Algerian Radio
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments has set the value of Zakat Al-Fitr for this year at 170 DZD. In a statement released this Wednesday, the Ministry called upon Imams to begin collecting it starting from the midpoint of the holy month of Ramadan.
In this context, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments urges citizens to take the initiative in paying Zakat Al-Fitr for this year, which has been estimated at 170 DZD. This amount represents the average value of a 'Sa'a' (equivalent to 2 kg) of the country's most common staple food, according to the same source.
Within this framework, the Ministry has tasked Imams, in cooperation with Zakat Committees at mosques nationwide, to “commence collection starting from the midpoint of the holy month of Ramadan”. The statement added that “these funds are not to be distributed to the registered beneficiaries until one or two days before Eid al-Fitr”.
The Ministry noted that “Zakat Al-Fitr is obligatory upon every Muslim—young or old, rich or poor, male or female—provided they possess food in excess of their needs for a single day. The individual responsible must pay it for themselves and for all those under their financial support”.
The Ministry also pointed out “the permissibility of paying Zakat Al-Fitr in cash”, as it is “more beneficial and appropriate for the poor. The purpose of Zakat is to spare them from need and soliciting charity on the day of Eid, an objective best achieved by providing the monetary value”.
