Indonesian Ulema Council Obliges YouTubers, Instagram Content Creators to Pay Zakat

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - The Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Fatwa, Asrorun Ni'am Sholeh, said that Youtube content creators (YouTubers), Instagram content creators, and other digital economy actors are obliged to give zakat. This was conveyed on Thursday (5/30), through the Ijtima Ulama of the 8th Indonesian Fatwa Commission.

The decision is a response after seeing digital developments in society, including those that can generate profits. Mandatory zakat for content creators is stipulated in various provisions such as the object of business or type of content that does not conflict with sharia provisions.

“It has reached the nisab, which is worth 85 grams of gold and reached hawalan al haul (one year) of ownership,” he said.

If it has not reached the nisab, then the income is collected for one year, then issued after the income has reached the nisab with a zakat rate of 2.5 percent if using the lunar or hijri year period. “If there are difficulties in using the lunar year, such as in terms of business bookkeeping, then use the zakat rate of 2.57 percent,” Ni'am explained.