Ministry of Islamic Affairs has disclosed it distributed USD 246 as Zakat al-Fitr to registered recipients in the Greater Male' Region.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Zahir said Male’ region has 1,717 registered as poor this year of which 1,697 have been provided with Zakat. He further said 2 registered with the ministry have passed away and the rest have been donated to government foster homes as the ministry was unable to contact another 18 on several attempts.
Unlike the other years, Zakat acceptance and distribution were carried online this year due to COVID-19 pandemic. Minister Ahmed Zahir said the Zakat received this year is also high as compared to previous years. He further said USD 12,970 has been donated to the special needs home in Guraidhoo, Kaafu Atoll as Zakat.
The Islamic ministry said bank details of the recipients were verified through the bank before the amounts were deposited, adding 76 people without a bank account were also provided with the Zakat on May 23. The ministry stated all islands in the Maldives carried the process online this year and if no person in an island has registered as poor, the proceeds have been given to another island.
The ministry used last years registered list of poor in the Maldives to distribute Zakat al-Fitr this year. The Maldives has a list of 8,764 registered as poor, including 1,717 registered in Male’ and 7,047 registered in the islands.