TITHES collected from Muslims could only be distributed among other Muslims who are poor and in need of aid, said the Selangor sultan.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said non-Muslims in the state could only receive zakat if they intend to embrace Islam.
 
In a statement issued by his private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani, the sultan said there were many Muslims who needed aid.

“In Selangor, there are still many poor Muslims living in rural areas, as well as the urban poor who must be assisted through zakat collections.

“The majority of the people in Selangor are Muslims and the number of Muslims (in the state) increases every year,” the sultan said. 

He was referring to recent news reports of two state mufti and a politician talking about giving alms to non-Muslims.

The sultan pointed out that the Selangor mufti has stated that the alms could be given to non-Muslims only if they have stated their intention to convert.

On Saturday, the Perlis Fatwa Council issued an edict allowing non-Muslims in the state to receive zakat as they were “muallafah qulubuhum”, or the people whose attitude and perception of Islam needed to be harmonised.

Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said the edict was passed by the state fatwa council during a meeting on February 3, 2017.

Asri said it was up to the “ulil amri” or government to set the conditions for non-Muslims to receive zakat.

“It is as Prophet Muhammad SAW did for the non-Muslims among the musyrikin and tribal leaders as contained in the valid ‘sirah’ (narrative histories of Prophet Muhammad’s life and activities),” he said.

Asri also urged Muslims not to fear that the tithe money would be quickly depleted if it were also given to non-Muslims.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had also commented on the issue, urging zakat centres to undergo a transformation to overcome poverty among Muslims and to help non-Muslims.

Sultan Sharafuddin today said the functions of zakat and income tax were different, and that it was up to the government to help the poor non-Muslims through its various agencies.

The Selangor ruler also called on all parties to stop debating on mass media the issue of zakat distribution.

“No party should take advantage of Islam issues to gain popularity or to endear themselves to certain segments,” he said. – November 4, 2019.