Azlan Othman
A total of BND1,013,534.93 in Zakat Fitrah (tithe) money was collected from 357,868 Muslims in the Sultanate in 2021, while BND977,815.59 was collected from 346,103 Muslims in the previous year, statistics from the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) revealed yesterday.
This showed a 3.4-per-cent increase in the number of Muslims paying Zakat Fitrah and a 3.65-per-cent increase in the amount of Zakat Fitrah collected in 2021 compared to the
previous year.
Meanwhile, BND17,881,059.83 in Zakat Harta (property tithe) money was collected from 5,305 Muslims in 2021, while BND17,014,690.53 was collected from 5,683 Muslims the previous year, showing a drop in the number of Muslims paying such tithe by 6.66 per cent.
Nonetheless, the amount of Zakat Harta collected in 2021 saw a 5.09-per-cent increase compared to the year before.
The collection and payment of tithe are conducted at mosques, suraus, religious halls, Amil residences (comprising village heads), Collection and Distribution Division of MUIB and its branches at Religious Affairs Offices in Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts.
In addition, Islamic financial institutions like Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB) and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), have also been appointed as Amil to collect Zakat Harta for depositors in both financial institutions.
To facilitate Muslims in paying the obligatory tithe, online payment services will also be available with cooperation from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, BIBD, Perbadanan TAIB, DST, Progresif and imagine.
