The Elders Consultative Forum of Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, has distributed over N2 million as Zakat proceed (tax charity) to 116 indigent in Oyo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries received cash ranging from N10,000 to N30,000.
Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Lasun Sanusi, said the aim of zakat , which is the fifth pillar of Islam was to redistribute wealth and reduce poverty among the Muslims and Nigeria in general.
Sanusi said the rate of poverty among the Muslims was gradually increasing because the wealthy amongst them failed to pay zakat.
The payment of zakat, he said, was compulsory for the wealthy Muslims and Allah’s punishment awaits those that failed to do so.
He said most youths are leaving Nigeria for other countries because of poverty, adding that regular payment of zakat would definitely reduce the thread.
Sanusi called on well-meaning Muslims to pay their zakat regularly and urged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously.
In his lecture, Dr AbdulRasheed AbdulAzeez, said payment of zakat by wealthy Muslims would purify their wealth and move them closer to God.
AbdulAzeez said that zakat as prescribed by God would also reduce unemployment, create love and eradicate the issue of insecurity such as Boko Haram, kidnappings and other insecurity challenges.
Chairman on the occasion, Justice Mashud Abass , called for more enlightenment on the importance and consequences of zakat.
Abass said most wealthy Muslims are gradually forgetting that zakat is part of pillars of Islam mandatory on the wealthy.
He said that most Muslims now misinterpret Sadaqat ( aims giving) to means Zakat.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Abdulateef Adeoye and Aishat Yusuf commended the forum and promised to use the money judiciously.
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