Kaduna State Government Commends NASFAT Empowerment Strides
… Distributes over One Million Naira Worth Of Items
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria
Kaduna state government has commended the efforts of Nastrul -Lahi-L-Fatih Society,(NASFAT) Kaduna Branch in its continuous efforts to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged.
This commendation was given during the distribution of empowerment tools to members and non-members of the society.
The state government speaking through the Director General, Bureau for Religious Affairs ably represented by Alhaji Sani Baba had assured government’s commitment in reviving the various committees under the Bureau of which Zakkat Committee is one.
Alhaji Sani commended NASFAT’s efforts in helping the government to actualize its programme through its empowerment scheme.
“Government knows NASFAT very well and is aware of all your activities. Government is proud of you and all that you have been doing to assist the government. May Allah reward you abundantly.
“On the part of government, l want to assure you that this government is doing everything possible to revive the various committees under the Bureau for Religious Affairs.
We have different committees and Zakkat committee is one of them. Insha Allah the committees would be revived by the grace of God”. He said.
While thanking the donors for their good work in striving towards the course of Allah, he charged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items given to them so that in no time, they could also be able to contribute to the needy.
Speaking, the Chairman, Zakat Committee Ustaz Abdulrazaq Zulqurnain said the objective is to help rid the society of poverty as enjoined by Allah. By so doing, would help in bridging the gap between the rich and the less privileged in the society.
“Brothers and Sisters in Islam, the objective of what we are doing today is to empower individuals in need as enjoined in the Quran.
Zakat is the most neglected among the five pillars of Islam.
“This arrangement includes both NASFAT and non NASFAT members including the orphans and widows.
Quite a number of persons applied for assistance but due to lack of funds few were considered.
In 2018 alone, we received not fewer than 50 letters requesting for assistance in addition to 8 letters that were unattended to in 2017 due to scarcity of funds, so 13 were attended to and the remaining pushed over to 2019.
This year alone, 73 letters were received with a generated Zakat and Sadaqat of less than 2Million naira.
The singular aim of this is to reawaken the commandments of Allah (SWT) and the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). Through Zakat, we would be able to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in the society. He said.
The Chairman however assured that the remaining people that were not attended to would be considered as soon as there is availability of funds.
Items distributed were, 3 deep freezers, grinding machine, popcorn machine, photo camera amongst others.
In a lecture delivered by the Chief Missioner of the branch, Imam Ma’arooph Raji titled, ‘The Impact of Zakat”, Muslims he explained are required to give compulsory charity with determined purpose and established rules.
This compulsory charity known as Zakat is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam. He stressed.
It stands as the third pillar of Islam, just after Salat, the daily ritual prayer. Allah is said to have mentioned Zakat about twenty times in the Holy Qur’an combined with Salat.
Often times, Zakat and Sadaqah are used interchangeably in the Quran and Sunnah, where “sadaqah” also means charity.
Zakat refers to obligatory charity while sadaqah refers to voluntary charity.
Payment of Zakat the Imam pointed out has impact on the society because the system helps in making sure that the society’s wealth circulates in a fair and clean condition.
By giving out Zakat, the wealthy will not become too rich and the poor will not become poorer.
The lecture also brought to fore percentage of Zakat to be paid on one’s wealth which he said depends on the wealth of an individual.
Also is the restrictions as to who receives Zakat. It has to be one with a reasonable and acceptable reason.
Explaining further,
“Allah has prescribed Zakat as a duty to Allah, upon every wealthy individual. Every Muslim also has “nisab”, which is a designated minimal amount of wealth for the full cycle of a lunar year that must, as a matter of worship, satisfy the duty of Zakat-Charity.
The primary objective of Zakat is to elevate the spirit of human being above the material acquisition.
“Zakat, when paid out of submission to the command of Allah, is a means of purifying the soul of a Muslim from greed and miserliness.
Allah Almighty says, “Truly man is niggardly! (17:100) and “But people are prone to selfish greed.) Zakat is a purifier that trains Muslims to give and spend selflessly. It liberates their souls from the love of wealth and slavery to materials gains and acquisitions.
Still emphasizing,
“Zakat is to purify wealth. By not paying Zakat which Allah has made a right to the poor, such could attract Allah’s wrath on one’s whole wealth.
The Prophet (p) says, “If you pay Zakat on your wealth, you have taken away its evil.”
Imam Ma’arooph challenged Muslims to remain steadfast and strive in the course of Allah as that is the surest way to paradise.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chairman, NASFAT Kaduna Branch, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Ajao who stood in for the Chairman, Engr. Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf had reiterated the society’s commitments in contributing to the growth of the society. NASFAT empowerment programme is a continuous one. He said.