View of the Shariah Advisory Committee (DSD)

The Selangor State Fatwa Committee Meeting held on 18 July 2023, concerning the Selangor State Zakat Collection Management System 2023, decided that:⁷

“The nisab for zakat (on income) is based on the value of 85 grams of gold at the current market price.”

Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, in his book Fiqh az-Zakah, states:⁸

“Since the nisab of Income Zakat is benchmarked against the nisab of currency, which is equivalent to the value of 85 grams of gold or 20 mithqal (dinars), and since people receive their salaries and income in the form of currency, it is most appropriate that the nisab for Income Zakat be determined based on the nisab of currency.”

Based on the arguments above, a person who wishes to fulfil the obligation of Income Zakat is required to pay it in the form of money, and it is invalid to discharge it in the form of goods.

Furthermore, the payment of zakat in monetary form fulfils maslahah (public interest) and better meets the actual needs of the asnaf compared to giving zakat in the form of goods. This is because, through monetary assistance, the asnaf are able to obtain their essential needs.

On the other hand, the distribution of zakat in the form of goods may result in the asnaf not requiring those goods, or the goods received may fail to meet their essential needs and those of their dependants, such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and the like.

Therefore, the payment of zakat in the form of purchasing Qur’ans to be given to the asnaf is invalid, as it contradicts the texts of Shariah and does not fulfil the Maqasid al-Shariah of zakat, which is to meet the essential needs of the asnaf and their dependants.

Accordingly, zakat funds should be utilised for other purposes that are more appropriate and that provide greater benefit to the Muslim community.