SHAH ALAM, 20 June 2023 – The Selangor Zakat Board (LZS), in collaboration with the Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM), for the first time successfully organized the Nusantara Zakat Muzakarah 2023 involving five Southeast Asian countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei, here today.

Carrying the theme Towards the Empowerment of Fatwa and Zakat Da’wah in the 21st Century, this muzakarah brought together representatives from various sectors, particularly those related to zakat management, Islamic scholars, academics, especially experts in zakat, technocrats, and corporates including individuals. The opening ceremony was officiated by a Trustee Member of LZS, Dato’ Dr. Abdul Rahman Abdullah.

This muzakarah was held to explore various studies on the diversity of fatwas on zakat and also da’wah approaches that can be applied in the modern era. Accordingly, various papers were presented to discuss topics related to zakat management, especially on the development of zakat fatwas, more realistic zakat da’wah approaches, as well as discussing agenda issues in improving the understanding of zakat to meet the increasingly complex future needs of the ummah.

A total of 16 papers were presented over the three-day muzakarah starting today. Among the paper presenters were the Rector of Selangor Islamic University (UIS), Associate Professor Dato’ Dr. Mohd Farid Ravi Abdullah, who presented a paper titled ‘The Importance of Fatwa in Zakat and Zakat Da’wah’, the Assistant Mufti (Buhuth), Brunei Darussalam State Mufti Department, Dato’ Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mazanan Haji Yusof, who presented the paper ‘Law and Fatwa on Zakat Collection and Distribution: Brunei’s Experience’, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, USIM, Dato’ Seri Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Albakri, who shared a presentation titled ‘Contemporary Fatwa and Zakat Da’wah Approaches’.

Also present at the program were the Federal Territory Mufti, Datuk Associate Professor Dr. Luqman Abdullah, and the Chief Executive Officer of LZS, Mohd Sabirin Mohd Sarbini.