The COVID-19 outbreak has caused other dimensions of poverty. In the World Zakat Forum member countries, zakat administration during the pandemic can provide insight into zakat practices during the pandemic. That is, zakat in time of COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from World Zakat Forum is officially launched

The report provides relevant insights regarding zakat administration in a time of COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion begins with the elaboration of COVID-19 impacts, notably the socioeconomic problems it has caused. Furthermore, the existing studies which have investigated former outbreaks are reviewed to enrich the discussions.

The importance of zakat in facing such consequences is therefore captured. This study further employs a qualitative approach to understand how zakat has been managed during the pandemic. Interview through email and WhatsApp is conducted with the representatives from the World Zakat Forum member countries.

Of the existing 40 member countries, 14 representatives who are from 12 countries respond to the interviews. In total, 14.194 words are collected from the interviews and used for the analysis. Thematic analysis is further conducted to describe zakat administration in the selected COVID-19 period.

Overall, the finding shows necessary knowledge about zakat management during the pandemic. It captures digital innovation in zakat collection, a novelty in zakat distribution, the manoeuvre of internal management of zakat institution, and other issues related to zakat collection and distribution in a time of COVID-19 outbreak.

The report is relevant to zakat stakeholders, academics, and government in Muslim majority countries. To some degree, the finding of this research has the potential to support the activation of zakat as a fiscal policy instrument, notably in Muslim majority countries.