It was ecstasy galore on Wednesday, 14 December, 2022, when a charity organization, based in Ota, Ogun State feted widows, old women and other vulnerable ones in the community. At the event, no fewer than 25 widows and aged women benefited.
The organization, Al-Khaleely Islamic Foundation (AKIF), during its maiden distribution of palliatives that sunny Wednesday said the activity was in line with the foundation’s Motto: Service to Humanity.
The event took place at the premises of De-Pillar Nursery/Primary School located at Ifelodun street of Oko Baale area via Oju-Ore, Ota, Ogun State. The event, apart from distribution of palliative items like food stuff, featured pupils’ presentations and lecture themed Charity in Islam.
AKIF’s founder, Ustaz Khalil Ibrahim Bamidele, who is also the Proprietor of the school, in his interaction with the newsmen at the venue, disclosed that, 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.
Khalil Bamidele disclosed that, the GCE and JAMB forms are from donors who crave anonymity, added that, management of the Foundation has also received pledges from a couple of kind hearted Nigerians who praised the initiative of the Foundation which is aimed at giving back to the society some of the benefits they have earlier gained from the society so the goodies should keep going round all other people.
Ibrahim Bamidele, a trained engineer and Arabic scholar expressed the conviction that,” lifting humanity is not supposed to be attached to any season,” admitting however that, “if the occasion coincides with period people are in festive mood, it is welcome because it will be nice for everyone to be happy when his neighbours are happy.”
Ustaz Khalil Bamidele, who said official distribution outing is to be on annual basis, however informed that, sharing of palliatives at intervals as occasion may warrant is part of the Foundation’s arrangement, adding , “our office is open 24/7 to visitors who may want to make enquiries, make suggestions or make donations to the cause of Allah.”
Keynote speaker on the occasion, 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.”
Sheikh Ojibara, who is the Bulibulu Li Quadiriyah (Coordinator of the Quadriyyah Islamic sect) of the South-West of Nigeria disclosed further 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 that can be offered any time.
The cleric regretted that, “Nigerians are suffering amidst plenty because of the attitude of the haves refusal to give out to the have nots,” 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 stricken.”
A motivational lecturer, Sheikh Abdur-Rasheed Omo Alubarika praised the initiators of the Foundation for their thoughtfulness and foresightedness believing that, “if everyone in the society contributes something for the sake of humanity, no matter how very little, the world would be a better place for everybody to live in.”
He, interestingly asserted that, “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 up avenues through which they would be reaching out to humanity with the main aim of alleviating poverty and hunger.
Omo Alubarika therefore challenged the AKIF founder, Khalil Bamidele and members of the Foundation not to relent in their efforts towards making the society a better place for all, asserting that, “there is bound to be obstacles and challenges in the path towards getting to the promise land because saboteurs would want to showcase their devilish antics at every point.”
Also, Founder and Chief Missioner (Worldwide), of Zawiyatul-Sofwatur-Rahmatil-Islamiyyat (ZASRAM), Ota, Ogun State, Sheikh Abdur-Razaq Abdul-Hameed Onaolapo Animashaun Kasolayo, who handed the items to the beneficiaries, urged them to be prayerful for the organizers of the Foundation who he said mean well for the society.
Onaolapo Kasolayo observed that, “if these youth are prayed for and they prosper, with what we have witnessed here today, they would do more,” just as he urged others present to emulate the Foundation in contributing their own quota to the betterment of the society.
The three clerics advised against showing faces of the beneficiaries in the media to safeguard their integrity and protect their fame.
Other members of the Foundations present at the event were, Ahmad Ibrahim Gbodo, Shamsudeen Akande, Ibrahim Niyas and Ibrahim Akewukanowo all of who are Arabic and Islamic scholars in their own right.
