President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has officially ratified the first Zakat Law in the Maldives, which aims to strengthen the nation’s Zakat system and establish a comprehensive legal framework for Zakat-related matters. The primary objective of this law is to achieve the divinely ordained purposes of Zakat, determine the types of Zakat that are due, identify the parties obligated to pay Zakat, and specify the types of assets subject to Zakat. Furthermore, the law outlines the principles for utilizing Zakat funds to foster equality in living standards and enhance social prosperity.
Upon the commencement of this law, the national policy for Zakat collection and distribution will be determined by the President, based on the advice of the relevant Minister. The Minister of Islamic Affairs is vested with the responsibility of publicizing Zakat-related policies and providing guidance to the authorities tasked with implementing the law.
To effectively manage and oversee the Zakat system, a Zakat Council must be established within 60 days of the law’s enactment. This Council will comprise nine members, including the Minister, the Director General of the Maldives Zakat House, and two members appointed by the President.
Under the new law, a government entity named “Maldives Zakat House” will be established under the purview of the Minister. The responsibilities of this House include planning, managing, and overseeing the administrative aspects of Zakat collection and distribution, as well as maintaining comprehensive registers of Zakat recipients. Additionally, a Shari’ah Advisory Committee will be formed to provide religious guidance on Zakat-related matters.
The law explicitly details the conditions under which Zakat al-Fitr and Zakat al-Mal become obligatory, outlines the methodologies for determining the nisab (minimum threshold for Zakat liability), and specifies the categories of eligible recipients. This law is scheduled to come into effect on January 1st of the upcoming year.
