Zakat fund collection drops

The global financial crisis has also adversely impacted Zakat collection this year. There has been a drop of QR5m in Zakat collection during the seven-month period from April to October this year, the state-run Zakat Fund has reported.

Although, Zakat Fund officials did not specify reasons for the drop, it is understood it could be an outcome of the world economic turmoil. Zakat is mostly paid by eligible Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The collection this Ramadan fell by nine percent.

The Zakat Fund collected QR111.4m between April and October as Zakat, which was QR5m less as compared to QR116m which was collected in the corresponding period last year. This was disclosed by Khalifa Al Kubaisi, head of finance and investment of Zakat Fund at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, at a press conference on Sunday.

Of the QR111.4m, he said about QR94m was collected as Zakat while the remaining QR17.4m was through other kinds of donations. He said Zakat collection during Ramadan last year was to the tune of QR85m, while this Ramadan the figure was QR78m.

Zakat Fund has a database of beneficiaries and supports a large number of needy families as well as individuals.

Link: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=November2009&file=Local_News2009112435516.xml