Sudut Pandang dan Kefahaman Warganet terhadap Zakat Semasa Pandemik COVID-19 di Malaysia Berdasarkan Teori Prosodi Semantik

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a huge impact on economic activities, thus affecting the people. The evidence is that 1.78 million data extracted from social media is related to socioeconomic issues. One of the most talked about topics is the issue of zakat (alms) in Malaysia. Intrigued by these problems, this article aims to examine the viewpoint and understanding of the alms, especially in relation to applications and helplines, as well as the issues of confusion in the meaning and concept of alms. By using the keyword [zakat] obtained through the virtual advertising operation on Facebook data, the study examined 35,000 posts (reply comments) detected from January to June 2020. All data analysed are based on the semantic prosody theory which expresses the view that each word has its own consistent aura, thus enabling it to be transferred and its meaning attached to other words in a sentence. The results of the analysis found that both issues highlighted often showed the collocation of the word [zakat] with the words [mohon/apply], [proses/process], [konsep/concept], [makna/meaning] and [asnaf/a group of Muslims worthy of receiving Muslim tithe or]. The understanding of the collocation relationship displays two forms of dificulties in alms which are dificulty in understanding the process and procedure of alms application and dificulty in understanding the concept and meaning of [zakat] and its details. The analysis also found that both issues were discussed cynically, causing misunderstanding if not properly addressed. This situation indicates that no matter how small the issue is raised, it should be taken care of in order to ensure that the alms management can be preserved in the name of Islam.