Zakat fund mismanaged in Nigeria – Imam Adeyemi
The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society (AIS), Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi, said zakat distribution in Nigeria is ineffective due to improper allocation to beneficiaries. Speaking in Abuja during the 4th National Zakat Day and the 14th Public Zakat Disbursement of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society Zakat & Endowment Foundation, Adeyemi emphasised the need for a […]
The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society (AIS), Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi, said zakat distribution in Nigeria is ineffective due to improper allocation to beneficiaries.
Speaking in Abuja during the 4th National Zakat Day and the 14th Public Zakat Disbursement of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society Zakat & Endowment Foundation, Adeyemi emphasised the need for a more structured approach to zakat disbursement.
As part of the event, N15 million was distributed in cash, education scholarships, and empowerment materials to 90 beneficiaries in the Paduma community, Abuja.
The initiative aims to alleviate poverty among Muslims and enhance economic stability. Adeyemi encouraged beneficiaries to invest wisely, so they could, in turn, contribute zakat in the future.
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“There is no poverty in Islam. The problem is that many people do not give zakat properly as prescribed by Allah. That is why we organised this lecture to educate our Muslim brothers on the correct way to give zakat and the importance of endowment in Islam,” he said.
Adeyemi further explained that a recipient of zakat should not repeatedly receive assistance unless affected by unforeseen circumstances like natural disasters.
He criticised the practice of distributing inadequate amounts that do not enable recipients to invest and generate wealth, stressing that proper zakat distribution follows clear guidelines from the Qur’an.
Delivering a keynote address, Dr Abdullahi Saliu Ishola, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Islamic Law at Kwara State University, described zakat as a tool for poverty alleviation and social support, warning against improper zakat distribution.
He urged Muslims to emulate the teachings of the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad in assisting one another regardless of tribe and social difference.
“Government should also intensify effort by exploring ways to enhance the well-being of Nigerians looking at how most people are living in poverty,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, commended the commitment of Al-Habibiyyah “in touching the lives of many Nigerians through the zakat disbursement and other programmes.”
He assured of the commitment of the present administration to ameliorating the economic hardship affecting the masses, urging Nigerians to assist one another and live in peace and harmony.
Also, Malam Muhammad Lawal Maidoki Sadaukin Sakkwato, the Chairman of the Association of Zakat and Waqf Operators in Nigeria (AZAWON), said that there are many places in Jigawa State and others, especially in the northern part of the country that zakat was transferred to other localities, as “there were no poor people needed to be given zakat, thus the efficacy of proper disbursement of the zakat.”