The Council of Ulema of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia (SAMR) published a fatwa on the special procedure for collecting and paying zakat during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the document, published on the SAMR website, payments may arrive earlier.
"The right of those in need to give alms, gifts or other charitable assistance to preserve their dignity and meet their needs, especially in difficult and critical times, is an integral part of the culture of the behavior of the Muslim community," the text reads.
In this regard, the clergy, as noted, decided to conduct educational work on the ban on artificially inflating the prices of essential goods, as well as "pay attention to the problems and needs of migrants in the country, some of whom are in the status of travelers", and direct charitable assistance "to maintain the health sector and provide doctors with everything necessary".
The Ulema decided that in the current difficult conditions zakat can be paid ahead of time, "if the property has reached the full "nisab" (taxable zakat minimum), belongs to the category of profitable and exceeds the basic needs of the owner."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: SAMR official website