NAZAS: NASFAT Kaduna Main Branch Expends Four Million, Two Hundred Thousand to Empower Members Non Members … distributes deep freezers, sewing/ grinding machines, generator, others

NASFAT Kaduna main branch in continuation of its Zakat/Sadaqat distribution exercise has empowered 31 members and non members of the society with various items that will help change their lives.

Some of the items included Deep freezers, Grinding Machines/Sewing Machines,  Generator etc.

According to the Chairman of the branch, Alhaji AbdulAkeem Adeniji, the exercise has been on for over a decade.

NASFAT he said is a society built on the principles and tenets of lslam and zakat happens to be one of the five pillars of lslam which the branch lnsha Allah will continue to sustain.

Zakat he added is meant to bring peace and development in the society whereby both the ‘have’ and ‘have-nots’ will feel belonged.

“Every year, we do it immediately after ramadan because people believe that paying zakat during ramadan has more reward.

Adeniji thanked all the donors for their contributions to the betterment of humanity and also members for their commitments and support.

He used the occasion to inform the gathering that NASFAT has been able to touch the lives of those within its immediate community through its activities.

Eighty percent of school enrolment into NASFAT’s  primary/secondary school he stated is alloted to members of the community. NASFAT school despite it standard remains the cheapest school as fees is reduced to make it affordable to members of the community..

The school he added will in no time start conducting its GCE/WAEC examination.

He called for assistance to enable it fulfill its dream and continue to serve the community and society better.

The Vice Chairman of the branch, Alhaji Alebiosun repressing NAZAS Chairman, Alhaji Kamaldeen Usman explained that out of the 58 applications submitted, the  committee after scrutiny was able to select 31 beneficiaries made up of members and non members. All the 58 applicants would have benefited but for financial constrain. He appealed for more donations in order to be able to touch more lives.

“This year, 2025, despite the economic situation of the country, we were able to disburse the sum of N4,200,000.00. Alhamdulilah, may Almighty Allah continue to enrich and purify the wealth of the donors. 58 letters of request were received by the committee, only 31 vulnerable benefitted from the available funds.

The act he explained is meant to bridge the gap between the poor and  rich which lslam he said encourages.

“The idea to float a Zakat/ Sadaqat committee with NAZAS acronyms was born out of the most neglected pillar of lslam”

“The objective is to provide topmost Zakat assessment, collection and distribution to deserving vulnerable individuals who are either members of NASFAT or non- members. This is in-line with Quran 9:60.”

The aim of distributing the empowerment equipment and materials is to reawaken the commandment of Allah SWT and  Sunnah of His messenger.

Alebiosun called on well to do individuals to assist NASFAT to be able to deliver more.

One of the applicant’s son Rufai Mustapha whose mother is now late was transferred the request made by his late mother. Not only that, NASFAT has also offered him scholarship to help him build his future.  He informed.

The Guest Lecturer, Sheikh Dr. Sharafadeen Abdulsalam Aliagan, Chairman, Ashraaf Islamic Foundation in his lecture titled, Zakat/Sadaqat: Economic Empowerment and Systemic Eradication of Poverty has described Zakat as a complete economic empowerment tool when judiciously administered.

 It is a tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable development when well utilized.

The erudite scholar emphasised on building fellow human beings rather than for example, building multiple mosques. Reason being that the purpose for building these mosque is to have committed worshippers coming to worship Allah and that if people are not well fed and the minds do not enjoy peace, there’s likely not going to be sincerity of worship.

As to whether zakat can help in bringing an end to street begging, he said.

“lf zakat is well implemented and well administered, to get to those in need as mentioned in the Quran, we are not supposed to see any child or adult begging on the street.

There will not be too many destitutes on our streets.Through this process of empowerment, many people will be taken off the streets.

“What we really want zakat to do is poverty eradication and economic independence.”

“Zakat can be used to educate people around us so that they can have economic independence, economic empowerment.

