NASFAT disburses N130 million zakat proceeds to 300 beneficiaries

Determined to eradicate poverty, Nasrullahi -l- Fatih (NASFAT) Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat (NAZAS), a body responsible for collection and distribution of Zakat has disbursed over 130 million Naira to not less than 300 indigent Muslims across the country.

Beneficiaries of the zakat proceeds cut across various categories including empowerment, scholarship, health needs, monthly stipend for the aged, and debt relief, among others.

Speaking during the disbursement exercise and 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Agency,  the General Manager of NAZAS, 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.

He noted 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 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.”

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.”

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.”

He expressed optimism that the NAZAS Team will meet up with the N200 million Zakat mobilisation target for the year.

“As of 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.

Abdurahman 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.”

National Missioner of NASFAT, Sheikh AbdulAzeez 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.”