• We’ve mobilised over N700m zakat funds in 10 years: General Manager
• Economic downturn not excuse for wealthy people to stop zakat, Scholar says
No less than 300 indigents have benefited from zakat proceed of N130 million disbursed by Nasrullahi -l- Fatih (NASFAT) Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat (NAZAS), a body responsible for collection and distribution of Zakat.
The disbursement was held on Sunday, July 21 at the CIPM House, Ikeja, Lagos immediately after the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Agency, meant to review the 2023 annual report and accounts.
Muslim News gathered that the zakat disbursement was from the 2024 collections to commemorate the Islamic New Year, Hijrah 1446 AH.
Beneficiaries of the zakat proceed cut across various categories including empowerment, scholarship, health needs, monthly stipend for the aged, and debt relief, among others.
Speaking on the processes that led to the qualification of beneficiaries for the intervention, General Manager of NAZAS, Alhaji Mufutau Adelotan, said applicants went through an interview session where they were grilled to ascertain the genuineness of their claims.
He said application forms are released by the Agency in the month of January every year.
“After filling the form, we subjected the applicants to interview. We have a committee on the board called the technical committee. Our Imams basically form membership of this committee. They will interact with the applicants one on one to ask for their needs and ascertain that they are really in need,” he stated.
Mobilsed over N700m Zakat funds in 10 years
The General Manager explained that NAZAS has mobilised over N700 million zakat funds since its formation in 2014.
“This is our tenth year, and we have collected well over N700 million as zakat. To be specific for this year, as at June, we collected about N154 million. Today, across all our zones and headquarters, we are disbursing N130 million,m to over 300 beneficiaries. From the balance of N20 million, some funds will be disbursed later, and a part will account for the running cost.”
Impact of exchange rate on Nisab
However, he lamented that the dollar to naira exchange rate has made it difficult for many Nigerians to meet up with the nisab (financial threshold for qualifying to pay zakat).
“Considering our current economic situation, the dollar rate equally affects the nisab, which is the threshold of wealth you must have before you can qualify to pay zakat. Right now, based on the dollar rate and current price of gold, nisab is around N10 million. An average Nigerian worker or investor cannot meet up with the nisab. But they can do sadaqah on a regular basis.”
Previous beneficiaries are giving back
The GM noted that previous beneficiaries of NAZAS zakat disbursement are doing well in their endeavours, and have started giving back to the initiative in little ways.
“By December, we will have Food and Clothing Day, most of our previous beneficiaries support the initiative. Aside that, our beneficiaries have been giving back in other ways. For instance, the plaques we gave to our past directors were made by one of them. He has also been training people on the trade. So, they have been giving back materially too,” he said.
Distribution not limited to members: Chairman
Transition Chairman of NAZAS, Alhaji Abdulwahab Abdulrahman, expressed satisfaction that the disbursement went well, noting beneficiaries are not limited to members of NASFAT alone.
“Beneficiaries included other Muslims, whether they are members of NASFAT or not. Once they qualified for the disbursement, they were selected, having also passed through the necessary screening.”
Targets N200m Zakat mobilisation
The Chairman expressed optimism that the NAZAS Team will meet up with the N200 million Zakat mobilisation target for the year.
“As of this year (July), we have been able to raise N150 million. Our target this year is N200 million. We hope before the year ends, we’ll reach the target,” he stated.
He said NAZAS has zonal branches across Nigeria, including in Kaduna, Kano, Abuja, and even beyond the shores of the country in Côte d’Ivoire.
He acknowledged that it has been challenging to convince an average Muslim to pay zakat.
“Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam. We have been engaging our Imams to sensitise Muslims on the payment of zakat. As they preach to them to pray, they should also urge them to pay zakat. But of course, there are Muslims, who pay zakat without prompting. They know that at the end of the year, they should send their zakat. So, the process has been challenging, but it is not insurmountable.”
Current economic downturn not an excuse to evade zakat: Onike
In his lecture, the National Missioner of NASFAT, Sheikh Onike admonished that the current economic downturn in the country should not be an excuse for Muslims to stop paying zakat once they can afford it.
“Allah has never promised us that everything will go on smoothly all the time. It is even now that some people are making money. Everybody is complaining that there is no money, but some people are smiling to the banks. Regardless of the economic situation, the Muslim community should continue to give zakat to the vulnerable. It is a religious duty. There will always be people who can afford to pay zakat, and they must pay it.”
The Islamic scholar lamented that wealthy people lavish resources on insignificant things, noting they need to share their resources with other people in society.
“Islam is a way of life. It has a say in all aspects of our life: health, finance, palliative, intellect. No aspect of our life is left out. An aspect is empowerment. Our empowerment is to ensure that no Muslim goes to sleep hungry. That’s one of the teachings of our religion, that people have a share in our wealth. The fact that you have the resources means that some people are denied the resources, and you should share the resources with them. Allah has decided to put them in your care to know whether you’ll support them or not.
“Allah says we have raised some of you above others. All of us will not be billionaires or millionaires. But the basic things of life should be affordable to everybody. There was a time in the history of Islam that zakat was being shared, and there was nobody to collect it. We can live that same life.
“People are hoarding resources. People are sending money to children abroad. They are having four to five houses, when they can only sleep in one room. Why don’t we endow the remaining ones to Islam for the benefit of other people in society. Something is wrong with our society. It is not about ignorance because we are aware.
“Our intervention will cushion the effect of poverty in Nigeria. We are not saying we are eliminating poverty, but we want to alleviate poverty. Half a loaf is better than no bread. Whatever we have given out will change the lives of the beneficiaries one way or the other. The essence is not to see a beggar among Muslims.”
Congratulates past, current NAZAS directors
In his remarks, the Chief Missioner of NASFAT also congratulated the leadership and membership of NASFAT on the occasion of the 2024 Annual General Meeting.
He commended both past and current directors of NAZAS for sustaining the momentum and gradually moving towards attainment of the set objectives of NAZAS.
“You are doing very well, and you should be proud of what you have done. May Allah reward each and everyone of us,” he said.
Imam Onike tasked the board on the need to raise the consciousness of the Muslim community on zakat, saying they are still below capacity considering potential of the sector.
He said Muslims grossly undermine the potential of zakat, and have not been paying much attention to it.
“If we look at our environment, especially the Muslim population, we’ll feel touched by the magnitude of destitution all around. And that’s why zakat is here. But a lot of us, the Muslims, don’t pay attention because we don’t even think it’s important.
“As good as NAZAS has done over the years, we should know that we are still below capacity in light of the available potential. So, we need to come up with strategies on how we can increase the consciousness of Muslims. The Muslims we are talking about are not just NASFAT members, but the Muslim community in general. How do we prick their conscience to their responsibility and obligation?
“I commend the board and the management for the achievements so far. I am also imploring you that we need to do a lot more. We need to come together to re-strategize. How do we raise the consciousness of NASFAT members first, and the Muslim Ummah generally on zakat.”
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