The role of zakat organization in empowering the peasantry: A case study of the Rumah Zakat Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The paper discusses the economic condition of the peasants in Indonesia in detail and their eligibility for zakat. The paper then investigates the economic benefits of the Rumah Zakat Yogyakarta and studies five peasants that received zakat funds from this organization. The study showed that although the Rumah Zakat had alleviated some of the peasantry’s problems, namely low level of income and urbanization, but was unsuccessful in dealing with the fundamental problems of the peasantry. The paper evaluates the reasons as to why this failure occurred.