Transform Your Passion into Profession: A Career in Zakat Management

Do you know of a professional whose remuneration package is determined by none other than Allah SWT in the Quran itself? You would know the answer if you have read the verse from Surah At-Tawbah (9:60), which states:

“Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [Zakat], and for bringing hearts together [for Islam], and for freeing captives [or slaves], and for those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and for the [stranded] traveler — an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.”

In this verse, “those employed to collect [Zakat]” refers to Amil Zakat. The inclusion of Amil Zakat as a beneficiary of Zakat funds underscores the importance of compensating those who dedicate their time and effort to managing this significant pillar of Islam.

The compensation of Amil Zakat is not only justified but mandated by Islamic law according to the guidance in the Quran, ensuring that the administrators of this important religious duty are supported and motivated. This approach facilitates professional and sustainable management of Zakat, which is critical for its effectiveness and the welfare of the wider Muslim community.

More importantly, the provision for compensating Amil Zakat directly from Zakat funds indeed facilitates the creation of self-sustainable Zakat management organizations. This framework supports the operational needs of such organizations, ensuring they can function efficiently without relying on external funding sources for administrative costs. It also ensures expansion and scalability. As the organization grows and handles more Zakat funds efficiently, it can scale its operations. This can lead to an increased collection of Zakat, which in turn can support more beneficiaries and further invest in the organizational infrastructure, creating a positive cycle of growth and effectiveness.

With the issues of sustainability and scalability of operations taken care of, perhaps the next question is what is the “untapped” potential of the Zakat sector? According to studies at the Islamic Development Bank Institute and the World Bank, only about 1%-3% of potential Zakat is currently being collected, leaving behind a huge untapped potential. What is encouraging in this scenario is the fact that countries and regions that have put in place enabling regulatory frameworks, policies, and institutions for capacity building have witnessed exponential growth in their Zakat mobilization. That is where professionally designed learning programs in Zakat management have a role to play.

How many institutions currently offer education and training courses in Zakat Management? In some cases, such as in Islamic universities, Zakat management and Zakat accounting are offered as subject choices in a composite course in Islamic economics and finance. There are also a few other providers that offer stand-alone certificates/diplomas in Zakat management. So what is unique about the Certification by Netversity? Well, in the initial blog in this series, we identified the parameters against which one should be able to evaluate a course. Let us consider them one by one.

• Curriculum Quality and Relevance: While courses in Zakat management usually do not go beyond the Shariah rules governing mobilization and distribution of Zakat, ours has a broader coverage including good and bad practices in Zakat management at macro, meso, and micro levels, country experiences in terms of inter-country diversity in regulations, policies, and infrastructure, data and estimates, and latest innovations in the field such as platformization and digitalization in Zakat management. The entire course has been assessed and validated by Amanah Advisors (UK) led by Mufti Faraz Adam for its accuracy from a Shariah perspective.
• Instructor Expertise: Our Zakat management course is authored by Dr Mohammed Obaidullah, a former Head of Training and Research at the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI), a supra-national development financial institution affiliated with the OIC and credited with capacity-building initiatives in Zakat management in many Islamic countries. Many of the case studies are based on his personal field experiences. He led a team that is credited with a widely quoted paper on “untapped Zakat potential” and the “Islamic Social Finance Report,” the first-ever publication in the world to use the term “Islamic Social Finance” to bracket the Zakat, Waqf, and not-for-profit components of the Islamic financial system.
• Accreditation and Recognition: Our Certificate in Zakat Management is the first and only course to have obtained Accreditation from the Finance Accreditation Agency (FAA) Malaysia. It is also currently under review for accreditation by CPD (UK). The course is also “endorsed” by the National Zakat Foundation (UK).
• Flexibility and Delivery Format: Ours is the only course outside the Islamic universities that offers real-time classes for cohorts in addition to self-paced learning. To the best of our knowledge, none of the certification providers (other than universities) offer live classroom support.
• Cost and Financial Aid Options: Netversity’s Zakat management course is perhaps among the lowest cost options in the market at USD 150. The course price is pegged low and affordable in order to maximize outreach. Further scholarships and waivers are allowed under university partnerships.
• Student Support Services: Netversity provides 24/7 admin and technical support to its students. Academic and tutor support is available during official hours that also includes career counseling and mentoring.
• Technology and Learning Resources: Netversity is perhaps the only learning provider to facilitate “hands-on” experience on a digital Zakat platform as part of its curriculum. It also provides an option to cohorts to experience the learning in an immersive 3D environment at Netverse. It seeks to apply cutting-edge edtech for optimizing the application of emerging technologies for providing learning resources.
• Outcomes and Success Stories: So far, 74 students have successfully completed the Zakat Management course of Netversity that includes cohorts from the National Zakat Foundation (UK), Jamaat Islami Hind (India), SANZAF (South Africa) and more recently, an Islamic group from the Philippines. The cohorts usually aim at creating a cadre of Zakat professionals who may play a proactive role in the Zakat ecosystem of a country.
• Networking Opportunities: The course involves interaction with industry leaders in the form of seminars and workshops. In the past, our speakers on Zakat management have included leaders from Amanah Advisors (UK), SANZAF (South Africa), World Zakat and Waqf Forum, and various university scholars.
• Feedback and Reviews: This is a permanent feature of our course administration. While the feedback has invariably been positive, we have enhanced many of the course features in the light of constructive feedback received from our students.

Are you ready to transform your passion into a profession and make a significant impact in the world of Islamic philanthropy? Enroll in our Zakat Management course at Netversity today and join a community of professionals dedicated to making a difference. Let’s harness the untapped potential together and lead the change in the Zakat ecosystem. Enroll now and be part of the future of Islamic social finance!