 If you are well educated, you have tried to eradicate poverty and you have empowered yourself because education is power on its own. It is said that knowledge is wealth. So if you acquire knowledge through the proceed and expenditure of Zakat, you become literate and  gainfully employed.”

Still lamenting, he quoted where in the Quran Allah emphasized on the importance of zakat and how it should be effectively used, where Allah mentioned, “Wa fisabilillahi, that is, anything in the course of SWT. Stressing, “whatever we can lay our hands on, either programmes or projects that will support the children of the poor ones, to take them out of the street from begging, we should implement the proceeds and expenditures of zakat to that effect”.

If well adhered to, we won’t have what we call almajiri again. They are seen all over the places begging for food which does not augur well for the society.

He called on those incharge of distribution of Zakat to do it with caution and sincerity of purpose.

Both the giver and receiver of Zakat he stated benefit from the act.

“The payer will receive peace saying, Alhamdulilah, (glory be to God) l am able to pay my zakat and the receiver also will have peace because he/she will have something to eat and feed the family.

He encouraged family members whom Allah have blessed to give Zakat to members of their families who are zakatable in order to help reduce the level of poverty in the family and by extension the society.

The sheikh however reminded that zakat is different from sadaqat. While Zakat has a fixed amount (percentage) to be given out from one’s wealth, sadaqat has no fix amount but what an individual intends to give out as sadaqat.(alms) Adding that no one is free from the payment of sadaqat. If one does not fall under the category of those enjoined to pay zakat, one should  cultivate the habit of giving sadaqat. The act of giving sadaqat is a source for one to earning Allah’s compassion for doing good deeds.

“There is nothing that Rasulullahi dislikes like begging”, he said. Quoting Rasulullahi as saying, that Allah said that all these money human beings are pursuing, and  gossiping about is for Him. Allah.

“Use my money to buy my paradise.”

This statement is worth a rethink for one who is wise.

However, there are some challenges with regards to Zakat. Emphasizing, “zakat is suffering because muslims are not committed to it.

“The rich do not know how to declare what they have. Zakat is also suffering because some people have turned zakat to sadaqat. Zakat is not supposed to be distributed as sadaqat. He cautioned.

Many people do not know how to administer it.

Another challenge is the issue of identification of supposed beneficiaries of Zakat and items one is expected to pay zakat on.

These are the challenges we have to work on. Sheikh Aliagan urged religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders charged with the the responsibility of Zakat to be aggressive in addressing the problems.

My call on the generality of Muslims all over the world is to know that without zakat, your lslam remains incomplete especially for the people who are well to do. So whatever you have and you know that zakat is payable on it, please bring it out, pay it as at when due because Allah said it is compulsory, it is not voluntary nor is it optional.” So, my clarion call is that anyone that is in a position to pay zakat should take it as a duty, as a pillar of lslam to observe. Observe it for us to have economic empowerment and total eradication of poverty amongst the muslims.”

The Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Saheed Popoola Gambari earlier in his opening address commended NASFAT Kaduna main branch for keeping the program alive despite all odds.

Speaking through the Zonal Secretary, Shoyomi Babajide Abdulazeez he urged the beneficiaries to ensure that they make the best use of the items to improve their lots.

Fmr. Commissioner, Ministry of Health, Kaduna state, Hajia Dr. Aminat Baloni.

The Secretary General Jama’atul Nasril Islam, (JNI) Khalid Abubakar Aliyu ably represented by the organisation’s Secretary, Alhaji Musbau.

Hajiya Habiba Bakare represented her father Alhaji Bakare.

The event came to a close with the Acting Missioner, NASFAT Kaduna main branch, Austaz Abdulkareem Mustapha offering special prayers for the donors for Allah’s blessings on their wealth. He also encouraged that people should develop the spirit of giving so as to enjoy Allah’s reward.

Beneficiaries interviewed promised to make judicious use of the items received.

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