Alhaji AbdulHammed AbdulSemiu, the Deputy Chief Imam of Ife Central Mosque, has called on Muslims to always give Zakat to the less-privileged.
Zakkat is a charitable contribution and often consider as tax in Islam.
AbdulSemiu gave the advice during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ile-Ife.
He said that Zakkat is one of the obligatory pillars of Islam which reduces poverty, hunger and crime rate in the society.
According to him, those who remit Zakkat will also receive abundant blessings from the Almighty Allah.
He said that the failure of some Muslims to pay Zakkat as at when due had aggravated poverty in Nigeria, saying that the largest population in Saudi Arabia were empowered and surviving from Zakkat.
The cleric said that there would be no poverty in the country if Muslims paid Zakkat regularly, stressing that Allah is the giver and custodian of wealth.
“We are just the managers and would not be equal, that is why Allah introduced Zakkat to empower others who are less privileged in the society,” he said.
The cleric said that there was economic hardship nationwide, especially in states where workers had not been paid salaries for months.
He also advised Muslims to contribute to the development of Islam and the society at large by giving Zakkat promptly.
NAN reports that the Ramadan fast entered its 21st day on Wednesday. (NAN)
