UNDERSTANDING ASNAF ON CAMPUS: REALITIES AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

The term 'asnaf' refers to the eight categories of people entitled to receive zakat, as decreed in the Quran (Surah At-Taubah, verse 60). Often, we imagine the asnaf as the homeless or those living in absolute destitution on the streets. However, in the context of higher education institutions like Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the reality of the asnaf is different yet equally critical.

The Hidden Reality of Asnaf Students

Behind the smiles and sheer determination of students attending lectures, many are secretly battling severe financial crises. These asnaf students might be the classmates who frequently skip meals to save money, those forced to type assignments on outdated smartphones because they lack laptops, or those distressed over outstanding tuition fees. Their poverty is heavily 'hidden' behind the respected image of a university student.

Main Asnaf Categories in the University

Based on campus zakat management, applications and fund distributions typically focus on these three main asnaf categories:

• Fakir and Miskin (The Destitute and Poor): Students from extremely low-income families (B40), orphans, or families who abruptly lost their source of income due to unforeseen tragedies or the deteriorating health of the breadwinner.

• Fisabilillah (Striving in the Path of Allah): Students who are earnestly seeking knowledge (in religion and other critical fields) for their survival and the future development of the ummah.

• Ibnu Sabil (The Wayfarer): Traveling or out-of-state students who are stranded or cut off from financial supplies while studying far from home.

The Role in Safeguarding Asnaf Welfare

Championing the welfare of the asnaf on campus is a collective responsibility. Through the Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat and Infaq (WAZAN) UPM, zakat funds fulfilled by the community are meticulously distributed to ensure the survival of these students. This assistance does not merely save an individual's future; it holds the immense potential to transform the economic destiny of their entire family.

Date of Input: 31/05/2026 | Updated: 20/08/2026 | rizal_helmi