Islamic Minister Dr. Ziyad Bagir has stated that if were are to explicitly adhere to the Prophet’s hadith, then as per normal Maldivian diets, we will not be eligible to pay zakat.
Speaking in a press conference Wednesday in Islamic Ministry, Dr. Ziyad stated that the context of the hadith were based on the conditions of that time and that issuing zakat from normal food staple was accepted. He added that this was the norm is all Islamic nations and that no scholar had disagreed on this.
He added that this was accepted principle recommended by Ibn Thaimiyyah in the 25th volume of fatwa.
Hadith only calls for Zakat to be paid in dates, dried grapes and wheat: Dr. Ziyad
