INTERNET ZAKAT & INTERNET FITRAH

FITRAH

Every year a Muslim must pay the fitrah i.e. a sum of money equivalent to 2.751 kg of rice. In Negeri Sembilan where I'm residing the amount is RM6.50 per person. This amount varies from one state to another since one state per capita income varies from another. Some state like Terengganu has embarked on SMS Fitrah scheme whereby an individual can pay his fitrah from his handphone. I think Negeri Sembilan would do the same next year. On September 5 I paid my own fitrah, my mother's and my younger sister's at Negeri Sembilan state mosque in Seremban (since my father is dead). When my father was still alive I just paid my OWN fitrah.

Since SMS Fitrah is now permitted I can now foresee Internet Fitrah where Muslims can pay the fitrah through internet hand in hand with internet banking. If internet zakat and fitrah is introduced in Malaysia then I will be very elated since I do not have to worry to pay the fitrah for my mother when I go overseas again.
It must be noted that Fitrah must be paid during Ramadan. It CANNOT be paid after Ramadan.



ZAKAT

Zakat is the Islamic taxation. The mechanism ranges from income,gold,animals such as cows and goats,savings and many others. The taxable rate is called NISAB. For instance I know for a low income earner like myself who makes less than RM5000.00 per annum is NOT TAXABLE either from the conventional tax or the Islamic Zakat. My savings account has NOT accumulated more than RM3000.00 for the past year thus I do not need to zakat my savings either.

Zakat however can be paid all year long.