Community Response to BAZNAS (Alms Collection Agency) as an Islamic Philanthropic Institution in Indonesia

Abstract

The concept of philanthropy is one of the concepts that has been established in Islam, the purpose of which is to realize goodness (al-birr), al-'ata' al-ijtima'i (giving social security), al-takaaful al-insani (solidarity), humanity) or 'ata' al-khairy (gift for good). Baznas Riau Province, as one of the Islamic philanthropic institutions, is responsible for realizing social justice so that social inequality does not occur in society by implementing economic empowerment for people who are unable so that social justice can be appropriately recognized. This article uses interview to know the community’s response to BAZNAS Riau. This article finds that the society’s trust that has not grown strong in BAZNAS as a professional zakat manager in Indonesia, which has an impact on the tendency for many Muslims to distribute their zakat independently by giving zakat directly to those who are entitled to receive it. In addition, there is a fragmentation of zakat management in Indonesia which is reflected in the emergence of several philanthropic institutions that also manage zakat funds from Muslim communities other than BAZNAS.