The Elders Consultative Forum of the
Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, on Sunday
distributed cash worth N2.4 million to 132 Muslim indigents in Oyo
State.
The forum’s chairman, Alhaji Sanusi (SAN) while speaking at the 6th
annual Zakat Distribution in Ibadan, said the N2.4 million realised
from the zakat contribution would be shared among 132 Muslim
indigents.
Sanusi who noted that Zakat was one of the five pillars of Islam that
was compulsory on every wealthy Muslim to pay once in a year.
He said that the highest collector was N100,000 and the least was N25,000.
Sanusi expressed optimism that the Zakat would go a long way in
alleviating poverty among the beneficiaries.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria lamented that the money was too small
but attributed it to the present financial crisis in Nigeria.
“The money is too small, we ought to have realised more than this but
due to the present financial crises in the country,’’ he said.
He said that the Committee responsible for the Zakat Distribution had
to screen the beneficiaries before arriving at the number after
considering their needs.
Sanusi said that if wealthy Muslims pay their Zakat regularly it would
reduce poverty among Muslims as well as in the society.
The forum chairman added that Zakat was Allah’s way of alleviating
poverty among the people in the society.
Sanusi identified lack of education as part of the impediments
affecting collection of Zakat in Oyo State.
The chairman of the occasion and former Speaker, Oyo State House of
Assembly, Hon. Mikail Alarape, urged well-meaning Muslims to
redistribute their income by paying Zakat regularly.
Alarape said that failure of many wealthy Muslims to pay zakat
contributed to high level of poverty among the Muslims.
Mr Salaudeen Adedotun, a beneficiary, appreciated the forum and
promised to use the money judiciously.
In his lecture, Shelkh Habeebulah Bukhari, urged the beneficiaries to
utilize the money judiciously so that they too can be able to assist
the needy through payment of zakat.
(NAN)
