Pay zakat to fight poverty, cleric charges wealthy Muslims

A Muslim cleric, Sheikh Mustapha Shuaib Agbarere Al-Abrar, has urged the wealthy to be committed to paying zakat (almsgiving) to reduce poverty in the country.  Al-Abrar gave the advice at the inauguration of the Kuje Branch of the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) in Abuja.  “It is saddening that nowadays, a lot of Muslims have […]

A Muslim cleric, Sheikh Mustapha Shuaib Agbarere Al-Abrar, has urged the wealthy to be committed to paying zakat (almsgiving) to reduce poverty in the country. 

Al-Abrar gave the advice at the inauguration of the Kuje Branch of the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) in Abuja. 

“It is saddening that nowadays, a lot of Muslims have not surrendered completely as required. The reason is because among other things, the third pillar of Islam has been neglected by many of us.

“It is Zakat, which comes in itemisation after faith and observation of the five daily prayers. It comes on before observation of Ramadan fasting and performance of Hajj.

“The emphasis of the order to pay Zakat reflects more in the fact that Qur’an gives the injunction 82 times following that of observation of the five daily prayers. 

“Just like prayer, Zakat has its allotted time and to offer less its quantity is like offering less than four raka’at for Zuhr, Asr or Ishai,” Al-Abrar said.

He also said not observing zakat is as bad as breaking Ramadan fasting before sunset, or to perform Hajj without observing Wuquf at Arafah.

He said, “Now, the question is how many of us here is Zakat compliant? Many of us boast with acquisition of Rolex wristwatch and yet do not know that it is an asset that is ‘Zakatable’ because it can be sold and the value would be given in return.

“Also, our women buy gold and other expensive trinkets to keep money and yet they do not pay Zakat on them. Some of our civil servants collect humongous allowances that reach Nisab of Zakat but they do not give Zakat, our retirees collect pensions and gratuities in millions of naira but do not see any need to pay Zakat.”