Sharia Compliant in Private Zakat Institutions of Riau

Abstract

This study aims to understand the role of Sharia Supervisors in the private Zakat Institution (LAZ) as well as other aspects of sharia compliance, such as Zakat fatwa on the perspective of Zakat officers. According to Decree of the Minister of Religion Number 333 / 2015 that LAZ as register must have a sharia supervisor. Sharia compliance of an institution could rely on the role of the sharia supervisory board (SSB). Some literature discussing this topic is still dominated study on Islamic financial institutions (IFIs), especially in Islamic Banks. Therefore this article will contribute to the body of knowledge, especially in the zakat literature. Data were gathered from five presiding officers of private zakat institutions in one province in Indonesia which consists of three presiding officers from provincial LAZ representative and two presiding officers from LAZ district. The study found that Sharia compliance in LAZ had many weaknesses such as lack of sharia control by sharia supervisors, a member of the sharia supervisory board who does not follow the latest issues about Zakat or the absence of competency requirements to be a sharia supervisor at LAZ and also did not make Zakat fatwa issued by MUI as the primary reference by zakat officer. This information will be useful for stakeholders, including supervisory authorities and regulators.