Donating Palliatives to Needy Obligatory on Affluent Muslims – Dr Yusuf Lawal
Donating food items, basic household provisions, and other relief materials as palliatives to the vulnerable, weak, poor, sick persons and COVID-19 suspects under quarantine or in isolation is obligatory on Muslims men and women who have the means.
Therefore, it should not only be because of the Coronavirus pandemic, and its attendant lockdown that should attract the giving out of food items.
This was the submission of Dr. Yusuf Lawal, Director of Test Administration, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as he led community leaders in Badari/Oke Aluko area of Ilorin, Kwara State, to raise funds to provide palliatives for the people of the area.
He said the Holy Qur’an enjoined Muslims to assist the aforementioned categories of people, who fall under the beneficiaries for Zakat ul-Fitr.
Over 700 persons were given cash and food items in every household in the area, while those requiring medical attention were sponsored for treatment.
The effort, which brought elites of the area together to support the needy, was described as unprecedented.
Many residents and inhabitants of Oke Aluko area noted that only a personality in the calibre of Dr. Lawal could rally everyone together, irrespective of their political affiliation, and gender or age disparity.
They attributed it to the long standing philanthropic disposition and rendering of assistance to all categories of persons, especially the aged and youths, by the JAMB Director.
Other personalities in the group include the Grand Khadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammed Ola Abdulkadir; Hon. Salihu Bamidele Aluko, former Member of the State House of Assembly; Hon. Abdulrazaq Lawal, a former Commissioner; Hon. Lanre Oba Aluko, Governing Council Member of KWASU; Mr. Lanre Bello, former Special Assistant to the Governor; Abdullahi Lawal, retired Comptroller Of Immigration.
Others are an Associate Professor of law, Saka Olokooba; Mr. Mohammed Amin Aluko, a lecturer at Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin; Hajiya Hauwa Iyabo Ahmed, a retired banker; Mr. Bolaji Jimoh Kawu Ballah, the Treasurer of Ilorin Emirate Council; Alhaji Abayomi Abdulkareem Adisa, a Kwara governorship candidate in the last gubernatorial election; and Mr. Isa Alao, President of Badari Youth Development Association.
Mr. Lawal, thanked everyone who contributed in raising the funds, and expressed the community’s appreciation to the six-man Committee that went round every compound during the Ramadan fast to distribute the cash and food items.
Grand Khadi of the State, Justice Abdulkadir, encouraged the community to sustain the noble effort by ensuring that such charitable activity is carried out annually.
He said such selfless sacrifice is always well appreciated and rewarded by Almighty Allah.
By PRNigeria
