President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, “Zakat; The right of the needy in the wealth of the wealthy.”

The President of Religious Affairs and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV), Prof, Dr.Ali Erbaş, explained that Zakat; The right of the needy in the wealth of the wealthy, also stating that not granting zakat means overstepping the right of the people.

Erbaş expressed at the “Zakat Promotion Meeting” organized by the TDV as a conference of the Foundation, that the blessed periods of the Islamic world, the “three Holy months”, have passed and the Ramadan season is approaching.

Erbaş pointed out that the world has been witnessed in an era and events where wars and conflicts of interest have made the world uninhabitable and reminded us of what happened in Palestine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and now Ukraine. 

Erbaş also said: “In many parts of the world, especially in Muslim-populated geographies, people are trying to survive under the siege of problems such as wars, poverty, and misery.”

Ali Erbas pointed out that children and civilians face fear and anxiety in Ukraine, and said: 

“Humanity offers an arm and a leg for the unjust, equitable, and merciless policies of all global authorities. Let me emphasize once again that we are against all varieties of cruelty and injustice, no matter who they are committed by or against. According to our faith (Islam), everyone’s life and freedom to live is untouchable, regardless of race, faith, geography, language, or color. We are the proponents of Islam, the religion of peace. We are members of the civilization of mercy. Our belief is to extend a helping hand to the need and the oppressed, regardless of religion, race, geography, and color.” 

“Zakat is worship that requires utmost sensitivity”

Erbaş stated that worship, which is a representation of the bond of faith between man and Almighty Allah, is also the reflection of faith on individual and social life, and in this context, zakat worship stands out with this purpose and function.

“Zakat is the right of the need in the wealth of the rich. Therefore, not giving Zakat is a violation of the right of worship, and Haram food. Failing to do something that is assumed (Faridah) means committing haram. It is an act of worship that requires extreme sensitivity because it is the right of Almighty Allah and the servant. Each phase of this worship, from its quantity to type, and from where to how it is determined by the Holy Quran and Sunnah, requires great care and transparency.” 

Erbaş commented that the legal duty of the Presidency is to “enlighten the society about religion” and that it falls on several important duties regarding religion, and reminded that the Department of Zakat Services was established within the General Directorate of Religious Services, has been granted the mandate to “To manage the work related to the principles of worship”.

Erbaş stated that they aim to ensure that everyone who can provide zakat fulfills their zakat with the consciousness of worship, guides them, and prepares the basis for handing over their consigned to their people, and emphasized that the Presidency and TDV have meticulously delivered their donations such as zakat, Al-Fitrah, Qurbani, Sadaqah entrusted by the nation to those in need with great care, trust awareness, the principle of clearness and trust.

“Zekat’s donation increased to 112 million Turkish Lira in 2021.”

Erbas declared that the charitable have provided educational support to more than 300,000 students with their zakats to date, and informed that “our zakat donation has increased from 59 million in 2020 to 112 million Turkish liras in 2021.”

He remarked that citizens can calculate the amount of Zakat in their assets in the categories of “Cash and Real Estate” and “Agricultural Crop” by going to the website “zekathesapla.tdv.org” and being reminded that they can calculate and donate their Zakat by downloading the TDV Zakat calculation module on their phones from the “bagis.tdv.org” page and the IOS and Android applications.