The National Board of Zakat (BAZNAS) held the 5th International Conference of Zakat (ICONZ) 2021 which was held online and broadcasted live through the BAZNAS TV youtube channel on 22-23 November 2021.
The conference raised the theme "Digital Transformation of Zakat: Building Resiliency and Prosperity of Ummah in Times of COVID-19". This prestigious zakat conference was initiated by BAZNAS in collaboration with Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah) Jakarta and Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA (UHAMKA).
The 5th ICONZ event was officially opened by the Governor of the Jakarta Province Anies Rasyid Baswedan.,Ph.D, the Chancellor of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Prof. Dr. Amany Lubis, MA, and Prof. Muhammadiyah University. Dr. HAMKA Prof. Dr. H. Gunawan Suryoputro, M. Hum. The conference also features many speakers including the Chairman of BAZNAS Prof. Dr. KH. Noor Achmad, MA, Indonesian Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Drs. Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi and the Head of Commission VIII DPR RI H. Yandri Susanto, S.Pt who deliver keynote speech.
"Currently research related to digital transformation in OPZ is still very limited. In fact, research on digitalization in zakat institutions is very important so that zakat institutions can immediately accelerate in adopting digital technology amid the pandemic," said the Chairman of BAZNAS Prof. Dr. KH. Noor Ahmad, MA.
Therefore, according to Prof. Noor, the 5th ICONZ initiated a scientific platform to discuss the digital transformation of OPZ and how the digital transformation is carried out as well as the problems faced by zakat institutions in the digital transformation.
"Digitalization is able to increase the security of zakat collection and management. Digitalization will also surely reduce the incurred costs in transactions," he explained.
Prof. Noor hopes that the 5th ICONZ can produce recommendations that can be applied in OPZ management so that the collection, distribution, and utilization of zakat funds can build community resilience, especially mustahik in the midst of a pandemic and also open up welfare opportunities for mustahik.
"We also hope that this activity will strengthen the public zakat literacy," said Prof Noor.
Conferences are held online via the Zoom Meeting platform. 500 participants who participated came from Regional BAZNAS, LAZ, academics from various universities, as well as the public who also enlivened the plenary session.
The 5th ICONZ also invited academics and researchers from various leading universities in Indonesia to present their research related to the main theme of the 5th ICONZ.
Also present were the best speakers in their fields to share experiences in the plenary session discussions: Mokhamad Mahdum SE, MIDEc, AK, CA, CPA, CWM (Vice Chairman of BAZNAS), Ir. H. Muhamad Nadratuzzaman Hosen, MS.MEc,Ph.D (Commissioner of BAZNAS), Prof. Dr. Hilman Latief (Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah of the Ministry of Religious Affaits of the Republic of Indonesia), Firman Zainal Abidin, M.Ak. (Chairman of the BMH), Muhammad Faris Afif (Lead Islamic Social Finance Link Aja), Prof. Mohammad Kabir Hassan (Professor at University of New Orleans, USA), Dr. Ayub Miah (CZM, Bangladesh), M. Irfan Sukmana (Islamic Economics Education & Socialization Coordinator, Bank Indonesia), Dr. Yulizar D. Sanrego (DSN-MUI), Muhammad Lawal Maidoki (Sokoto Zakat and Endowment Commission), Dr. Abid Smerat (Shunduq Zakat Jordan) and Dr. Oni Sahroni, M.A. (DSN-MUI).
Rep: Puskas BAZNAS