February 26, 2026 | 01:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Religious Affairs has emphasized that zakat must not be used outside the provisions for the eight asnaf (groups) as regulated in the Quran. Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar conveyed this in response to circulating content mentioning that the Ministry is maximizing zakat and waqf for the free nutritious meal program (MBG).
"Zakat must not be utilized outside of its asnaf. It must not be given to non-asnaf. This is a matter of Sharia," said Nasaruddin at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Headquarters in Jakarta, quoted from the official statement of the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Nasaruddin stated that zakat has strict Sharia regulations and must not be used outside the designated group of recipients. He referred to Allah's decree in Surah At-Taubah verse 60, which describes the eight groups eligible to receive zakat.
The verse mentions that zakat is intended for the fakir (those who do not have property and work to meet their basic needs); the miskin (those who have work but their income is insufficient for daily needs); amil (officials appointed to manage zakat); muallaf (new converts to Islam); riqab (people in bondage); gharimin (those burdened with debt); fii sabilillah (those who strive in the path of Allah); and ibnu sabil (travelers).
"I think that is very important. Give zakat as, it is stipulated in the asnaf unequivocally. I think that is very important. Do not give zakat to those who are not entitled to it," said Nasaruddin.
Meanwhile, the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) affirmed that zakat, infaq, and charity (ZIS) collected from contributors and the community are not used to fund the MBG program.
Head of Collection at Baznas, Rizaludin Kurniawan, stated that the use of ZIS has clear rules and cannot be diverted from its designated purposes according to Islamic law.
"We emphasize that the zakat, infaq, and charity entrusted to Baznas are not used even a penny for the free nutritious meal program. All of it is distributed for the benefit of the people in accordance with the provisions of the eight asnaf," said Rizaludin in a written statement in Jakarta on Monday, February 23, 2026.
Rizaludin explained that institutionally and in terms of funding sources, the MBG program and zakat management using different systems. The MBG program is funded through the state budget, whereas ZIS funds come from a community trust and are strictly regulated by Islamic law.
"Therefore, the use of zakat funds cannot be diverted to programs that do not fall under the asnaf category, including the MBG program," he said.
Read: BGN: Free Nutritious Meal Program Budget Set at Rp8,000-10,000
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