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126 J.L. Pol'y & Globalization 64 (2022)
Distribution of Zakat for Communities affected by COVID-19 in the Perspective of Socio-Economic Justice

handle is hein.journals/jawpglob126 and id is 64 raw text is: Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization wwwste.or, ISSN 2224-3240 (Paper) ISSN 2224-3259 (Online) A-I Vol.126, 2022 IISTE Distribution of Zakat for Communities Affected by COVID-19 in the Perspective of Socio-Economic Justice Zainuddin'* Rosmini2 'Faculty of Law Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia 2Facullty of Law Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia * E-mail of the corresponding author: zainuddiazanudditui ac, d Abstract Zakat is one of the economic instruments in Islam whose main purpose is the enforcement of economic justice. Zakat during the Covid-19 pandemic is very much needed by the community to overcome economic problems for those affected by Covid-19. This article explores the problems of the fiqh arrangement of zakat distribution for people affected by Covid-19 and the fulfillment of their socio-economic justice rights through zakat instruments. This article was studied normatively with secondary legal materials using descriptive analysis. The results of the study show that zakat has been used to reduce poverty due to Covid-19. This has become the legitimacy of distributing zakat to communities affected by Covid-19. Based on MUI Fatwa No. 23 of 2020, zakat may be used for community needs due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Communities affected by Covid-19 can be classified as mustahiq faqir because they are victims of natural disasters and social disasters. The distribution and utilization of zakat to the poor affected by Covid-19 is basically the fulfillment of social and economic justice for the community, which is the essence of zakat as an economic instrument for the people. Keywords: communities, covid 19, justice; socio-economic; zakat DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/81-08 Publication date: November 30th 2022 1. Intruduction Zakat is a religious institution whose function is to achieve social justice for all mankind by paying attention to and increasing concern for the poor (Zainuddin and Sahban, 2021). In addition, zakat funds can free their recipients from poverty and improve their living standards (Abu Bakar and Abd Ghani, 2011). This makes zakat an economic instrument that is intended to reduce economic disparities that occur in society. In particular, zakat in its distribution is prioritized for people who are lacking in wealth. In Islam, there are eight groups who are entitled to receive zakat, which are broadly categorized into two major groups: first, the group of zakat recipients based on needs, such as the faqir, poor, slaves, debtors, and travelers. This group is entitled to zakat to fulfill their needs as poor and needy people, to free themselves from slavery and debt, or in situations of being forced to travel. Second, groups that are entitled to zakat but not based on fulfilling their needs, such as amil, converts, and fisabilillah. Amil is needed to facilitate the management of zakat payments and their distribution. Converts are needed to attract more people to Islam or as financial support when they are new to Islam. While fisabilillah is needed to uphold Islam and spread da'wah (Khasandy and Badrudin, 2019). In relation to vulnerable groups such as the faqir and poor as one of the groups receiving zakat, available data shows that people's incomes decreased dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic (Risma and Zainuddin, 2021). The findings of a collaboration research between UNICEF, UNDP, Prospera, and The SMERU Research Institute describe a number of Covid-19 impacts on Indonesian households, including: (1) households' finances are severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic; (2) children are left behind in terms of education and health services; (3) social assistance has reached those in need, but much more can be done; (4) women experience more responsibilities and duties in childcare roles; and (5) food insecurity and vulnerable groups should be more concerned in the future (SMERU et al., 2021) . The impact of Covid-19 has greatly affected the community's economy. This pandemic has resulted in many businesses from the community being hampered; the community's economic competitiveness weakening; employees being laid off; and transportation services declining. This condition resulted in a decrease in people's income, or even no income at all. This situation has an impact on increasing the number of poor people, where the community is the group most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic (Kadir et al., 2020) The emergence of new poor people due to the Covid-19 pandemic requires strategic steps to overcome them, 64