By Suleiman Shehu
An Islamic organisation, The Rightly Guided Foundation, has donated N39million as Zakat to 140 less privileged Muslims in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zakat is the third pillar of Islam, compulsory for Muslims with wealth above a certain threshold to donate 2.5 per cent of their wealth annually to the needy.
The Ameer of the Foundation, Malam Ibrahim Bello, said that the foundation, established in 2019, with the aim of relieving challenges of Muslims, especially during Ramadan, had positively impacted on lives of Muslim faithful.
Bello said that the foundation, in collaboration with The Merciful Foundation in Houston Texas, USA, has been paying for WAEC and JAMB registration forms annually for some Muslim students, distributing food stuffs and cash to less privileged and feeding prison inmates.
He said that the foundation started Zakat distribution in 2025 with N10million while N39million would be distributed in 2026, stressing “the foundation’s donations keep increasing yearly.”
Bello said that the foundation prioritises trust and would continue to share the Zakat donations given to them to Muslims in need with the fear of God to reduce poverty in society.
The Secretary of the foundation, Prof. Moruf Oke, said a total of 140 needy Muslims in the society would benefit from the N39million Zakat distribution.
Oke said the beneficiaries would be given amounts ranging from N150,000 to N3 million, depending on their needs.
“These amounts were determined based on our interactions with the selected beneficiaries and what they require to help their businesses grow and thrive,” he said.
Oke said the purpose of Zakat was to help alleviate poverty within the society and that was what the foundation and its partners were trying to achieve through the initiative.
In his lecture, a cleric, Malam Rasheed Musa, who commended the foundation for the initiative, urged Muslims to fear God, obey His commandments and not derail in spite of whatever challenges being faced.
He said that the purpose of Zakat was to purify wealth of donors and reduce poverty in the society.
The cleric enjoined wealthy Muslims not to neglect the act in order to get rewards from God on earth and hereafter.
The Oyo State Chairman of the Muslim Lawyers’ Association (MULAN), Alhaji Ismaila Saka, said poverty would have reduced to the barest minimum if many wealthy Muslims in the society paid Zakat.
Saka urged the beneficiaries to judiciously use the funds to establish or strengthen the businesses they proposed.
“If you are able to do this successfully, it will not only benefit you, but also contribute positively to the wider community,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malam Abdul Ganiy Abubakar, appreciated the foundation for the gesture and pledged judicious use of the fund. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Bayo Seko
