DANGOTE RAMADAN LARGESSE

By Ibrahim Teslim, Abdullahi

I got an authentic report from a reliable muslim brother (my colleague at work) that Alhaji Aliko Dangote sends cash gift to muslims secluded in some mosques (performing I'tikaf) during this last 10 days of Ramadan.

The cash gifts is N50,000 to each person secluded in this mosques. The mosques in question are Ikoyi Central Mosque popularly called Ruxton Mosque, Syrian Mosque and some other mosques around the jurisdiction of Ikoyi area of Lagos state. This is such a laudable and a rewarding Sadaqah from the richest man in Africa to have extended his generosity to his muslim folks in this glorious month of Ramadan.

However, something struck me to check his financial net worth. Then immediately I checked his Wikipedia page for that. Alas, I found Alhaji Dangote's net worth to be $17.7 billion as at June 2015.

As a student of Zakat, I pondered deeply that if this man's net worth is what we have above, then 2.5% will be charged annually from this net worth. It will interest you to know what I arrived at as the percentage he is to pay as Zakat for this year to the muslim Ummah. He is to pay $708 million to Zakat foundation to the Muslims in Nigeria.

Now, before you ask for my head, I'm not criticizing his N50,000 largesse to muslim performing I'tikaf in Ikoyi as this is plainly Sadaqah (charity) in Islam. But what the Ulama are to demand from Alhaji Dangote is the payment of Zakat, which is a compulsory pillar of Islam. In fact it is the 3rd pillar out of 5 pillars of Islam.

Zakat is the most neglected pillars of Islam among muslims of this world. In as much as it is the most easier form of alms giving to assist the less privileged of the society. I crave to know if Alhaji Dangote is paying Zakat annually to Muslim ummah's account. As $708 million isn't a child's play amount that will better the lives of many muslims in Nigeria. As Allah as stated the 8 categories of people to collect Zakat in Suratuh Taubah Chapter 9 verse 60 thus:

"As-Sadaqat (here means Zakat) are only for the Fuqara' (poor), and Al-Masakin (the needy) and those employed to collect (Zakat fund); For those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer; ordained by Allah, And Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom."

Now, this where I want the Nigeria Muslim leader His eminence Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar (the III) to play a significant leadership role by arranging Alhaji Dangote's Zakat fund and by instituting a National Muslim Zakat and Foundation. Although there are so many Zakat foundation in town but majority of them are "privately" owned foundation. So there is need to have a national one that will see to the needs of many muslim in this country. We shouldn't just know the function of our muslim leader only in the sighting of Ramadan moon but across the remaining pillars of Islam.

And if Alhaji Dangote has been paying Zakat before now, whoever that has an authentic link of it should kindly avail us to know how much he is being paying annually so far. As some scholars may misguide him that whenever he performs an act of Sadaqah it is equivalent to Zakat. No! It is not equivalent as the two are different in meaning and applications. While Sadaqah is voluntary charity, Zakat is compulsory act upon those who are qualified like the billionaire Alhaji in question. We emphasize more on his Zakat because the 2.5% of it is humongous and can alleviate a lot of poverty in our land. Who knows, this may help us forestall the Boko Haram insurgency. As majority of terrorists are forced into such acts courtesy of poverty.

So if Alhaji has not been paying Zakat (compulsory alms giving) all these while and he has been paying Sadaqah instead, there is need to let him do the needful with immediate effect. Islamic scholars close to this man should help and tell him the truth about the payment of Zakat.

And if he has been paying Zakat and the muslim scholars close to him are the ones siphoning the amount to their personal accounts. They should fear the Day Of Judgement where they will be accountable to Allah (SWT). There is need to tell him the truth by paying the right dues other than deceit dues or peanut out of what Allah has blessed him with.

Mind you we have many muslim billionaires in Nigeria who have not been paying Zakat of their net worth instead they dish out Sadaqah as a disguise of paying Zakat. So let's start from evaluating the richest man in Africa, his statutory role to his spiritual constituency (Islam & Muslims in Nigeria). Perhaps we may have an head way in this course which may simultaneously assist other muslim billionaires in payment of Zakat to a national and an authorized Zakat foundation in Nigeria.

May Allah restore our ummah properly, may He grant us beneficial knowledge of the Deen and the hearts of accepting the truth, ameen.