Kuala lumpur: Awareness that zakat (tithe) is obligatory is not enough if some members of the Muslim community still only pay it at certain times of the year, indicating that awareness of the obligation has yet to translate into consistent practice. Zakat Collection Centre of the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (PPZ-MAIWP) chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Hakim Amir Osman said the main challenge in raising awareness about zakat payments currently is that public understanding remains focused on zakat fitrah (personal tithe), while knowledge of zakat on income, business, savings, gold, shares and other assets is still not comprehensive.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abdul Hakim highlighted that the level of public understanding of the types of zakat, conditions for its obligation, nisab calculation, and assessment methods also varies, despite zakat being one of the fundamental obligations in Islam. 'Changes in employment patterns and sources of income have also presented new challenges. People today no longer depend solely on fixed salaries, with gig workers, freelancers, content creators and individuals earning income from multiple sources requiring explanatory and assessment approaches that are more suited to current realities,' he told Bernama recently.
Abdul Hakim continued, noting that the abundance of inaccurate or inconsistent information on social media, which may not align with the rulings of the relevant authorities, is also a challenge, alongside the need to strengthen public confidence through transparent management and evidence of the impact of zakat distribution. He said there was a gap between public awareness of the obligation to pay zakat and taking action to fulfill it. 'An increase in the amount of zakat collected alone does not necessarily reflect an overall increase in awareness, as collection figures can be influenced by income growth as well as higher payments among existing contributors,' he said.
As such, he emphasized that assessments of the level of awareness should take into account the number of zakat contributors and changes in payment behavior, rather than collection figures alone. Relevant indicators include the growth in the number of new contributors, payment consistency, and the tendency to use regular payment channels, as well as a shift from seasonal to consistent payments. PPZ-MAIWP data showed that the number of zakat harta contributors rose to 232,901 in 2025 from 231,112 in 2024, an increase of 0.8 percent. 'Awareness has increased based on the rise in the number of zakat contributors,' he said.
Abdul Hakim pointed out that groups requiring a more targeted approach include gig workers, freelancers, micro-business operators, digital entrepreneurs, and individuals with irregular or multiple sources of income. He said these groups were not necessarily reluctant to pay zakat, but fluctuations in income, the lack of organized financial records, and confusion over calculation methods could cause them to delay their assessment or payment. 'They may also not be covered by employer-based zakat deduction schemes, unlike salaried employees,' he said.
He also highlighted the importance of reaching young professionals who had recently entered the workforce, as some of them were aware of zakat but did not fully understand when the obligation begins, how to determine eligibility, and the differences between zakat, tax, and charitable donations. Additionally, Abdul Hakim mentioned that some individuals preferred to provide assistance directly to family members or those in need. 'While the intention to help is certainly commendable, they should be given an explanation of the requirements, intention, eligibility of recipients, and rulings of the relevant authorities to ensure that the obligation to pay zakat is duly fulfilled,' he said.
Addressing misconceptions surrounding zakat, Abdul Hakim remarked that one that still persists is the assumption that payment of zakat fitrah covers all of an individual's zakat obligations. 'Zakat fitrah and zakat harta (wealth) are two separate obligations. An individual may also be liable to pay zakat on income, business, savings, gold or other types of assets upon meeting the stipulated requirements,' he said.
He noted that PPZ-MAIWP also received queries about the relationship between zakat and income tax, including the misconception that tax deductions had replaced the obligation to pay zakat. 'Both have different bases and purposes. Contributors are advised to obtain an accurate assessment and understand the tax rebate available for zakat payments, subject to current regulations,' he said.
Abdul Hakim further explained that there was also an assumption that all forms of contributions, donations, or assistance given to family members, tahfiz centers, and welfare homes could automatically be considered zakat. 'Charity is a highly encouraged practice, but zakat has specific rulings, requirements, intentions, and categories of recipients, and a contribution may not necessarily fulfill the obligation to pay zakat if these requirements are not met. At the same time, individuals with irregular incomes are not necessarily exempt from the obligation to pay zakat, while zakat payments do not have to be made only during Ramadan or at the end of the year.
'In reality, the obligation to pay zakat is determined by the type of assets, the amount owned, and the relevant requirements, rather than solely by employment status or a particular season. This highlights the importance of continuous zakat education through the dissemination of information in language that is easy to understand without compromising the accuracy of Islamic rulings and the decisions of the relevant authorities,' he concluded.