* As medical expert highlights health benefits of Ramadan
Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU) has held the March 2025 edition of its quarterly Da’wah Workshop as scholars called on Muslims to take individual and collective actions to eradicate poverty in their midst.
The scholars, while speaking at the Ramadan Da’wah Workshop held on Sunday, 9th March emphasised the need for them to upskill and deepen access to education as a way of tackling the hydra-headed scourge.
Themed: ‘Poverty Alleviation: The Role of Islamic Philanthropy’, the quarterly programme was held at the Vice Admiral Jubrila Ayinla Multipurpose Hall, Lekki Central Mosque Complex in Lagos.
Dr Jibril Salaudeen, while addressing the topic: ‘Poverty among the Muslims: Causes and Solutions”, however, posited that poverty cannot be totally eradicated, but efforts can be made to minimise it.
He said, “Education, skills, access to funding, policies of the government, access to Islamic social financing, insurgency, among others, are some of the factors influencing poverty rate, especially in our country.
“Among Muslim organisations, there is a need for us to sit down and define the poverty stand of the country today, look at the challenges, and begin to proffer solutions to the appropriate areas,” he added.
Dr. Jibril, who is the Director of Nungu Business School, also explained that government alone cannot solve the issue of poverty.
“They require support from other institutions like Islamic financing, social financing, traditional settings, and so on,” the lecturer said.
Islam sees poverty as evil: Chief Imam Lekki
The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr. Ridwan Jamiu, in his submission, said Islam considers poverty as an evil, stressing that Muslims should do everything possible in accordance with the Shari’ah to remove it from their midst.
He said, “Poverty comes with so many challenges. You will not be able to educate your children properly. You will not be able to take care of your family. It can lead to divorce, family unrest, civil unrest, and criminality.”
The Chief Imam emphasised the importance of getting a job and working hard, noting that Islam discourages begging and depending on others for basic survival.
He added, however, that zakat and waqf are two critical instruments of social finance and empowerment in Islam.
“Zakat is a pillar of Islam. It is a compulsory deduction from the wealth of a Muslim that has gathered a particular amount of wealth,” he said.
“Waqf, on the other hand, is a perpetual, institutionalised charity. For instance, you have a property that is income-generating, and whatever income generated from this property is used to support people and empower them or to promote education.
LEMU President expresses concerns over Muslims monopolising poverty
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of LEMU, Dr. AbdulGaniy Labinjo, expressed dissatisfaction that Muslims have monopolised poverty over time.
He said some Muslims have become so complacent, relying on the provision of zakat and sadaqat.
“As a Muslim, you don’t have to be poor. Muslims tend to believe Islam and poverty are connected. At times, I wonder if it is because Islam enjoins sadaqat and zakat. So, people believe that everything must be free,” he said.
The President added that some Muslims also hide under the guise of qadar (destiny) to relax and make no effort to seek ethical wealth and a better life.
“I don’t believe qadar is what we can sit down and predetermine. My own understanding is that after you have made the efforts, you have tried, you have done your own bit, and it does not happen, it is at best consolatory to then say, perhaps Allah does not wish for it to be like that.
“As Muslims, we accept that but don’t start by saying I’m not supposed to be rich. You should have that can-do attitude,” he stressed.
Health benefits of Ramadan
The session also featured discussion on the health benefits of Ramadan fasting which entered the second lap on Monday, 10th March.
A consultant neurosurgeon, Dr. Abdulhaadi Tihamiy affirmed that fasting in the month of Ramadan has a lot of health benefits to the human body, including controlling obesity, weight gain, and other chronic illnesses.
Dr. Tihamiy said Ramadan falls under what is called intermittent fasting in the medical parlance, adding that it has been found to be very resourceful in allowing the body system to relax, detoxify and recuperate
According to him, “It’s been found out that after 29 or 30-day fasting, there has been a significant reduction in weight, to the extent that those who were obese before fasting had better health after.
“It has also been found to be very beneficial to the control of diabetes, especially those that have the type 2 diabetes, to the extent that some people are recommending Ramadan fasting or any other fasting of that form as a therapy to those that have non-insulin dependent diabetes.
“During that fasting, there is increased sensitivity to insulin and people with diabetes have better glycemic profile, compared to other periods. People who fast have deductions in oxidative makers. The implication of this is that some chronic illnesses will get better, like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and several others. So most people that have those conditions will improve during Ramadan compared to other periods,” Dr Tihamiy said.
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