10,500 to benefit from $4.3 million in MUIS assistance during Ramadan
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President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a MUIS buka puasa session held at Al-Mawaddah Mosque on Feb 20.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
- A $4.3 million support package will aid 10,500 Muslims during Ramadan 2026. Funded by zakat and fidyah, it supports various low-income beneficiaries.
- MUIS is enhancing aid accessibility, reviewing criteria, and partnering agencies. Mosques strengthen support through ground-up initiatives like community pantries and officers who guide families to support avenues.
- Acting Minister-in-charge for Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim and President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam joined more than 100 Muslims to break their fasts Al-Mawaddah Mosque on Feb 20.
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SINGAPORE – A $4.3 million support package will be given out by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, or MUIS, to 10,500 people during the month of Ramadan to support their daily needs.
The money will be given out to beneficiaries of the monthly zakat support scheme, Muslim residents from selected welfare homes, ComCare long-term assistance recipients, households referred by family service centres, and Muslim tertiary students from low-income families.
The 2026 support package is made up of $3.5 million from zakat funds and $800,000 from fidyah contributions
Zakat is the collection of tithes from the Muslim community for those in need, and fidyah is religious compensation paid by Muslims who have missed fasts in Ramadan due to valid reasons like illness and are unable to compensate for them.
At its heart, zakat reflects Muslims’ collective duty as a community to uplift one another and enable everyone to live with dignity, respect and hope for a better future, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim on Feb 20.
He was speaking at a buka puasa (break fast) session at Al-Mawaddah Mosque in Buangkok on Feb 20, where he and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam ate with around 100 community leaders and beneficiaries.
President Tharman and Associate Professor Faishal met zakat beneficiaries at the mosque and listened in on a Quran recitation before sundown, when they joined everyone in breaking their fasts.
The $4.3 million is up from the $3.08 million given out to 8,200 beneficiaries in Ramadan 2025 $2.6 million for 8,600 beneficiaries in 2024
MUIS also distributed $4.3 million to more than 6,000 families and 8,000 children in December as part of its year-end disbursements. This tranche of help, which has been given out since 2012, aims to buffer year-end expenses and support families with school-going children preparing for the new school year.
The year-end disbursements, as well as the one given out during Ramadan, are on top of the monthly zakat financial assistance that MUIS’ zakat beneficiaries receive, providing them with unconditional cash support to help them fulfil basic needs.
“It reflects our continued commitment to providing timely support when it matters most,” said Prof Faishal.
He added that MUIS is also exploring new ways to make help more easily accessible, and it is working closely with national agencies to complement existing assistance schemes. Additionally, MUIS is reviewing its means-testing criteria to reach out to more households.
He said mosques continue to play a vital role in serving the community, and added that he is heartened to see ground-up support from many mosques that set up community pantries to provide groceries directly to families.
“These efforts reflect the true spirit of care, solidarity and community support,” he said.
Under an initiative called Zakat Social Development@Mosques launched in 2023, families can approach officers in some mosques, who can help assess their needs and connect them to support such as immediate cash assistance and grocery vouchers. The number of mosques under the programme grew from six in 2023 to 60 presently.
In 2025, more than 1,100 people received assistance through this initiative, with approximately 600 referred to monthly support programmes, MUIS said.
Prof Faishal called for the active participation of the Muslim community in other events during Ramadan, and said these programmes will continue to unite the community and strengthen bonds.
“Gratitude reminds us to acknowledge our blessings and appreciate those who support us every day. Giving embodies compassion, ensuring we serve, share, and leave no one behind,” he said.
