MUSLIMS have been advised to ameliorate the suffering of people around them, especially the needy, in the face of poverty and the current economic hardship in the country through the instrumentality of zakat.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubabar and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, gave this advice on Sunday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at a zakat distribution ceremony of the Education, Social and Health Mission (MESH), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) sponsored by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
Sultan Abubakar, who is the President-General of the NSCIA, implored Muslims and non-Muslims to show love to one another at this critical moment in the history of the nation.
The Sultan, who was represented by Dr Abdullahi Shuib, said: “This is the time when people that have two should be able to let go of one and those that have three should let go of two so that these resources spread to all the nooks and crannies of the Nigerian society.
“The multiplier effect can reduce insecurity, bring about total annihilation of banditry and bring about the rejuvenated and secure Nigerian society we used to have.”
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The Awujale, who also functions as the President-General of the Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC), said “No doubt, there have been several initiatives by individuals, groups and governments in addressing poverty in the land.
Oba Adetona, represented by the Vice President-General (Remo Zone) of the OMC, Professor Habeeb Oladipo Oduye, said: “A cardinal objective of these initiatives is to provide support for the needy and directly or indirectly make the beneficiaries of such initiatives become wealth creators as well, such that they too will be in a position to be zakat payers.”
The MESH Coordinator/Lead Programme Officer, Hajiya Khadijah Oladipupo, called on the beneficiaries to use the empowerment items “to improve your economic status so you can help others around you and in turn pay your zakat in the nearest future.”
About 45 beneficiaries drawn from different parts of the Ogun State benefited from the zakat distribution in the form of economic empowerment and educational support.
