As many as 60 destitute Muslims in Ibadan on Wednesday benefited from a Zakat of 7.5 million naira distributed by an anonymous philanthropist.

Distribution coordinator Alhaji Ismail Saka said the Zakat of 7.5 million naira was donated by someone who preferred to remain anonymous and given to him for distribution.

Saka explained that the selected beneficiaries, who received between 100,000 and 200,000 Naira each, were recommended by various Muslim organizations in Oyo State.

He pointed out that the beneficiaries included the poor, students, widows and people treating a condition or disease.

The coordinator said that one of the sick people who received Zakat had a kidney problem and prayed for his speedy recovery.

He urged wealthy Muslims to ensure they act in accordance with the teachings of Islam, adding that Zakat is an integral part of Islam and would significantly reduce poverty among Muslims if properly paid.

“There is no gain in accumulating wealth and the people next to you wallow in abject poverty.

“It is not through your creation that Allah has given you wealth. The rich should look back and appreciate Allah by helping the needy and caring for the less privileged in society.

“It is by doing this that we can ensure security in Nigeria and reduce poverty,” he said.

The coordinator urged the recipients to use the money wisely as it was a privilege and a back opportunity that they might never get back in their life.

He further called on the recipients to be mindful of being Zakat givers in the future by investing the money so that it can multiply for them in the future.

The President of the occasion and Secretary of the Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Murziq Siyanbade called on wealthy Muslims to give Zakat in order to purify their wealth.

Siyanbade said if wealthy Muslims in the society paid their Zakat properly, poverty would decrease significantly.

The speaker on the occasion and the Islamic organization Amir Al-Burhan, Imam Abdul Jeleel Salaudeen, said that Zakat is a way to purify the wealth of wealthy Muslims.

Salaudeen said Islam encourages people to give and it is more rewarding to give to the needy.

AbdulAkeem Olaniyan, one of the Zakat recipients, who spoke on behalf of others, appreciated the giver and promised that he would use the money wisely.

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam “required wealthy Muslims to withdraw a certain percentage of their wealth and give it to the needy in order to reduce poverty in society.