Kano – The Kano State Zakkat and Endowment Commission has mandated its Zakkat Collection Committee to commence collections of Zakkat (Alms) from wealthy Muslims in the state to support the less privileged.
Alhaji Safiyanu Gwagwarwa, the Director-General of the commission disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.
He said the directive became necessary in order to enable the commission disburse such items to the less privileged following the commencement of Ramadan fast on Saturday, May 27.
“We mandated the committee to begin collection of Zakkat to enable us assist the poor in breaking their fast, since the Ramadan fast has begun,“ he said.
According to him, the committee is expected to visit wealthy Muslims within the eight Metropolitan local government areas to solicit their support for the poor amongst us during the fasting period.
Gwagwarwa said that already, the commission had received donations of some food items from some wealthy Muslims for disbursement to the needy in the state,
He reminded Muslims of the need to ensure prompt payment of their Zakkat as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an.
He said prompt payment of Zakkat would enable the commission to distribute it to the needy and this would go a long way in alleviating their sufferings, especially during the Ramadan fast.
Gwagwarwa also stressed the need to always assist the less-privileged persons during this Ramadan period to enable them observe their fast with ease.
“Those who have should be able to support the poor during this sacred month of Ramadan because anybody who assists his fellow human being, God will replenish him,” he added.
NAN recalls that the state government had earmarked N300 million for the Ramadan Free Feeding Programme to support the poor to break their fast with free meals during the period.
The Muslim fasting period that started on Saturday May 27, is expected to end in June at the sighting of the moon.