Zakat: Severe Punishment Awaits Defaulters, Grand Khadi Warns

The grand Khadi of Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Justice  AbdulLateef Kamaldeen, has decried the non-challant attitude of wealthy Muslims towards zakat payment.

Zakat, the third pillar of Islam, is a means of redistribution of wealth whereby the rich take out a specified percentages of their wealth annually for distribution to the poor members of the society.

Kamaldeen warned that there is a severe  punishment for wealthy and materially endowed Muslims who default in the payment of zakat.

The grand Khadi clarified that zakat payment in Islam is mandatory and not optional for those who are wealthy and materially endowed amongst the Muslims.

Kamaldeen handed down the warning in a lecture he delivered at the annual Ramadan Tafsir organised by Majlis (Council) for Sadaqah, Zakat and Waqf (alms/charity) held in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

He expressed concern that zakat, meant to ensure even distribution of wealth amongsts the Muslims, was not being observed by many despite that only a fraction of their wealth and materials will be distributed.

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

Chairman of the occasion, Prince AbdulLateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by Abdulkadir Adelodun (SAN), decried the haphazard manner in which zakat monies  were being distributed in the society, commending the Majlis for adopting effective administration of zakat distribution.

The coordinator of the Zakat Council, Engr. Sa’ad Belgore, who said that the essence of organising the programme was to sensitize more Muslims on the need to pay zakat, disclosed that the council had in December 2022  empowered a total of 128 persons through its zakat programme.