An Ogun State based charity organization, Al-Khaleely Islamic Foundation (AKIF), Wednesday, December 14, at its maiden outing put smile on the faces of some widows and old women in conformity with the organization’s Motto: Service to Humanity.
The occasion which took place at the premises of De-Pillar Nursery/Primary School situated at Ifelodun area of Oko Baale axis of Ota, Ogun State featured pupils’ presentations, lecture and distribution of food stuff and other household items.
The Foundation’s founder, Ustaz Khalil Ibrahim, who doubles as the Proprietor of the school in his interaction with our correspondent said other items on the programme of the day included scholarship for a couple of pupils in the school, payment for General Certificate of Education (GCE), forms as well as Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms.
According to him, the GCE and JAMB forms are from donors who crave anonymity, adding that, the Foundation Management has also received pledges from a couple of kind hearted Nigerians who lauded the initiative of the Foundation that is aimed at giving back to the society some of the benefits they have earlier gained from the society.
Ustaz Ibrahim, an engineer by profession expressed the belief that, lifting humanity is not supposed to be attached to any season agreeing however that, “if the occasion coincides with when people are in festive mood, it is welcome because it will be nice for everyone to be happy when his neighbours are happy.”
Although, Khalil Ibrahim said official distribution outing is to be on annual basis, sharing of palliatives at intervals as occasion demands is part of the Foundation’s arrangement, adding that, “our office is open 24/7 to visitors who may want to make enquiry, make suggestions or make donations to the cause of Allah.”
In his sermon on the occasion, the guest lecturer, Sheikh, Al-Imam Abubakar Ojibara said the position of charity in Islam is so high so much that its importance to humanity, both givers and receivers, can never be over emphasized.
According to the cleric, who is the Bulibuu Li Quadiriyah (Coordinator of the Quadriyyah Islamic sect) of the South-West of Nigeria disclosed that the Almighty Allah so cherishes charity so much that He makes an aspect of it compulsory as the third pillar of Islam known as Zakat which is annually unlike voluntary one which is Sadaqat.
Ojibara lamented that, Nigerians are suffering amidst plenty because of the attitude of theo who have but refuse to give out, informing that, charity in Islam is a divine way of spreading the world’s wealth across so that there would not be a single fellow on earth that would be poverty striken.
Earlier in his motivational speech, another Arabic scholar, Sheikh Abdur-Rasheed Omo Alubarika commended the initiators of the Foundation for their thoughtfulness saying, if everyone in the society contributes something for the sake of humanity, no matter how very, small, the world would be a better place for everybody to live.
According to him, nobody is so poor that he or she cannot have something to spare for humanity, stressing the need for organizations, social groups and religious associations to set avenues through which they would be reaching out to humanity.
He therefore urged Khalil Ibrahim and members of his Foundation not to relent in their efforts towards making the society a better place for all, asserting that, there would be obstacles and challenges in the path towards getting to the promise land because saboteurs would want to showcase their devilish antics.
While handling the items to the beneficiaries, Founder and Chief Missioner (Worldwide), of Zawiyatul-Sofwatur-Rahmatil-Islamiyyat (ZASRAM), Ota, Ogun State, Sheikh Abdur-Razaq Abdul-Hameed Onaolapo Animashaun Kasolayo urged them to be prayerful for the organizers of the Foundation who he said mean well for the society.
Kasolayo observed that, “if these youth are prayed for and prosper, with what we have witnessed here today, they would do more,” urging others present to emulate the Foundation in contributing their own quota to the betterment of the society.
Not less than 25 beneficiaries smiled home with food items that could be managed for a few days depending on the sizes of their families. All the clerics advised against exposing faces of the beneficiaries in the media to safeguard their integrity.
Other members of the Foundations are, Ahmad Ibrahim Gbodo, Shamsudeen Akande, Ibrahim Niyas and Ibrahim Akewukanowo all of who are Arabic and Islamic scholars.
