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, Lanus Sansui (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.
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.