* Feeds thousands of fasting Muslims at Iftar
* Disburses bags of rice, other food items to prison, orphanage homes
A faith-based non-governmental organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) has commenced its annual Ramadan feeding programme.
The foundation plans to feed no fewer than 20,000 households.
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of ZSF, Prince Sulaimon Olagunju who disclosed this in an interview with Muslim News on Friday, March 22 said the exercise forms part of the activities of the Foundation to give succour to Muslim homes in the face of the country’s current economic challenges.
According to him, The food packs which include rice, beans, grain, and oil among others are being distributed to the needy and underprivileged fasting Muslim homes across the country.
Olagunju said; “We have begun the distribution of foodstuff to 20,000 Muslim families in this blessed month of Ramadan. Each pack is worth N20k to N35k. As of this day, Friday, March 22, 7,800 packs have been distributed to fasting Muslim homes in different parts of the country and we are still on it, just to bring succour to every Muslim home meeting the criteria, irrespective of their condition.
“In each of the packs, we have rice, beans, grain (garri or any other category of grains depending on the area. For instance, in the north, we give them two (instead of garri.) We also give them vegetable or palm oil depending on the place.
In some areas, they have beverages as well, especially the package for the Imams.”
Prison, orphanage programme
The ED/CEO also stated that the Foundation has disbursed more than 70 bags of rice and other food items to institutions and special homes such as prisons, and orphanages across the country since the beginning of the Ramadan fast on Monday, March 11.
He said; “Similarly, we have disbursed over 70 bags of rice to prisons, orphanage homes, old people’s homes and other institutions and special homes. The foundation is committed to ensuring that a large number of Muslims fasting during the month of Ramadan can get food on their tables for the period.
Imam support programme
Aside giving general food packs to the fasting Muslims, Olagunju told Muslim News that the Foundation has special food packages for Imams across the federation.
He said; “Equally, we are supporting Imams. We call it the “Imam Package”. Most of the Imams in this part of the world are not paid and most of them don’t have a source of income. We cater for them too so that they will be able to deliver their roles as Imams in this blessed month of Ramadan.
“We have donated to about 55 Imams in Lagos Island. We have done the same at Somolu as well and this will continue across the country.
…feeds thousands at Iftar
Furthermore, Prince Olagunju said since the beginning of Ramadan, the foundation has been able to feed and still plans to feed thousands of people at the time of breaking the fast in different locations.
“We have been doing Iftar Sai’m as well, whereby we feed people generally. We have done some already, and we are going to have another one in a few days.”
Fidyah
Prince Olagunju also said the Foundation is collecting fidyah on behalf of Muslims exempted from fasting to feed fasting Muslims daily.
“We also roll out opportunities for our brothers and sisters who aren’t able to fast through fidyah. It means that those who are exempted from fasting will donate to feed those fasting Muslims who are in need. The current rate per person is N2,000. That’s also ongoing, as we receive the fund, we equally distribute it to those in need.
Locations of the distribution
Disclosing modalities adopted by the Foundation in reaching people across the states of the federation, Olagunju said; “Since the beginning of Ramadan, we have visited 23 states. It’s easy because we have our officers in virtually all the states. Some of the states include:
“South West: All 6 States; North Central: Abuja, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara and Kogi; North West: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara; North East: Gombe; South East: Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo; South-South: Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers.
“The remaining states are Plateau, Kebbi, Jigawa, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bornu, Taraba, Yobe, Anambra and Cross River. We plan to cover them before the end of Ramadan
….Calls on wealthy Muslims to pay Zakat
The ZSF CEO also encouraged wealthy Muslims to pay their zakat, the third pillar of Islam when due to ZSF, with the primary objective of delivering quality zakat assessment, collection and distribution services to both private and public individuals, who are in dire need, among others.
He said; “Moving forward, we plan to ensure people pay their zakat. We have already embarked on the awareness, discussing the significance of zakat. Zakat doesn’t have a minimum or maximum amount. It’s based on nisab, which is the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. The nisab this year is about 3.3m for Gold and 364,000 for Silver. Once your money is equal or above that, you can pay 1/40 of it as zakat.
The CEO said proceeds collected from zakat are used for the good of the less privileged in the society.
He said the organisation would use the proceeds it generated to cater for the health needs and challenges of the needy.
“Right now, prospective beneficiaries of zakat have submitted applications and we are already screening them. Our goal is that immediately after Ramadan, we will have finished sorting the applicants. We would attend to them as quickly as possible, especially those with medical challenges and educational needs because they are areas that cannot be delayed,” he said.
Encourages payment of Zakatul Fitr with money
Prince Olagunju said they will be distributing cash (money) as zakatul fitr to the needy Muslims at the end of the fasting to make them celebrate the Eid-il-Fitr with fun and pageant, urging other fasting Muslims to pay their zakatul fitr at the right time.
“We are still working on the calculations for zakatul fitr due to the inconsistency in the prices of commodities in the markets. By and large, the figure we used last year is out. And as you know, zakatul fitr has to come at the end of Ramadan. That’s why we have to be patient till the last few days of Ramadan and use the current prices to determine the monetary value of zakatul fitr.
“But right now, we are still collating money from various states. Immediately those monies come in, they’re distributed and we have the names of many people in dire need. Zakatul Fitr isn’t money to feed you and your family for a long time. It is just to take care of the needs during the Eid-il-Fitr celebration. That’s why it must be timely,” he explained.
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