DA’WAH Front of Nigeria has identified zakat, the third pillar of Islam, as a means by which the hardship being experienced by Nigerians as a result of current economic challenges can be tackled.
The national coordinator of the organisation, Alhaji Musliudeen AbdulGafar, stated this at the fourth zakat distribution ceremony of Da’wah Front, Abeokuta chapter, held at the Egba Central Mosque, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Zakat is a form of almsgiving which is a mandatory pillar of Islam wherein the wealthy, having reached the threshold, take out a percentage of their wealth annually for the poor.
Alhaji AbdulGafar, who was represented by his deputy, Professor Sheriffdeen Adewuyi, implored other organisations to take a cue from Da’wah Front and give zakat.
“We are enjoining all our Muslim organisations to follow suit, especially in this era when the economy of this country is not at its best and the only way to go about it is to follow Allah’s injunction of giving zakat.
“By the time we follow this injunction of Allah, we believe the Muslims in this community and in this country would, in a way, overcome the problem of economic hardship,” he said.
At the event, items like refrigerators and industrial sewing machines worth N3.4 million were distribuofd to 18 successful applicants.
The chairman of the zakat committee, Surajudeen Fasola, explained that over 60 Muslims, including non-members of the group, had benefited from the exercise which started in 2016, with over N7 million expended so far.
Fasola, who hinted that 95 per cent of the applicants were women that included the aged and widows, encouraged men to work hard with a view to assisting the vulnerable section of the society which comprised majorly women.
The chapter coordinator, Dr Samsideen Ayanwale, represented by the missionary, Alhaji Ishaq Ajisegiri, explained that Da’wah Front remains a platform for the actualisation of Islamic agenda, one of which is the institution of zakat.
Malam Tajudeen Ademoye, who delivered the lecture, expressed regret that zakat is the most neglected pillar of Islam despite its closeness to salat, as mentioned in the Qur’an.
He advised the beneficiaries to make the most of the donated items and work towards becoming payers of zakat in the nearest future.
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