Social finance and zakat

Amil (zakat administrator)

Those employed to collect and administer zakat, one of the eight categories that may receive it.

The amilun are those employed to collect and administer zakat, and they are one of the eight categories of recipients named in the Quranic verse on zakat. AAOIFI's zakah standard lists the eight heads of disbursement, including those employed to collect the funds, and leaves it to Shariah supervisory boards to specify the meaning and application of each category. For a zakat platform, this is the basis on which administration costs may be met from zakat funds, which is why such costs need their own approved policy and a transparent record.

Sources

AAOIFI Shari'ah Standards, English edition (full text, PDF): Shari'ah Standard No. 35, Zakah, item 9, eight heads of disbursement

This entry explains a term; it is not a Shariah ruling. Approving a product is for each institution's own Shariah board and regulator.

Related terms

ZakatAn obligatory annual contribution on qualifying wealth above a minimum threshold, paid to specified categories of recipients.Zakat recipients (asnaf)The categories of people and purposes to which zakat may be paid, as set out in the Quran.NisabThe minimum amount of wealth above which zakat becomes due; for money it is set by reference to gold or silver.Zakat baseThe pool of qualifying wealth on which zakat is calculated, after including zakatable assets and deducting what the method allows.Shariah supervisory boardAn independent panel of Shariah scholars that approves an institution's products and oversees its Shariah compliance.