<p>This study examines zakat as a moral and religious institution among the Cham Muslims community in southern Vietnam, where Islam exists as a minority faith. Using a mixed-methods approach that integrates household surveys, in-depth interviews, and field observations, the research explores how zakat is interpreted and practiced in relation to livelihood strategies, social organization, and religious identity. Findings reveal that zakat among the Cham is not merely a legal obligation under Sharia but a dynamic moral economy that links faith, reciprocity, and community solidarity. Contributions are determined not by fixed legal thresholds but by contextual adaptability, varying according to household income, occupation, and local conditions. The study introduces the concept of “adaptive orthopraxy” to explain how Cham Muslims reconcile Islamic principles with socio-economic realities through flexible and inclusive practices. It also highlights the decentralized governance of zakat through local mosque committees (<i>Ban Hakim</i>), which ensures transparency, consensus, and moral legitimacy in the absence of formal state institutions. By situating the Cham case within broader comparative studies on zakat in Muslim-majority and minority contexts, this research contributes to anthropological understandings of Islam as a lived moral tradition, emphasizing the creative capacity of Muslim communities to sustain religious ethics under diverse economic and political circumstances.</p>