By Gistflash News

Sept 19, 2021

The EIders Consultative Forum of Supreme Council of Shariah, Oyo State, on Sunday distributed Zakat worth N9 million in cash and other valuable items to 135 indigent Muslims in Oyo State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries selected from across the 33 local government areas of the state include: 21 students, 21 artisans and 93 indigent Muslims .

The items distributed include: domestic and industrial sewing machines, generators, grinding machines, deep freezers, 50 kg gas cylinders, vulcanizing machines and cash.

Speaking during the 9th Zakat distribution of the forum in Ibadan, the Chairman, Alhaji Lasun Sanusi, SAN, said that the initiative was due to the level of poverty in the society, especially among the Muslims.

Sanusi, represented by the forum’s Secretary, Malam Ismail Saka, said that Zakat being one of the five pillars of Islam would help to alleviate the financial difficulties being experienced by indigent Muslims.

The chairman called on wealthy Muslims to comply with Allah’s injunctions by paying Zakat to the needy.

This, he said, was in order to provide lasting solution to restiveness, banditry kidnapping and other crimes in the society.

“It is our belief that if the institution of Zakat is properly harnessed and utilised in accordance with the teachings of Islam, the country will be more comfortable for living for all and sundry,” the chairman said.

Sanusi appreciated those that had contributed to the success of the programme and prayed for Allah’s continued support and blessings upon them.

In his lecture, Dr Ibrahim Uthman, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, emphasised on the need for wealthy individuals among the Muslims to pay Zakat.

Uthman said that it was obligatory on wealthy Muslims to pay Zakat which would be distributed to indigent Muslims in society in order to achieve its purpose of eradicating poverty among them.

The chairman of the occasion, Asiwaju Adini of Oyo State, Alhaji Mutiu Oladejo, called on the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the cash and items given to them.

Oladejo said that the proper utilisation of the Zakat by the beneficiaries would make them give back to the society and also become Zakat givers in the future.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Hassan Abdulkareem, commended the organisers for the invaluable gesture and prayed Allah to abundantly replenish the contributors of the Zakat.

NAN

By Gistflash News

Sept 16, 2021

The Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, says it has initiated refund of the 2021 Hajj fare to 620 intending pilgrims who indicated interest to collect their deposits.

The Acting Overseer of the board, Hajiya Hannatu Zailani, made the disclosure at the presentation of cheques to the intending pilgrims, on Thursday in Kaduna.

Zailani said that 620 of the 3,938 intending pilgrims applied for the refund of their deposits.

According to her, the refund is sequel to the cancellation of the 2021 Hajj exercise for foreign nationals by the Saudi Arabian authorities occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

She said that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), had directed ingending pilgrims willing to collect their deposits to do so throught their respective state pilgrims boards.

“Some 620 intending pilgrims applied for the refund. We eqully wrote to the Kaduna State Government for approval to start payment of those who want the refund.

“Those seeking for the refund should handle their cheques with care, be law abiding and observe COVID-19 protocols during the exercise,” she said.

Zailani said that the exercise would be conducted in batches to facilitate its smooth conduct, adding that, “We have three zones, A, B and C. Today we are starting with zone C- Southern Kaduna.”

She advised the remaining intending pilgrims that they could deposit with the board for the 2022 Hajj exercise.

This, she said, would give them advantage over those who registered fresh.

She further advised intending pilgrims to ensure safe keeping of their COVID-19 vaccination cards for future use.

NAN

By Gistflash News

Aug 7, 2021

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has directed the Muslim Ummah to look out for the new moon of Muharram 1443 AH, on Sunday, Aug. 8.

Abubakar issued the directive on Saturday, in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto.

“This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Sunday, August 8, which is equivalent to 29^th day of Dhul-Hijja 1442AH shall be the day to look out for the new moon of  Muharram  1443AH.

“Muslims are, therefore, requested to start looking out for the new moon on Sunday and report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication to the Sultan,’’ he said.

The Sultan prayed Allah to assist Muslims in the discharge of their religious duties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sighting of the new moon of Muharram will usher in the new year 1443 AH in Islam.

Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar, is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Quran, along with the seventh month of Rajab, and the eleventh and twelfth months of Dhul-Qadah and Dhul-Hijjah, respectively, preceding Muharram.

During the month of Muharram, warfare is forbidden in Islam and Muslims believed that devotion in the sacred months attracted a lot of reward from Almighty Allah.

NAN