TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has today fulfilled his obligation as a Muslim to pay zakat or alms via the National Zakat Agency (Baznas). He also appealed to all state officials, SOEs, private companies, and regional heads to hand over their zakat to the alms agency.

“So that zakat funds can be managed professionally and orderly and bring good impacts for people's welfare,” said the President during the zakat handover event at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, April 12.

In this event, he along with Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and the ministers paid their zakat. The state head, however, did not give the alms cash but used his smartphone to scan the provided QR Code as the payment system.

He also reminded all Muslims that paying zakat is mandatory to share fortune and happiness with others, especially mustahiq (rightful recipients).

He hoped that the zakat funds collected by Baznas could be used as well as possible to help people who are experiencing difficulties due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and help alleviate poverty in the country.

Jokowi also hoped that the zakat issued could complete the [Ramadan] fasting of all Muslims in the country, “and perfect our obedience to Allah,” he said.

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