Authors:
Widyawati
1
and
Munir
2
Affiliations:
1
Faculty of Sharia and Law, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
;
2
Faculty of Ushuluddin, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
Keyword(s):
zakat, social welfare, Zakat Act, Rumah Zakat
Abstract:
The main objective of zakat according to Indonesian Act No. 23/2011 on Zakat Management is to realize social welfare on the one hand, and to eradicate poverty on the other. This noble objective, however, is not so clear and measurable that leads to different ideas on social welfare among the institutions involved in zakat management. This in turn will influence the programs they planned to be implemented through zakat fund. This study discusses the notion of social welfare and its implementation in zakat management with a specific reference to Rumah Zakat. This institution has been involved in zakat management since 1998 and successful not only in collection of zakat fund, but also in its distribution in systematic and well-innovated manner. This can be seen from the programs it has to realize social welfare. This article concludes that rather than involved qualitatively in a conceptual discussion of social welfare, Rumah Zakat prefers to implement some social dimensions of welfare t
hrough many programs. It believes that through the programs it has implemented, Muslim society aware of the presence of social welfare from zakat fund they have collected through this institution. This can be seen from the growth of their trust to Rumah Zakat that increases from time to time. Moreover, the qualitative of notion of social welfare issued in Zakat Act opens the room for this institution to interpret its essence through innovative programs. This conclusion is drawn from an analysis of data collected from in-depth interviews with the managers of Rumah Zakat as well as from reviews of literature related to this institutions and relevant writings on social dimensions of zakat. As for the method, this study draws largely on content analysis followed with theological and political approaches. This is because zakat is basically a religious doctrine (theology), but at the same time it is political due to its implementation should be carried out in accordance with Zakat Act issued by the government.
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