By Isah Hussein
The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has distributed cash and materials worth N10 million to 102 recipients including five Christians to reduce inequalities and eradicate poverty in commemoration of the National Zakat Day.
The Chief Imam of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, while speaking at the maiden edition of the National Zakat Day held at the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic centre in Guzape, Abuja on Saturday said in the Muslim system, Zakat functions as a means to reduce inequalities and eradicate poverty adding that Zakat means growth, extension, and purification.
Imam Fuad Adeyemi, further said the essence of zakat is because Allah has ordered that the underprivileged in the society are entitled to the collection of at least 2.12 percent of the individuals total wealth.
He said if all Muslims who are eligible to pay zakat actually does so in an open and transparent manner, many of the vices we have in the country today will be eliminated and he enjoined Muslims nationwide to purify their wealth by paying zakat and, when in doubt about their status, they should contact them to help their determine their status.
He asserted that “it is the view of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic society that payment of zakat has the capacity to reduce if not eliminate banditry, kidnapping, money ritual etc that we are facing in the country.
“It is usually an annual premium charged on all accumulated productive wealth and on a variety of agricultural produce.
“The essence is to continuously, on an annual basis, hold this event to continue to create awareness on the importance of the payment of Zakat.
“For this to happen, we want to announce to the world today that we have competent Zakat officers who can help individuals to determine if they can pay zakat and how much they are eligible to pay.
“Established in 2009, the Al-Habibiyyah Zakat & Empowerment Foundation (AHZEF), an arm of the Society has been collecting and disbursing zakat, periodically to selected beneficiaries in very strict compliance with Quranic injunction.
“Since its inception, the Foundation has collected and publicly disbursed over Sixty(60) million naira to various categories of beneficiaries with bias for education and women.
“70% of the funds were used to buy income generating materials such as Sewing/Designing Tailoring machines, pumping machine for irrigation farming activities. Grinding machines, welding machines, Generators, Barbing/ hair dressing equipment, fridges and freezers.
“This year’s theme is Zakat: Pivot for Poverty Eradication. And want to use this theme to highlight the significance of poverty eradication which we believe can be achieved through Zakat if all those eligible to pay actually make the payment.
“The money being utilised for this year’s payment are Zakat from four donors, one of whom is late Hajia Safurat Niniola the National Secretary of Al-Habibiyyah Women’s Forum who passed less than 3 weeks ago, on the 24th of February.
At the end of the event, money and other Items which include; sewing machines, barbing and welding equipments, refrigerators, grinding machines, carpentry tools, power generators, provisions and other artisans equipment were distributed to one hundred and two (102) beneficiaries including five (5) christians.; as well as scholarships for indigent students.
Leave a Reply