Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Zahir Ali has stated that the Zakat Fund is utilised in accordance with the relevant policy. He made the statement in response to a question via a letter to the Parliament of the Maldives.
The question sent by Parliament Ibrahim Rasheed states that Islam has eight classifications for Zakat but that he has received information that the Islamic ministry has made its own sub-classifications to allow it to utilise the Zakat Fund as it sees fit.
In the letter to the Parliament, Minister Zahir said that the ministry distributes the Zakat Fund under the eight classifications, which are for the poor, needy, Zakat collectors, those in debt, new converts who are in need, stranded travellers, for freeing slaves, and for the cause of God.
The Islamic ministry distributes the Zakat payments to the poor and needy and uses the remaining amount in the Zakat Fund in accordance with the established policy and recommendations from officials. As such, the government uses the Zakat Fund to assist those in need of funding for medical treatment and education. The fund is also used to renovate mosques and fund other projects related to the public.