[Unpad.ac.id, 09/09/2013] Unpad Rector, Prof. Ganjar Kurnia, argued that zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, has become an inseparable instrument of Islamic economic system.
“It carries the potential to eradicate poverty, particularly in Indonesia,” said he when speaking at the National Gathering for Zakat-based Social Insurance and Health Protection in Bale Sawala, Rectorate Building in Jatinangor, Saturday (07/09), organized by Indonesian Association of Muslim Intellectuals in collaboration with Unpad.
The potential, however, can only be implemented when it is supervised under an effective management. Localizing zakat, according to the rector, is one excellent management, better than when zakat is centralized. Localizing zakat can mean effective social responsibility of the community, especially in monitoring and assisting zakat organizers to determine zakat recipients and distribute it to them. It also makes coordination and bureaucracy become simpler. In addition, five year planning in each local managing organizer should be emphasized to gain better control and maximum results.
Speaking in the same event, the governor of West Java province, Ahmad Heryawan, stated that zakat can be made optimal through a concept called zakat fund investment which stresses management effectiveness, accuracy, and excellent monitoring system, similar to funding management in any modern institution. “However, our prominent ulemas are still studying the concept, whether it fits the sharia or not,” said Heryawan.
Zakat management has actually been regulated in Law no 23 year 2011 on zakat management which states that zakat is organized by Badan Amil Zakat (zakat administrator), established by the government in the national, provincial, municipal, and sub-district levels.
“Ideally speaking, BAZ should become the prototype and supervisor for zakat administrating bodies that community members run,” said he.
Also speaking in the event were vice minister of religious affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, the head of advising body of ICMI, Jimly Asshiddiqie, the head of presidium ICMI Marwah Daud, Rois Syuriah Nahdlatul Ulama, Masdar Farid Masudi, the head of MUI Anwar Abbas, and the head of regional body of ICMI West Java Prof. Muhammad Najib.*
