An audit is an
objective evaluation and examination of the financial statements of an
organization to make sure that the records are an accurate and fair representation
of the transactions they claim to represent. Employees can conduct internally
the audit of the organization, or externally by an outside firm. The IRS can
perform audits to verify the accuracy of a taxpayer’s returns or other
transactions. When the IRS audits, it usually carries a negative implication
and is seen as evidence and proof of some type of wrongdoing by the taxpayer.
In external auditing, there are two
distinct categories of auditors. Firstly, in an external or statutory
auditor who independently works to evaluate financial reporting. There are also
external auditors who process cost statements and sheets to observe if there is
any fraud.[1]
First and foremost, about the methodology of zakah distribution. The method is divided into two which are
based on needs and based on accumulated zakah property. As we all clearly
known, the zakah is distributed based on eight levels of asnafs. As Allah SWT
said in Al-Quran Kareem in At-Taubah verse 60 which mean: “Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer
the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth);
for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah. and for the wayfarer:
(thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.”
Islamic scholars will always discuss
revolving this ayah in particular issues and the flow of zakah management. Hence,
zakah property will be collected and distributed to these people based on their
needs. There will be two situations that may occur in the distribution of zakah
based on needs. Firstly, excess of zakah funds. This situation is like
occurred in Saidina Umar b Al Khattab, Uthman b Affan and Umar Abd Aziz times. The second situation is the depletion of zakah funds. Lack of zakah property can affect
the distribution of property to the asnaf. In such circumstances, the
government was forced to seek additional property from rich people.
In order to seek additional property
from rich people, there are some conditions that have to be implemented. The first condition is the process of distributing additional property shall be made fair
and equitable. It is compulsory to have integrity, honesty and pure attitude in
distributing the additional property. The second condition is additional property
acquired must be channeled for the benefit of Muslims. The benefit of Muslims
mean that something that is halal and beneficial for Muslims to be consumed. Not
something that is prohibited and harmful. Third condition is the proposed
conditions need to be approved by Islamic scholars. Islamic scholars are the
best reference for Muslims to refer to.
Meanwhile, the methodology of zakah
distribution based on accumulated zakah property is that if each of asnaf had
already received the appropriate zakah, hence the government or the zakat fund
manager will determine zakat to whomever they think is worthy of accepting it.
It is really good to take Saidina Umar al Khattab attitudes in hiring governor
in each particular area to collect, manage and distribute zakah property to
people. Saidina Umar Al Khatab was really good and precise when it comes to
zakah management. The khaleefah did not want any of his people to suffer from poor
and pauper hence he really details in his leadership. The government nowadays
can relate his stories with today’s issues and incidents related to zakah
management.
Zakah Audit Process
Zakah audit process is divided into
several steps which are planning, implementation, transactional checks,
informal advices, and communications and audit summary. First thing first, the
process of planning. In planning, the auditor explained to the client on audit
tasks, discussing the scope of the audit and the objective of the inspection
with zakat management.
There are few things that must be
included in the planning process which are contractual agreement, an overview or
initial check, inspection and observation, internal control assessment and
audit program. For contractual agreements, the client is notified by agreement from
auditor. This letter describes the scope and objective of the audit to be
carried out; the required documents or information shall be provided. Overview
or initial check is introductory session are made for audited or client. The
auditor will meet audited for an interview and further explanation.
In inspection and observation, the auditor will collect information related to the organization's operation and
management while the internal control assessment is the process that took a
quiet long time. Structure control under organization will be valued. Many
techniques will be used by auditor to detect the high-risk part and element.
The closing part for the planning process is the audit program. This is a closure for the initial phase of auditing. Fieldwork is required to achieve the objectives of the audit.
Second process in zakah audit is
implementation. It is focusing on fieldwork and performing predetermined
activities. This task focuses on non-formal transaction and communication.
Continuous audit implementation steps include identifying monitoring audit
rules, determining process frequency, establishing priority areas, configuring
parameters, following up and communicating results.
