DDHK News, Jakarta - World Zakat Forum in collaboration with the Nusantara Foundation will organize an International Zakat Conference with the theme "Zakat for Global Welfare" in New York, USA, May 28-29 2014.
Member of the World Zakat Forum (WZF) Working Group, Ahmad Juwaini, who is also Chairman of the Steering Committee for the International Zakat Conference and President Director Dompet Dhuafa (DD) in a press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday (2/4/2014), said that the purpose of this conference is to exchange ideas and experiences in the management of world zakat.
"This conference is also a medium to increase the synergy between zakat institutions globally in fighting poverty and income inequality, improving the quality of zakat management, both collection and distribution," he said.
In addition, he continued, holding the conference is also an effort to standardize zakat management practices and discuss current issues in the management of world zakat.
According to Ahmad Juwaini, New York, the United States of America, was chosen because the city was considered the heart of world capitalism and the center of world economic policy making.
"We want to echo zakat by touching people who take part in making important decisions in the world. This is a new milestone by presenting another atmosphere, because the location for zakat conferences is identical to those in the Middle East or Southeast Asia, "he said.
The conference will also provide enlightenment that zakat can be one of the solutions to reduce global poverty, after the MDGs target to reduce the number of poor people in 2015 is predicted not to be achieved.
"Funds collected from collecting zakat worldwide per year can reach Rp. 6.000 trillion. Saudi Arabia has the highest collection of around IDR 1.000 trillion and the rest is divided among other Muslim-populated countries, including Indonesia, which collect up to IDR 217 trillion per year, ”said Juwaini who was accompanied by other members of the WZF Workers' Agency, Irfan Syauqi Beik, Ahmad. Mukhlis Yusuf, and Nana Mintarti.
However, he said, so far the distribution is still fully within the authority of each country and has not been carried out across countries.
Irfan Syauqi Beik, who is also Secretary of the Steering Committee for the International Zakat Conference, added that around 25 to 30 countries will be invited to attend the two-day conference.
He said, one of the big missions the World Zakat Forum wants to achieve through the conference is to make documentation of reference to the standardization of zakat management which is a kind of guideline in managing zakat in the world.
Purpose of the Conference
This zakat conference is carried out with several purposes.
First, as a forum for exchanging ideas and experiences on world zakat management. Second, as a medium to increase the synergy between zakat institutions globally in fighting poverty and income inequality.
Third, improve the quality of zakat managers, both collection and distribution.
Fourth, as an effort to standardize zakat management practices.
Fifth, discuss current issues in world zakat management.
Secretary of the WZF Workers' Agency, Irfan Syauqi Beik, said the target to be achieved later was a formula that could be applied in various places, including countries with Muslim minorities such as South Africa.
"Our big mission is to standardize zakat management. Because each country has its own advantages and disadvantages, there are countries that are very strong in collecting zakat, such as Saudi Arabia which can reach up to IDR 1.000 trillion, but there are also countries that are very creative in terms of utilization, including Indonesia. We want to share, ”said Irfan. (antaranews.com/detik.com).*
