Maldives Zakat House has commenced the collection of Zakat al-Fitr for Ramadan this year, offering both digital and in-person payment options to facilitate wider participation.
Zakat House will accept online payments from the first day of Ramadan until 6:00 a.m. on the 27th of Ramadan. This year, Zakat al-Fitr can be paid through seven platforms, including the Dhiraagu App / Dhiraagu Pay (website), Ooredoo's m-Faisaa (app), Maldives Islamic Bank website, Bank of Maldives mobile banking application, FahiPay, the Avas app, and Bandeyri Pay.
Payments through Bandeyri Pay and FahiPay will be accepted until the final day of Ramadan.
For elderly people and those unfamiliar with digital transactions, arrangements have been made to accept Zakat in person at the Islamic Centre. Zakat will be accepted at the counters from 22 February to 9 March between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., except on public holidays, and from 10 March to 19 March between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., except on Fridays and Saturdays. Zakat House also stated that island and city councils will arrange for the acceptance of Zakat in cash across the atolls.
The payable amount of Zakat al-Fitr varies according to staple food categories, including ordinary flour, Thai white flour, red flour, and different grades of basmati flour, with the official rates announced by Zakat House.
Zakat al-Fitr is a compulsory charitable contribution given at the end of Ramadan to eligible recipients registered as poor. The obligation was established in the second year of Hijra (2H), coinciding with the same year fasting in Ramadan was made compulsory.