The Supreme Council for Fatwa has released a Fatwa on Sunday, citing it is Maldives Hajj Corporation that will be responsible to pay Zakat al-Mal from payments received from the public for Hajj pilgrimage.
People have to enter a long queue to secure a slot for Hajj pilgrimage. To enter the queue, one must make a payment. Slots are awarded to those in the queue based on the order payments were made.
As a result, many individuals make substantial advance payments to the Hajj Corporation several years before they are able embark on Hajj pilgrimage. Since these amounts exceed the Nisaab threshold for Zakat al-Mal, there has been ongoing debate about whether Zakat must be paid on these funds.
Supreme Council for Fatwa released a Fatwa on the topic today, noting they had received a query regarding payment of Zakat from payments made to Hajj Corporation for Hajj pilgrimage.
Fatwa Council said based on information received from Hajj Corporation and their research, it is Hajj Corporation that must pay Zakat from the payments received.
In the Maldives, Nisaab for Zakat al-Mal is decided based on the prices of silver. As such, changes to the price of silver will be reflected on Nisaab. At present, the Nisaab for Zakat al-Mal is MVR 9,264.15.
According to statistics disclosed by the Islamic Ministry, MVR 101.94 million was collected as Zakat al-Mal last year, accounting for the highest-ever in a year.