How to Pay for Zakat with eWallets
In this holy month of Ramadan, many Malaysians may be wondering how they should go about paying for their zakat.
While most zakat collection centres will be open while employing social distancing, it’s still not advised to head out the house unless absolutely necessary. The next best option that would come to mind for most is E-Zakat PAY – the official online payment portal.
But did you know you can also make cashless zakat payments via eWallets?
What is zakat in the first place?
Perhaps you’re an expat, or never fully understood what zakat is and why we pay for it.
Zakat is an obligatory religious donation in Islam. It’s one of the five pillars of Islam, with the other four being profession of faith (syahadah), prayer (solat), fasting (puasa) and pilgrimage (haj).
Paying zakat is a means of purifying the wealth you have accumulated by donating it to the needy, hence why it’s paid in proportion to your earnings. This is known as zakat harta.
Zakat fitrah on the other hand, is paid during Ramadan and is equivalent to the value of a bushel of the variety of rice eaten in one’s home. You can find this year’s rates for your respective state here.
Which eWallet can be used to pay zakat?
At the moment, Boost and GoPayz are the only eWallets in Malaysia to provide an in-app zakat payment feature.
Both apps’ partnership with Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) means Malaysians now have an even more convenient option to make their zakat contributions from the safety of their home.
Haven’t heard of GoPayz before? You’re looking at U Mobile’s very own eWallet just launched last year. In fact, GoPayz was the first eWallet in Malaysia to provide a zakat payments feature!
Recent statements by Touch ‘N Go eWallet also claim that the company is in the works of introducing their own zakat payments feature. Though you won’t be able to find this feature on the TNG app just yet, it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for.
On that note, major eWallet player Grab also has yet to introduce a method of paying zakat via their app. While Muslim driver-partners were previously able to opt-in for automatic zakat deduction, that feature is currently on hold due to the Movement Control Order.
Bookmark this article as we will be updating it in accordance to new zakat features launched by eWallets in Malaysia!
How to pay for zakat with Boost eWallet
- Step 1: Select “zakat” in your Boost homepage
- Step 2: Find out if the zakat feature is available in your state
- Step 3: Add new zakat account
- Step 4: Fill in your details
- Step 5: For zakat fitrah, select “harga beras” and pay
Step 1: Select “zakat” in your Boost homepage
Open your Boost app and you should see a “zakat” tile in the homepage. Click on the tile to proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Find out if the zakat feature is available in your state
Currently, Malaysians residing in five regions can make their zakat contributions via Boost. Stay tuned for more states!
- Kedah
- Selangor
- Wilayah Persekutuan
- Wilayah Labuan
- Wilayah Putrajaya
Step 3: Add new zakat account
You will be asked to add a new zakat account. This handy feature allows you to key in your details and it will be automatically saved for the next time you make another contribution.
Select either Zakat Harta or Zakat Fitrah based on which you’re paying for. If you’re helping someone else pay for their zakat, simply open another account with their details instead.
Step 4: Fill in your details
Insert your details such as name, contact number, NRIC number and the number of persons you are paying for.
Step 5: For Zakat Fitrah, select “harga beras” and pay
Your total amount will be automatically calculated based on the “harga beras” and number of pax you have filled in. After payment, you will receive your receipt via e-mail which you can then use for tax rebate purposes.
How to pay for zakat with GoPayz eWallet
- Step 1: Go to “Services” > “Islamic“ > “Zakat”
- Step 2: Choose your preferred zakat collection body
- Step 3: Choose your zakat payment option and proceed with payment
Step 1: Go to “Services” > “Islamic“ > “Zakat”
After signing up for GoPayz, click on “Services” > “Islamic” > “Zakat” in either the app or website.
Step 2: Choose your preferred zakat collection body
Choose from 4 zakat collection bodies currently available on GoPayz. Those are:
- Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS)
- Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Melayu Perak (MAIPk)
- Lembaga Zakat Negeri Kedah (LZNK)
- Pusat Pungutan Zakat-MAIWP (PPZ-MAIWP)
Step 3: Choose your zakat payment option and proceed with payment
From there, you will be directed to an external website operated by the respective body. Choose your zakat payment option and proceed with the payment process.
Bookmark this article as we will be updating it in accordance to new zakat features launched by eWallets in Malaysia!
How to pay for zakat with Touch ’n Go eWallet
- Step 1: Visit the Lembaga Zakat Selangor website
- Step 2: Click “Bayar Online”
- Step 3: Fill in your information
- Step 4: Select Touch ‘n Go eWallet as your payment method
Step 1: Visit the Lembaga Zakat Selangor website
EWallets aside, you can simply visit the Lembaga Zakat Selangor site to make a contribution online.
Step 2: Click “Bayar Online”
On the topmost right corner, click the red “Bayar Online” button.
Step 3: Fill in your information
From here, you can begin filling in the relevant details such as your name, IC number, type of zakat you’re contributing and contribution amount.
Step 4: Select Touch ‘n Go eWallet as your payment method
Payment-wise, Lembaga Zakat Selangor at the time of writing offers three payment methods - FPX, JomPAY and Touch ‘n Go eWallet. Simply select your preferred method of choice.
Why pay for zakat with eWallets?
Though making your zakat contributions via eWallet doesn’t entitle you to any of the usual benefits (Boost Coins, Shake Rewards etc.), it still makes for the more convenient option.
These days, eWallets are more than a digital way to store cash and make transactions. Use them to pay your utility bills, make charitable donations and pay for your groceries – and that’s just scratching the surface.
So while you continue to use your eWallet to reap rewards and discounts for your daily transactions, you can continue to use the same platform for other aspects of life as an all-in-one payment option.
For more eWallet tips this Ramadan, check out our guide on How to Celebrate Ramadan to the Fullest during CMCO!