GRESIK, East Java — The distribution of Dompet Dhuafa’s Tebar Zakat Fitrah (TZF) Programme in Ramadan 1445 H began in the second week. Through one of its distribution partners, Karya Masyarakat Mandiri (KMM), Dompet Dhuafa distributed 36,600 zakat fitrah packages. On Monday (25/3/2024), as many as 800 zakat fitrah packages were distributed to residents who were classified as fakir, poor, gharim, and fi sabilillah, in Gresik Regency, East Java.
The pentasyarufan process was carried out by Muhtarur Rofiq as a partner of TZF KMM Gresik Regency. In addition to the beneficiaries who came to the designated point in Sambogunung Village, Dukun, Gresik, to collect the rice, some packages were also given to homes for those who were unable to come.
‘Alhamdulillah, I am happy to be part of the goodness with Dompet Dhuafa, to be able to distribute zakat fitrah rice to residents who are in difficulty. Many here are unable to afford their daily needs. Even though they are farmers, but nowadays there is no result from farming,’ he explained.
Rofiq said that the majority of the residents’ livelihoods were labourers. Starting from farm labourers, factories, to fishermen. But now, he continued, many residents are unemployed because all types of labour work have been replaced by machine power. Thus, human labour is rarely needed.
In the past, agricultural work such as planting, ploughing, harvesting, and planting again were all done by human labour. But now, machines can replace it all. Rofiq feels sad that the only people who own farmland are the rich. People who only have a little land, let alone labourers, find it difficult to farm and earn money.
One by one, residents who had been confirmed as beneficiaries of Tebar Zakat Fitrah Dompet Dhuafa came to collect their rights. Along with jokes and smiles, they brought home rice packages for their needs at home. One of them was Mbah Yastikah (79) who came with her neighbours. In her old age, she has no power to work. She admitted that her son supports her to fulfil her daily needs.
‘Matur suwun nak,’ she said as she walked away from the TZF distribution location.
Read also: Zakat Fitrah 2024, Calculation and Complete Guide
Hundreds of packages were then carried by Rofiq and the Tebar Zakat Fitrah Gresik Team to each house. One of them was Rupriyadi (50), a man who lives alone at home. Since childhood, he has lived in his family’s inherited house without anyone to accompany him. Sadly, he can’t do normal activities like other people because he has a disease. He admits that his daily life at home is only waiting for compensation from neighbours and the local village government.
‘Usually people give me food. Sometimes I get food from the village hall. Sometimes one month, sometimes two months. Sometimes I cook, sometimes I buy food,’ she admitted.
No one ever knew the diagnosis of his illness, not even himself. He said he had no money for medical treatment, not even for a check-up. So, he only prays and asks Allah for strength to continue to be given the strength to worship.
‘I’m afraid to go for a check-up. I’m afraid that if I know about my illness, I’ll think about it,’ she said.
Read also: Dompet Dhuafa Bali Distributes Entrusted Zakat Fitrah to All Regencies and Cities in Bali
According to Rofiq, the distribution process of Tebar Zakat Fitrah Dompet Dhuafa is now much better than a few years ago. Back in 2020, many muzaki paid their zakat close to Eid, even the day before. So as an amil extension of Dompet Dhuafa, he is obliged to distribute it before the Eid prayer is held.
Pay your zakat immediately, so that the distribution can be prepared as well as possible. You can also pay zakat fitrah easily on this page: digital.dompetdhuafa.org/zakat/fitrah. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and Photo: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika Prabowo