A notable Muslim organisation, Jannata Islamiyyah Association of Nigeria (JIAN), last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State, lamented the rate of poverty in Nigeria and looked at the critical role of Islamic finance in bringing about solutions and alleviating the problem.
The organisation, at this year’s edition of its national annual lecture, held at Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi Central Mosque, Oke-Ado, explained the activities of Islamic financial institutions in the country and how these have helped in making the problem of poverty less severe among the people.
The guest lecturer, Professor Abdul-Razzaq Alaro, an Islamic law expert , gave a trajectory of Islamic financial institutions in Nigeria, saying they had enhanced financial inclusion and brought real solutions to some of the identified problems in the country’s financial sector.
Professor Alaro, who is the founder of Assunah Academy of Da’wah, Ilorin, Kwara State, was represented at the event by Dr Habeebullah Agbabiaka.
The lecture, which was attended by scores of members of the public, was graced by traditional rulers and other dignitaries like the member of the House of Representatives for Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency, Honourable Dhikrullah Adedeji Olajide (Odidi Omo), who was represented by Alhaji Kazeem Folarin.
Scholars, including the Amir, Federation of Ahlu Sunnah Organisations in Nigeria (FASON), Sheikh Tajudeen Abdul-Kareem Al-Adab; Mudhir, Ihyaudeen Islamic Centre, Sheikh Abdul-Kareem Ahmad Eleyinerin; and Grand Kadi, Arbitration Panel of Oyo State, Sheikh Ahmad Tiamiy, were also present.
Dr Agbabiaka, speaking on ‘The Role of Islamic Finance in Poverty Alleviation and Income Inequality Reduction in Nigeria’, described poverty as one of the biggest problems a human society could face, but noted that Islam offers a broad-based system of finance that is capable of bringing the problem under control.
He noted that the ulama (Muslim scholars who are recognised as having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology) had so far been involved in the process of innovating Islamic banking products that had proven to be beneficial to Muslims and non-Muslims alike in the country.
According to him, Islam abhors poverty and to that extent, all Muslims, including clerics, must shield themselves from indigence by engaging in one gainful economic activity or another.
He asserted that all prophets of Allah were men who engaged in various vocations for dignified living and sustenance of their families.
Dr Agbabiaka urged Muslim leaders as well as traditional rulers not to relent in sermonising and praying for young Nigerians who are at risk of moral corruption due to the amount of depraved behaviour and activities among many political figures in the country today.
The amir of the association, Alhaji Qazeem Sanusi, said the choice of the topic of the lecture was informed by the economic hardship in the country, the way situation had worsened poverty in the land and need to bring hope to Nigerians.
He said the association was formed to not only ensure the spiritual development of its members and the general public but also to cater for the financial well-being of all and sundry, particularly Muslims, through two of its subsidiaries, Daar Zakat Foundation of Nigeria and Al-Firdaos Cooperative Investments and Credit Society.
Sheikh Tajudeen Abdul-Kareem, popularly known as Baba l’Agbeni, extolled the virtues of Professor Alaro whom he described as the epitome of Islamic scholarship and excellence.
He commended the organisers and the lecturer for enlightening the public on alleviation of poverty, which he described mostly caused by human tendencies rather than ordained by Allah.
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