Head of the Zakat Fund Department, Jassim bin Mohamad Al Kubaisi
Doha: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs represented by Zakat Fund Department has provided gold scales to its Zakat collection offices/points and trained collectors to calculate accurate amount of Zakat in gold and gold jewellery. The Department also offers service of calculating Zakat in shares and animals.
Head of the Zakat Fund Department, Jassim bin Mohamad Al Kubaisi, said that the Department intensified efforts to facilitate people in calculating Zakat amount during Ramadan when most Muslims prefer to give this obligatory alms due to religious importance.
Al Kubaisi was speaking at a recent event on the preparations and activities of Zakat Fund Department during Ramadan. “Zakat Collection Section at the Department offers service of calculating Zakat amount in gold through its collection offices which were provided gold scales,” said Al Kubaisi.
He said that the collectors who were given special training are able to calculate Zakat in shares and animals at the offices across the country. “We have 34 Zakat collection offices and points throughout the country and they work from 9am to 3pm and 8:30pm till midnight,” said Al Kubaisi.
He said that the collectors are also available at major shopping complexes from 10am to 4pm and 8:30pm till midnight during holy month of Ramadan.
“The Department offers quick service by dedicating two experts to receive the calls of people seeking information about the Zakat throughout the year but during Ramadan the efforts are intensified because most of the people give Zakak during this spiritual month,” Al Kubaisi said.
He added that automated machines were opened under Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) for receiving donations from philanthropists ahead of Ramadan.
Zakat Fund Department is implementing a number of projects to support needy families during Ramadan. Under the program the Department distributed food baskets to 4,450 needy people ahead of Ramadan.
“Under two programs which will be implemented ahead of Eid-Al-Fitr 3,500 and 1,450 needy people will get financial support,” said Al Kubaisi adding that a total of 9,400 people will benefit from these projects.
The Department also plans to launch an awareness campaign from mid of Ramadan to educate the people about the obligation of Zakat in outer areas including Al Ruwais, Al Khor, Al Zakhira, Al Wukair, Dukhan, Al Jabiliya, Lakhraib, Rawdat Al Rashid and Umm Al Amad.
Zakat is a form of alms-giving treated in Islam as a religious obligation, which, by Quranic ranking, is next after prayer in importance. As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, zakat is a religious obligation for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of wealth.
