Muslim World Scholars Urge Using Zakat for Coronavirus Fight
A large number of scholars, imams of mosques and preachers have signed the statement, RT Arabic reported.
The statement said it is estimated that the annual Zakat payments by Muslims worldwide is about $400 billion.
Given the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus and the difficulties people are facing in various countries, this money can be used to help counter the impacts of the pandemic on people’s lives, it added.
Last week, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the grand mufti of Jerusalem al-Quds, issued a Fatwa saying that Zakat can be used to help in the fight against the coronavirus.
Sheikh Sabri, who is the Head of the High Islamic Supreme Council and Imam and preacher of Al Aqsa Mosque, called on well-to-do people to earmark the Zakat of their wealth to help counter the economic challenges caused by the virus.
They do not need to wait for the holy month of Ramadan to pay their Zakat, he said in the Fatwa, palinfo.com website reported.
He also praised the efforts made to raise funds to help those in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zakat is a religious obligation, ordering all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria to donate a certain portion of wealth each year to charitable causes.
The coronavirus pandemic has infected nearly 1.7 million people worldwide and killed more than 102,000.
