Ibile Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation not establishment of Lagos Central Mosque – BOT

By KEMI KASUMU

A rejoinder has been written against an advert in a national newspaper titled, “RE: Notice to the General Public”, allegedly published on Friday June 25th 2024 on behalf of the Lagos Central Mosque concerning the Ibile Muslims Community Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation.

Specifically speaking, Nasir Giwa, Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the organization (BoT), said the said advert was published by Alhaji Sikiru Macfoy, in the Nation Newspaper with a claim that it was being done on the Lagos Central Mosque.

But the BOT Secretary, in a statement Wednesday July 3, 2024, said, “It is correct that Ibile was not established by the Lagos Central Mosque/ Jamatul Muslimeen Council and it was never intended that any liabilities or consequences arising from the Foundation’s actions shall be attributed to the Lagos Central Mosque.

“The Ibile Muslims Community Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation is an independent entity, set up, constituted and registered by well-meaning and notable Muslim residents across the five divisions of Lagos State led by the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos and the five divisional Chief Imams and the Ratibis under them.

“Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and obligatory upon all Muslims who have the capacity to pay. Its essence is about the need to promote sustainable culture of circulation of wealth within the society, thereby ensuring that everyone has immediate access to basic human necessities. It will also help to reduce the economic disparity and promote solidarity among the people in the society while Sadaqat and Waqf are established charitable act encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and rewarded by Almighty Allah.

“If well implemented through effective policies, such divinely inspired socio-economic institutions has the potential of transforming the economic well-being of the people. Thereby leading a potentially viable future where poverty will have been drastically alleviated.

“In view of the absence of a unifying body currently handling the issue of Zakat, Sadaqat and Waqf in the State and considering the present economic situation and poverty level of Muslims and a lot of Lagosian, the Foundation was conceptualized and set up for the sole objective to utilize Zakat, Sadaqat, and Waqf in accordance with Allah’s prescriptions in the Qur’an and the Sunnah to achieve our objectives.

“It is instructive to state that the activities of the Foundation are not hidden. The Members of our Board of Trustees are publicly listed on our website, social media handles, and our objectives are transparent and legitimate.

“We daresay that the Foundation is not in competition with any body or group of persons or organizations. It is set up to simply provide an avenue for willing Muslims and other well-endowed residents across the five divisions of Lagos State to fulfill their obligations and to also reach out to the indigent Lagosian.

“We have done this publication to categorically clarify our position that there is no link or connection between Ibile Muslims Community Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation and Lagos Central Mosque. We are equally issuing this notice to assure the public that the Foundation is authentic, result oriented and directed at achieving the injunctions that the Almighty Allah has placed on us as Muslims and well-meaning Nigerians.

“We count on the support of goodhearted resident of Lagos across the five divisions for the Foundation’s objectives for the benefit of Lagos Muslims, indigent Lagosian and humanity at large.

“We also reiterate that the public presentation of the Foundation is scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 6th, 2024 at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos. We look forward to receiving all the residents of Lagos State, our distinguished invited guests and the executive council of Lagos Central Mosque,” the statement said.