Kwara MASAZAWAQ: Gov. Abdulrazaq, Grand Kadi, Emir of Ilorin, Islamic scholars, others to grace annual Ramadan lecture
By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Majlis for Sadaqah, Zakat and Waqf (MASAZAWAQ) Kwara State will receive dignitaries across the 16 local government in the state for her annual Ramadan lecture scheduled for April 15 in Ilorin.
The Governor of Kwara State, Mall. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the Grand Kadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen, the Emir of Ilorin and the Chairman Traditional Council of Kwara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, and Alhaji Lateef Fagbemi are among the prominent Kwarans billed to attend this year Annual Lecture.
The annual Lecture, which will also be graced by various Islamic scholars and personalities from various walks of life is aimed at educating Muslims on the need to attach importance to the third Pillar of Islam, Zakat and the rewards thereof.
Speaking with National Pilot, the Chairman of the Association, Engineer Sa’ad Belgore said that the lecture will take place at the Association’s Secretariat Premises, Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin, beginning from 10:00am.
Belgore said that the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mall Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour, while the Patron of the Association, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari will be the Royal father of the day.
According to him, the lecture which is centred around Sadaqah, Zakat and Waqf would be delivered by the Grand Kadi of Kwara State, Hon. Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen, while Alhaji Lateef Fagbemi, SAN will chaired the occasion.
“And we’ve invited from across the State people who will think would benefit and those who will help to spread the message across the length and breath of the country. We also invited our branches across the 16 Local Government in the state who will bring in the collection of individuals that would be able to benefit from the lecture.
“All Muslim Traditional Rulers in the State are invited. Our patron, the Emir of Ilorin, who has been very kind to us personally invited people on his path for us. We pray that God will accept it as our little contribution to the Islam”, Belgore said.
He noted that one of the reasons they are holding the Ramadan lecture particular for this year, is to enlighten people on zakat and emphasis more on people to take this pillar as fundamental worship to Allah.
“Among the benefits of paying zakat most especially is fulfilling your religious obligation to your creature. Secondly, helping to reduce poverty within the community.
“Now, we have been able to establish majlis to the point that we did a programme within our premises, whereby we gave out some money to a group of people we regarded as needy in the society, of which 128 people benefited from that programme with various amount of money. Precisely, N6.1 million was distributed”, he added.
Belgore, however, advised Muslims to help Islam to be on the right position in the country by following the tenet of the religion. Not discriminating one pillar against the other. “God has created us to be our brothers’ keeper, some of us in this Majlis do not require much from anybody except what God will give and because of that we spend our time, resources, for the improvement of the Muslim community.
“My advice is that Muslim brothers and sisters should work hard towards the purpose of Allah”, Belgore said.
Majlis for Sadaqah, Zakat and Waqf (MASAZAWAQ) Kwara State was established primarily for collection of Sadaqah, Zakat and for those who want to do waqf within the State. Likewise, to redistribute the wealth between the have and the have not in the society, with the aim of reducing poverty among the community.
