Mr. Mercedes Owner? You Are Entitled To Receive Zakat

I read the newspaper this morning. The front page is concerning the remaining balance of unclaimed zakat, amounting BND240 million to be distributed to 16,000 entitled people. How sad. 16,000?? OK, maybe to those who just recently converted to Islam and become our brothers and sisters, they are so entitled for their shares. No doubt about that. What I'm trying to highlight here is those receiving the zakat money which I doubt their true financial position of. Alright, maybe there are some, a few hundreds who are really eligable to receive the zakat money, probably there are some pathetic cases you might come across? But as for those who are driving luxury cars, dressed so well with jewelleries on and around them, and come up on the stage to receive the zakat money that they 'supposedly need'? You gotta put a big question mark above that matter.

To those of you who have a better understanding regarding this matter then fine. Either you clarify my doubts or just leave and laugh of my lack of knowledge on this issue. But there are just about so many things to look at regarding this matter:

• With more than $200 million in balance, where have the poor and needy gone to?
• How did the authority actually define poor? Is it on the basis of their earnings or on the basis of their earnings IN RELATION TO the size of his/her family?
• If Mercedes and Lexus owners are also entitled for zakat, what's stopping us from being entitled for the zakat benefit? I don't have a Benz. Poor me! Maybe the zakat receiver went broke right after purchasing all these jewelleries and luxuries and shit and have no other means to cover up their cost of living but to apply for zakat? I don't know. Should I sympathise? Or should I criticise them?

I think that both the authority and the people themselves are to blame in causing the rise to this matter. The authority maybe for not giving a clear-cut guideline of who is actually entitled and bla bla bla. And the people who drive Mercedes and are eligable (other than our newly converted brothers and sisters), shame on you. I don't know. Unless, I already understand the cause of this issue completely, I stand firm on my view.

Quote of the day: There's no such thing as poor Bruneian nor rich Bruneian - Dad on zakat distribution issue.