Zakat Chamber

The Zakat Chamber is the independent government body concerned with managing Zakat affairs in Sudan — collecting it from those liable for it and disbursing it to its legitimate Sharia channels, in addition to disseminating the rulings of Zakat and introducing it to promote social solidarity. Sudan is considered one of the few countries in the world that collects Zakat compulsorily through a government institution.

Modern codification of Zakat in Sudan began in 1980, when the first Zakat law was issued establishing the "Zakat Fund" on a voluntary basis, then in March 1984 a law was issued incorporating the Fund into the Tax Administration affiliated with the Ministry of Finance under the name "Tax and Zakat Fund", so Zakat became collected compulsorily and direct taxes were abolished. In 1986 Zakat was separated from taxes and an independent body was established known as the "Zakat Chamber", which remains to this day; then a new Zakat law was issued in 1990 that affirmed popular participation through committees in the provinces, local councils and villages, followed by amendments, most notably the Zakat Act of 2001.

The Chamber is managed through a Board of Trustees appointed by presidential decision, the State Auditor General supervises its accounts, and Zakat revenues are not used to finance government expenditures. Zakat categories include apparent and hidden wealth, crops and fruits, livestock and minerals, and it is disbursed to the eight Sharia channels: the poor, the needy, those employed to administer it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing slaves, debtors, in the cause of God, and the stranded traveler. One economic researcher estimated Zakat proceeds in 2001 at about 75 million dollars, while the Chamber is currently working — according to press reports — on a full digital transformation project.

(Sources: Dr. Mohamed Sharif Bashir — study on the Zakat experience in Sudan; World Zakat Organization paper on the legislative development of the Sudanese Zakat Law; Al-Ahdath News newspaper)

— Editorial Team