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President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi, at a breaking fast event at Masjid Maarof in Jurong West on March 9, the eighth day of Ramadan. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) will give out nearly $3.1 million of zakat funds to 8,200 beneficiaries as part of its annual Ramadan disbursement in 2025.
Among the beneficiaries the payouts will support are 1,350 tertiary students from low-income families, said Muis chief executive Kadir Maideen on March 9.
Zakat is the collection of tithes from the Muslim community for those in need.
Mr Kadir said the disbursement will supplement the monthly zakat assistance provided to low-income families, who face additional financial pressures during Ramadan.
Addressing attendees at a breaking fast event at Masjid Maarof in Jurong West, Mr Kadir said: “Through zakat, we fulfil our religious obligation and demonstrate our collective commitment to uplift one another, ensuring no one in our community is left behind.”
At the event, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, and Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir joined some 1,000 people, including congregants of the mosque, community and religious leaders and 21 zakat beneficiaries, to break fast on the eighth day of Ramadan.
On top of the Ramadan disbursement, Muis is also working with mosques to organise meal deliveries to zakat beneficiaries who have mobility issues and provide groceries to low-income families, said Mr Kadir.
In his speech, he highlighted SalamSG, an initiative led by mosques and supported by Muis that has distributed food hampers and Ramadan necessities to 480 low-income households in 2025.
This is a 30 per cent increase from 2024, and it has helped these families prepare physically and spiritually for Ramadan, said Mr Kadir.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse mingling with Muis Zakat beneficiaries at a buka puasa event at Masjid Maarof.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Muis has also doubled its reqab (study grant) assistance for families with school-going children from $600,000 to $1.2 million, he added.
“This increase ensures that our children can begin their academic year with (the) necessary resources, without adding undue financial strain to their families,” said Mr Kadir.
In December 2024, Muis announced that $1.28 million had been set aside for enhancements to the scheme, which has benefited some 8,500 children and teenagers up to age 18.
Mr Kadir said Muis disbursed a record $23 million of zakat to support more than 6,000 low-income individuals and families in 2024.
As part of its annual Ramadan disbursement in 2024, Muis distributed more than $2.6 million of zakat to more than 8,600 beneficiaries.
The Muis chief executive also lauded efforts by mosques here to support fund-raising efforts by local charity Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) and M3, a collaboration by self-help group Mendaki, Muis and the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council.
He cited an ongoing project that M3 launched on Feb 24 in collaboration with RLAF to raise funds for humanitarian aid for Gaza. The appeal raised $266,000 as at March 5 and runs till April 6.
Mr Kadir also encouraged attendees to continue contributing to zakat and other community funds like the Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura, a Muslim endowment fund established recently to allow for a sustainable revenue stream to meet the needs of the Muslim community here.
