By AbdulMumin AbdulQuadir
Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU) of Lekki Peninsula in Lagos disbursed the sum of fifty-five million naira worth of items and money to over three hundred beneficiaries during the 2022 Zakat Disbursement Programme held on Saturday, October 29, at Admiral Jubrila Ayinla Multipurpose Hall, Lekki Central Mosque Lagos.
Muslim News findings revealed that the money collected from payers and donors of Zakat and Sadaqat is given out in a bid to ease the affairs of the poor and needy within Lekki Peninsula and beyond.
Having applied for long, LEMU Zakat and Sadaqat Committee had carefully screened the applicants and considered their applications thoroughly before distributing the limited available resources among the numerous applicants.
Alhaji Yunus Olalekan Saliu, the Chairman of Lekki Muslim Zakat and Sadaqat Committee and Member, Board of Trustee, Lekki Muslim Ummah told Muslim News that the Mosque set up a committee on Zakat and Sadaqat from well to do Muslims for latest distribution.
He said: “Here in LEMU Mosque, we set up a committee to collect zakat from those who are eligible. They pay voluntarily without any pressure or compulsion. They send cheques and cash to us. We gather everything and distribute to members of the public at the appropriate time.
“We invite applications from Lekki and from the nooks and crannies of Lagos as well as the federation at large. People who are aware of the benefits derivable from our zakat distribution come here in large numbers year in, year out and the committee screens their applications thoroughly,” he added.
EXPEND ZAKAT FUND ON THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS GIVEN – SHEIKH JAMIU
The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Sheikh Ridwan Jamiu stressed the importance of zakat, the third pillar of Islam.
He said: “Rich is relative; a rich man somewhere is a pauper elsewhere. It is the shari’ah that determines who is rich through the Nisab. Hence, whoever meets the requirements should pay zakat.”
He noted that there is no harm in policing the beneficiaries to ensure they don’t lavish or divert the funds, but there is no need for that since the monies belong to them.
He urged artisans and craftsmen to go for mentoring and ensure all-round development of their craft.
“I have been elevated, says beneficiary, who graduated from LEMU Fashion school
The beneficiaries could not hide their excitement as they showered prayers on the organisers.
Halimah Juma’, one of the beneficiaries, who learnt sewing/fashion design disclosed that she knew nothing about fashion before undergoing a six month training organised by LEMU, but was able to exhibit her project at the disbursement program.
“I’m here as a graduand of ‘Why Waste It Academy’. I benefited greatly from the training, because it was a beginner class to the intermediate level and through the program I was able to learn,” she said.
“I have been elevated! I’ll say Jazakumullahu khairan and barakallahu fih to the organisers,” she added.
She also mentioned that she now works with a company that deals in fashion.
MY BROTHER AND I NEED TO PAY OUR SCHOOL FEES – ABDUL-KAREEM
Hikmah Abdul-Kareem, one of the applicants attracted special attention as she is a young student of SS2.
She claimed she applied for zakat because she and her brother needed to pay their school fees after they lost their father.
She said: “I’ve been here before. I applied for cash for my education, because I lost my dad.”
Abdul-Kareem, who is also a student of graphics design added that she needs a personal computer in order to hone her skills and become self-reliant.
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