Poverty is not only caused by inadequate resources but also due to the improper distribution and misuse of resources. This paper discusses the role of zakat as a mechanism for eradicating poverty. A similar situation is seen in Kedah, which might be due to an inefficient distribution of resources. Therefore, there is a need to analyze the relationship between zakat distribution and poverty level to determine the causes of irregularities or any other hindrances to ensure that zakat can play its role in eliminating inequality by eradicating poverty among Muslims. Consequently, the objective of this study is to determine if zakat distribution (independent variable) could reduce the poverty level among Muslims (dependent variable), primarily during the Covid-19 pandemic. Two types of methodologies were employed, involving secondary and primary data. Secondary data was analyzed using EViews to examine the relationship between zakat distribution and poverty level in Kedah from the year 1995 to 2020. For the primary data, questionnaires were distributed to 200 zakat recipients from all 12 districts in Kedah. Findings from both secondary and primary research showed that zakat distribution not only reduced the poverty level but also improved the overall standard of living of the zakat recipients in Kedah. However, zakat distributions were deemed insignificant in building potential businesses and providing job opportunities, indicating the possibilities of improvement by zakat institutions and other related parties.
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In-Text Citation: (Hassan et al., 2022)
To Cite this Article: Hassan, H., Sak, C. S., & Yunus, F. M. (2022). The Roles of Zakat Distribution in Eradicating Poverty in Kedah During The Covid-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(11), 1604– 1615.
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