MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, ASAHAN – Indonesia has immense potential for zakat, infaq, and alms (ZIS), yet only a small portion is effectively collected. To address this gap, better coordination and public awareness are needed to ensure these charitable funds reach those in need.
Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Department of Charity Management (Lazismu) Ahmad Imam Mujadid Rais raised this concern at the Regional Work Meeting of Lazismu of North Sumatra in Asahan, on Saturday, February 1.
He pointed out that North Sumatra’s ZIS potential is estimated at Rp 8.1 trillion, but only 2 to 5 percent—around Rp 200 billion—has been collected. He emphasized that this amount is far below its actual potential.
“One key issue is the lack of proper data collection. Many of our internal institutions are still not well-coordinated,” he explained.
Beyond organizational challenges, low public awareness about ZIS also contributes to the problem. Many Indonesians only think about zakat during Eid al-Fitr, while other types of charitable giving remain largely untapped.
Imam Mujadid stressed that Lazismu cannot work alone in addressing these challenges. He called for collaboration among Muhammadiyah institutions and external partners to strengthen charitable efforts and optimize ZIS contributions.
He also linked this effort to Indonesia Emas (Golden Indonesia) 2045, a vision for a prosperous and advanced Indonesia. Without adequate education, healthcare, and nutrition, he warned that future generations could struggle to reach their full potential.
“If we don’t act now, we will lose a crucial opportunity, and it will have long-term consequences for our nation,” he cautioned.
He encouraged Lazismu and Muhammadiyah broader network to play an active role in ensuring that Indonesia’s demographic advantage leads to a strong and developed nation.
