The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic society has disbursed zakat valued at 13million naira to 160 indigents including 10 Christians at its second annual zakat day, in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
The Chief of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi disclosed that the disbursement is in form of “cheques for educational support, business startups; while items like deep freezers, sewing machines, grinding machines, barbing salon startup kits” were given to those who were previously selected.
Payable annually
Imam Fuad urged Muslims to pay Zakat on their wealth, reminding Muslims that it is a religious obligation payable annually on savings that reached a predetermined threshold.
Speaking on the significance of distributing zakat, he said it has the potential of improving Muslim/Christian harmony if all those who are eligible to pay zakat, actually do so.
What is Zakat?
Delivering the main lecture Alhaji Muhammed Lawal Maidoki the chairman of the Sokoto state zakat and waqf commission said that “Zakāh is a compulsory annual levy on Muslims…it is one of the five pillars of Islam and its importance is such that it has been mentioned 30 times in the Holy Qur’an.”
He explained that zakat is paid “on wealth owned for one Hijrī calendar year (Ḥawl) which Must be equal to a minimum threshold (Niṣāb) or more, which is Not on income used for consumption but on savings added to wealth of an individual during the year, and on agricultural output”
Economic tools
He explained further that Islamic institutions like Zakat are important economic tools that, if implemented well, “will definitely not only eradicate poverty from Islamic societies but reduce government spending, reduce the need for taxes and contribute towards better socio-economic justice and development for Muslim communities”
Beneficiaries went home with sewing machines, deep freezers, fridges, washing machine, grinding machine, barbing kits while 32 persons got their school fees paid.
Alhaji Maidoki further called on Muslims to pay their zakat to enhance greater understanding in the society.
He also asked Muslims to seek knowledge into understanding how to calculate their zakat.
Lateefah Ibrahim
