IN Islam, it is instructive for men to make provisions for the wellbeing of their families, especially for the sustenance of their wives and children, after their demise.
A scholar, Ustaz Haroon Akano, made this remark in a lecture during the presentation of cash and tools worth N1 million to some widows in Ilorin, Kwara State, by a faith-based humanitarian organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF).
Some of the beneficiaries got a cash gift of N100,000 each while others received equipment worth N150,000 each.
Ustaz Akano described Islam as an all-encompassing religion which has made adequate provisions for the welfare of all vulnerable members of the ummah, including widows.
According to him, the death of breadwinners usually take a heavy toll on those they leave behind and therefore the act of ensuring the comfort of widows is very rewarding in the sight of Allah.
He, however, advised widows not to see the deaths of their husbands as the end of the world.
He described the ZSF gesture as a very rewarding venture and called on the foundation to sustain it. The programme, according to him, would go a long way in reducing poverty and ensuring even distribution of wealth.
Akano decried stigmatisation against widows, calling on those that discourage widows from remarrying to rethink their stance.
Speaking at the event, the state coordinator of the foundation, Dr Muhammad Thanni Muhammad Muktar, said the programme, which was aimed at putting smiles on the faces of widows, was to commemorate this year’s International Widows Day.
June 23 is set aside by the United Nations as global day of action to tackle the plight of windows.
He said the gesture was in line with the dictates of Islam and urged the beneficiaries to use what they had received as a means of liberation from poverty.
Muktar said the foundation was established to revive the most neglected pillar of Islam, zakat, help the poor and and benefit Muslims and humanity in general.
The Administrative Officer of the ZSF in the state, Ustaz Adisa Surajudeen, said the main objective of the foundation was to reorientate Muslims to the institution of zakat and ensure even distribution of wealth for the benefit of the underprivileged.
Other aims of the organisation, according to him, are “to create a credible channel of distribution of zakat, to reawaken the spirit of social responsibility among Muslims, to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor and to establish cordial relationship with other similar organisations.”
In her welcome address, the state female coordinator of the foundation, Hajiya Bashiroh Abdulraheem, said the suffering and maltreatment faced by widows in the society were overwhelming.
Hajiya Abdulraheem said: “Widows are subjected to maltreatment, neglect, condemnation and are made objects of inheritance and made to face all sorts of sufferings. The responsibility of two people becomes the responsibility of one.
“The theme for this year’s International Widows Day is “Invisible Women, Invisible Problem.” The United Nations acknowledges that widows are invisible to policymakers when they draw out national policies to address the problems of citizens.
“Policies focus on common citizens, labourers, jobless youths and other segments of the society. However, nothing is specifically discussed about widows in policymaking meetings and there are more than 258 million widows in the world.”
The beneficiaries promised to make judicious use of the gifts and prayed God to reward the foundation and the donors.
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