Zakat in Malaysia - present and future status

Abstract

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an act of worship and like any other act of worship it is solely for Allah. It ranks in importance immediately after the prescribed prayer. It is levied on definite kinds of property and its coverage is quite extensive.1 It covers almost all forms of wealth and some forms of income as well as savings. Zakat can be disbursed to eight categories (ásnaf) of people or services. Four of which relate to the poor and needy i.e. the destitute, the needy, the wayfarers and the debtors. Three relate to promotion of and defense of the faith i.e. new converts, to free the slaves and in the cause of Allah. Lastly we have the cost of zakat administration i.e. zakat collectors.