In a significant move to ensure the nation's inaugural zakat system is administered with rigorous religious integrity, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has officially appointed the five-member Shariah Advisory Committee.
The committee, established under the landmark Zakat Act ratified on 6 December of last year, is tasked with providing essential Shariah advice and guidance to the implementers of the Act, ensuring every aspect of the zakat formulation and operation aligns with Islamic principles.
The formation of this expert body marks a critical step in the operationalisation of the Zakat Act, which itself represented a historic shift towards formalising and centralizing the pillar of zakat in the Maldives. The committee's mandate is to offer authoritative counsel on all Shariah-related matters, thereby strengthening administration, guaranteeing transparency, and ensuring full compliance with Islamic rules in the collection and distribution of zakat funds.
Constituted by the President on the advice of the Minister of Islamic Affairs, the committee brings together a blend of esteemed government and non-government stakeholders. As mandated by the Act, all appointees hold a minimum National Qualifications Framework Level 9 qualification in a relevant field of Islamic Sharia and possess a license from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to deliver religious sermons and advice.
The newly appointed members of the Shariah Advisory Committee are:
Chairperson: Abdullah Saudan, State Minister of Islamic Affairs
Member: Usam Mohamed Saeed, Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs
Member: Abdul Hadi Hussain, Head of Shariah Compliance and Governance, BML Islamic
Member: Ahmed Firas, Country Head of Shariah, HSBC Amanah, Malaysia
Member: Azmeen Rasheed, Senior Legal Strategist, Ministry of Finance and Planning
The committee will work in conjunction with the special nine-member Zakat Council, which was also formed under the Act.