By Hadiza Mohammed

The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society (AIS), Fuad Adeyemi, has identified waqf as a powerful solution to the socio-economic challenges in the country.

He made this known at the unveiling of the Al-Habibiyyah Waqf Foundation (AWF), along with programmes like Faith and Philanthropy, Estate Planning, Rural Development, and Mosque Support Services.

Waqf is a strategic Islamic charitable endowment that involves dedicating assets or properties whose benefits are channeled towards community development.

Adeyemi said the AWF aims to promote sustainable development through the effective collection, management, and distribution of waqf in accordance with Shari’a principles.

He noted that AWF would ensure transparency and accountability, while preserving and growing endowed assets for long-term social benefit.

Adeyemi described waqf as the dedication of property or assets for religious, charitable, or public use, with ownership transferred to Islamic community.

He said the benefits are meant for designated beneficiaries and not the donor or their heirs.

He also explained that waqf provides sustained support for religious, educational, and social welfare initiatives.

The cleric called on the government to encourage waqf, saying it could impact citizens by providing water, electricity, schools, and other socio-economic services.

He added that the organisation plans to raise awareness on waqf and engage wealthy individuals through targeted advocacy.

“The meaning of waqf is that you’re transferring your property to God. This is one programme that even the government should encourage anybody that want to do it.”

“Nigeria is so blessed but unfortunately our problem is administration of our blessings. And waqf will now be a better way of administering our blessings in such a way that it will be useful for you today and tomorrow.”

“We have determined that we are going to enlighten people about this programme not just in Abuja but we are going to move round four or five states,” he said.

Dr Abdullahi Lamido, a lecturer from Bayero University Kano, gave a lecture titled “Waqf: An Endless Bliss”, highlighting its holistic benefits.

“When you make a waqf or by declaring something a waqf, it means it’s no longer your own legally.”

“It is not part of your inheritable wealth or your heirs. It’s not something you can sell or mortgage because it’s not yours,” he said.

“We need to have waqf for schools, we need health care waqf, we need waqf for youth development, and of course for employees generation,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh

By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society (AIS) has unveiled a bold and inclusive Islamic initiative aimed at tackling poverty and accelerating community growth/national development.

The National Chief Imam of AIS, Sheik Fuad Adeyemi, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a workshop for management staff of the organisation ahead of the inauguration of the Al-Habibiyyah Waqf Foundation and other developmental projects.

According to Adeyemi, Waqf is a strategic Islamic charitable endowment involving the dedication of assets or properties whose benefits are channeled toward community development.

He said that income generated from the Waqf assets are used for humanity and public good such as building schools, Mosques, healthcare or supporting less privileged in the society.

The Imam highlighted how businesses can be endowed through Waqf to ensure continuity, serve humanitarian causes and tackle poverty in the country.

He said “if you notice in Nigeria, almost all the businesses, the moment the owner dies, that is the end of the business.

“But with Waqf, you can endow the business in an Islamic way, and such business will be taken over
and be used for the good of the people.

“These are the things we want to promote for the benefit of humanity.”

Adeyemi said that aside the Waqf  Foundation, other developmental initiatives to be inaugurated include the “Faith and Philanthropy Initiative”, in collaboration with McArthur Foundation.

Others are the Al-Habibiyyah Rural Initiative, Estate Planning and Allied Services (EPAS), Diaspora Support Services, Volunteer Mobilisation and African Mosque Forum.

He explained that AIS would collaborate with business associations, strategic stakeholders such as the Corporate Affairs Commission and Islamic banks to drive the various initiatives.

He expressed confidence that the initiatives would provide sustainable, faith-based solutions to the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was attended by development experts, Islamic scholars, business management experts and media consultants. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu