.
Minister Dr Shaheem said the past two years recorded the highest zakat collections and brought significant improvements to the country's zakat system. He noted that this year recorded the highest amount of zakat paid in the entire history of the Maldives.
The Minister said the past two years also saw the highest amount of zakat funds spent on people registered as poor. In addition to providing them with financial assistance, zakat funds supported their education and healthcare.
Minister Dr Shaheem said several initiatives to increase the Zakat Fund through avenues permitted under Shariah also began during the past two years. He thanked Maldivians for the trust they continue to place in the country's zakat system and thanked President Dr Mohamed Muizzu for developing the zakat system through legislation.
The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) handles all matters relating to zakat collection. Statistics published by MIRA show that total zakat collections last year stood at about USD 6.95 million. Collections totalled about USD 6.63 million in 2024, USD 5.85 million in 2023, USD 6.01 million in 2022 and USD 5.94 million in 2021.
As part of efforts to strengthen zakat administration in the Maldives, the country's first zakat law has been formulated and brought into force. The law establishes a legal framework for zakat matters in a manner that enables the objectives for which zakat is prescribed in Islam to be achieved.
The law determines the types of zakat payable under the legislation, those required to pay zakat and the types of assets on which zakat is obligatory. It also establishes general principles governing the distribution and use of assets and funds received as zakat to ensure their full and proper utilisation in promoting equality in living standards and greater social self-sufficiency.