The third process in zakah audit process
is transaction checks. This process typically tests the internal control
systems and transaction accuracy. Authorities’ bodies (Zakah center in particular
states) have two transaction records which are zakah collection and zakah
distributions. It is the responsibility of the auditors to ensure that major
transactions are inspected.
The fourth zakat accounting methodology is
informal communication and advice. Upon fieldwork in the process, the auditor
will discuss with clients any important findings obtained. At this stage, the
client will be able to assist the auditor and discuss to identify the best
method to overcome any questions or findings. Usually, this presentation is made
verbally. For more complex inventions, formal or written communication is
carried out. This can be made in the form of an interim report and email.
Especially in the distribution of zakat, the determination of asnaf is very
complicated and requires a written report.
The last zakat accounting
methodology is an audit summary. The auditor will issue an audit summary and
report upon completion of fieldwork. Reserves and closures are important in
providing audit reports. First, paperwork. An important tool in the audit
profession is paperwork. This document is accompanied by audit recommendations
and all records found by the auditor. This document is comprehensive and used
as reference material and a historic relationship between the client and the
auditor.
Zakat Audit Procedures
The first procedure of zakat auditing is to
check and to ensure the date of starting the haul. The date starting of haul is
the starting date of calculating the Zakat. The date of starting of haul or the
date to calculate the zakat was different from every person who needs to pay
zakat and according to the situation the group of the procedure the zakat. For example, if someone from agriculture so he needs to pay zakat agriculture. The starting of haul is from
the day of harvesting and after he gets the profit and fulfill all the condition
to pay the zakat so he needs to pay zakat.
The second procedure of zakat auditing is to
ensure or to assess a variety of zakat property owned by zakat procedures and
explain the compulsory properties that must pay the zakat. Because we know
there are many people out there who clearly do not know more about the zakat.
The third procedure of zakat auditing is to
ensure or to assess all the liability can be a deduction from zakat property
before paying the zakat. For example to pay zakat income so before paying the
zakat after fulfil the condition such as the haul and the nisab so they need to know there is the deduction of liability such as for wife and family. So the
auditor will help to solve the zakat.
Procedure of zakat auditing also to make sure
deduction of liability from the zakat property to assess the compulsory
zakat.After the auditor make sure the total deduction from the zakat property
so the auditor will make sure he need to pay zakat or still do not fulfil the
condition of nisab.
To ensure the rate imposed on the zakat
property. Every zakat property has different rate to pay the zakat. For example, the rate or nisab for gold an od silver
zakat is 2.5%. The rate of gold and silver had been decided by the Jurists. Zakat
agriculture and fruits after deduct the capital such as tools for harvesting is
5%.So the auditor will make sure of nisab before paying the zakat.
The next procedure of zakat auditing to check
and to confirm that the distribution of zakat had been following the rules and
regulations that had been given by shariah guidelines and follow all the method
by Syariah.Last but not least the procedure of zakat auditing is to confirm and
report according to the rate of zakat.
Rules of Zakat Auditor
There
are many rules of a auditor to auditing the zakat. The auditor will identify and
collect all document that related to a property that can pay for zakat. The next
rules of zakat auditor is to identify and to collect all document that related
with the deduction that permissible to the calculation of zakat.
To
check, to assess and to evaluate the property that can be for zakat also the rules
of zakat auditor. Besides that, to check, to assess and evaluate all deduction for
the zakat also the rules of zakat auditor. Actually, there are many rules of
zakat auditor without the auditor the authority cannot manage zakat in Malaysia
effectively. Work as the auditor for zakat is not something that useless but
be the auditor zakat was ibadah in Islam, there is a verse from Al-Quran Surah Al
Bayyinah verse 5 ;
“And they were not commanded except to worship
Allah,(being)sincere to him in religion,inclining to truth,and to establish
prayer and to give zakah and that is the correct religion”
From the verse, we can say that zakat auditor
also was a form of ibadah.The auditor of zakat
must manage to make sure anything that related to zakat needs to manage
properly and effectively according to the shariah guidelines and follow all the
condition and restriction of syara’.