Zakat localization in Schools: Reality or Fantasy?

Abstract

Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam that must be fulfilled by every Muslim individual. Zakat funds can be distributed to the asnaf, who are a group of people eligible to receive zakat. Despite the increase in zakat funds collected each year, there are still some issues of students dropping out from school due to poverty and miserable living conditions. The findings from this study informed us that 78.3% of teachers were ready and had positive views about the recommendation that the school should be appointed as amil by Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Melayu Perak (MAIPk) to distribute the zakat funds to eligible students. This study had developed a zakat collection and distribution model with teachers paying zakat to the school (the agent) and the latter would hand over the funds to MAIPk. Next, the MAIPk would return some 25 to 50 percent of the funds to the school to be distributed to the poor and needy students. This zakat localization model aimed to decrease the number of dropouts among the students in the Perak state.