Kwara Grand Khadi warns Zakat defaulters of severe consequences

The Grand Khadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen has warned that there is a severe consequence for wealthy Muslims who default in the payment of Zakat.

He gave the warning at the annual Ramadan Tafsir organised by Majlis (Council) for Sadaqah, Zakat and Waqf (alms/charity), Kwara State held in Ilorin, the state capital.

Zakat is a mandatory charitable donation that applies to all adult Muslims who meet the Nisab threshold.

It is the Third Pillar of Islam and refers to the obligatory donation to charity expected of every qualifying Muslim, as opposed to an act of voluntary generosity through Sadaqah.

It aims to ensure even distribution of wealth amongst Muslims.

Kamaldeen said Zakat is the most neglected Pillar of Islam by wealthy Muslims.

Many qualifying Muslims, he said, failed to pay Zakat despite the fact that only a fraction of their wealth (2.5 per cent of total savings in a year) is donated for charitable causes.

He, however, urged well-to-do Muslims to pay Zakat as at when due, saying that the mandatory donation was a potent weapon to fight poverty in the society.

Kamalden listed those entitled to receive Zakat to include orphans, the poor who have nothing to feed on and those highly indebted, among others.

Chairman of the occasion, Prince Abdulateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by Abdulkadir Adelodun (SAN), decried the haphazard manner in which Zakat is being distributed and lauded the Council for adopting effective administration of its distribution.

Engineer Saad Belgore said the programme was to enlighten Muslims on the need to pay Zakat.

He said 128 persons were empowered by the Majlis through its Zakat programme.