We hope that the assistance received can enable mosque worshipers to improve the economy and play a role in improving the welfare of mosque congregations.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) distributed microfinance assistance to Central Java Great Mosque worshipers in Semarang city on Friday.

"We hope that the assistance received can enable mosque worshipers to improve the economy and play a role in improving the welfare of mosque congregations," Amin said at the mosque on Friday.

The Rp100-million assistance for several congregation members running micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) was symbolically handed over by Amin and Baznas chairman Noor Achmad to the secretary of the Mosque Prosperity Council (DKM) of Central Java Great Mosque, Muhyiddin, in the presence of Deputy Governor of Central Java, Taj Yasin Maimoen.

The assistance is a part of the Micro Zakat Bank program initiated by the agency. The program makes use of zakat, infaq, alms, and other social-religious funds to provide assistance to micro-business actors in the form of capital financing and business development. So far, such assistance has been provided to 20 mosques in Greater Jakarta Area and 2 mosques in Central Java. The value of the total assistance has reached Rp1.7 billion.

"Baznas has assisted the government's role in providing social protection to those who are classified as poor through zakat, infaq, and alms funds distributed by the community. Hopefully, more and more people will be assisted because Baznas not only provides fish, but also fishing hooks so that recipients can be independent economically," the Vice President stated.

He also assured that the government will continue to try to help the community overcome various problems experienced by it, especially in the economic field.

Meanwhile, Achmad said that the assistance program is a part of the agency's efforts to improve the economy of the congregation as well as efforts to keep worshipers away from riba (usury) in conducting business.

"Baznas Microfinance Mosque financing is conducted using the principle of al-Qardh, that being financing that does not garner profit either in the form of profit sharing, margin, or other similar terms. The beneficiaries can run their business comfortably," he informed.

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Translator: Desca L N, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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