REVITALIZING PRODUCTIVE ZAKAT IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ERA IN EAST JAVA

Abstract

COVID-19 has brought significant changes in people’s lives, especially in the economic sector. As a financial tool for the people, Zakat is expected to be a source of community welfare in the pandemic era. Well-managed zakat is expected to be able to provide jobs for the affected community. This article aims to describe the revitalization of productive zakat in zakat management institutions in East Java during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a juridical-empirical research. The study’s primary data were the results of semi-structured interviews with the Zakat Managers at BAZNAS East Java, Nurul Hayat Malang, and YDSF Malang. This study indicates that the mentioned zakat institutions have distributed zakat productively, although it has not run optimally. The problems include the lack of understanding and assistance, as well as the less varied productive zakat program. This will be easily overcome by managing productive zakat professionally involving partner institutions that are consistent in mentoring and development. This article may enrich the literature of productive zakat management and provide some recommendations to implement the zakat management more effective.