NILAI – The Institute of Fatwa and Halal (IFFAH) at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), in collaboration with the Waqf and Zakat Center (PWZ) at USIM and the Institute of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (iSWAJ) at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) as co-organisers, hosted the 10th National Zakat Muzakarah (Symposium) 2024 with the theme “Zakat Institutions in Developing a Madani Malaysia.”
The event, held at The Everly Hotel Putrajaya from June 5 to 6, 2024, was attended by 102 participants from various backgrounds in both government and private agencies. The closing ceremony was officiated by Yang Berbahagia Senator Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs).
The Muzakarah Zakat Symposium is a flagship program initially conducted by the Institute of Management and Research of Global Fatwa (INFAD) and continued by the Institute of Fatwa and Halal (IFFAH) since 2014. This program focuses on the participation of zakat officers and muftis across Malaysia. Various resolutions proposed during the symposium are later implemented by authoritative agencies. The themes presented and discussed are closely related to current issues concerning Zakat Fatwa.
In his officiating speech, Yang Berbahagia Senator Dr. Zulkifli Hasan emphasised that Zakat institutions can play a crucial role in embodying the principles of Malaysia Madani by fostering social values and encouraging community involvement in zakat activities. Socially, zakat significantly helps reduce the social gap between the poor and the rich by providing financial aid and basic necessities to those in need.
“This indirectly helps improve welfare and social balance in the community. Economically, zakat institutions clearly contribute to enhancing economic activities within society by providing financial aid, training, and various programs aimed at empowering the economic sustainability of the asnaf,” he further stated.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Sharifudin Md Shaarani, Vice Chancellor of USIM, expressed his hope that the 10th symposium would provide benefits and ideas to strengthen the collection and distribution of zakat based on the Malaysia Madani approach and its six core principles.
“I am also confident that the involvement of zakat institutions and State Islamic Religious Councils, including authoritative bodies and other agencies involved, will have a significant impact on the empowerment of zakat institutions, zakat payers, and recipients. A conceptual framework of Malaysia Madani within the context of zakat institutions is expected to be developed as a result of this symposium,” he added.
Nine keynote sessions were held with prominent panellists from across Malaysia. Among the keynote speakers were representatives from the Zakat Management Centre of Penang, the Zakat Collection Centre of MAIWP, the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, the Leadership Planning & Development Division of the Republic of Indonesia (Baznaz RI), and the Federal Territories Mufti.
Additionally, a forum titled “The Malaysia Madani Framework in the Context of Eradicating Poverty” featured distinguished panellists, including Tuan Wildhan Dewayana, CEO of the Indonesian Zakat Initiative (IZI), Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician Malaysia, Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), and Associate Prof. Dr. Azwan Abdullah, Head of Networking and Big Data, Institute of Research & Poverty Management (InsPEK).
At the same event, a book titled “Zakat Institutions in Developing Malaysia MADANI” written by Professor Dr. Azman Ab Rahman was launched. This 115-page book, divided into three chapters, discusses the concept of madani in general, emphasizing the zakat management system in Malaysia from the aspects of definition, history, and madani from an Islamic perspective.
Also present at the event were Professor Dato’ Dr. Muhammad Tauffik Mohamad Noor, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of USIM, Associate Prof. Dr. Mushaddad Hasbullah, Director of PWZ, and Professor Dr. Azman Ab Rahman, Director of IFFAH USIM.
Sources: Mohd Fazhiruddin Kamaruddin
Translated by: Nurhayati Ghazali