Poverty alleviation in Nigeria:

our roles as Muslims

Oladejo Abdulganiy FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CONCEPTUALIZATION OF POVERTY POVERTY ALLEVIATION: THE ROLE

OF MUSLIMS ZAKAT AS MEANS OF POVERTY

ALLEVIATION SELF-EMPOWERMENT

(entrepreneurship) WAQF

CONCLUSION

INTROUCTIONOne of the most disturbing features of the

world, particularly the Third World to which Nigeria belongs to is poverty (Oriah and Itufe, 2010). It remains the greatest impediment to the development of most third world countries. Poverty, injustice and lack of development are serious problems confronting Nigeria today. Poverty is a disease that needs to be eradicated in our society.

CONCEPTUALIZATION OF POVERTY

Poverty is not a self-defining concept, it is a multi-dimensional phenomenon. Experts and academics have suggested many definitions over time. For example, Lorenzo Giovanni (2005) said poverty could be the lack of command over commodities in general; alternatively, it could be the lack of command over some basic goods (e.g., food and housing). More generally, Sen, 1985, argued that poverty is the lack of “capability” to function in a given society. All these definitions point to poverty as a situation in which a reasonable standard of living is not achieved. According to the World Bank (2001), Poverty is the lack of, or the inability to achieve, a socially acceptable standard of living.

ISLAM’S DEFINITION OF POVERTY

Poverty in Islam is defined as a state whereby an individual fails to fulfil any of the five basic human requirements of life (Religion, Physical self, Knowledge, Offspring and Wealth.) (Olanipekun et al, 2015).

Poverty Elevation Scheme in Nigeria

There had been many poverty alleviation method put in place to reduce poverty in Nigeria. Practically most of this methods look good, but all ended up in failure, for most of it is either rooted usury or endangered by corruption

Taking the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) as a 2001 program by the Nigerian government addressing poverty in Nigeria and related issues.

Alas! By November 25, 2010 it made the NBF news headline on allegation of corruption.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION: THE ROLE OF MUSLIMS

There are various roles of Muslims as concerns poverty alleviation, but this work will be limited to discussing three main roles, namely: zakat; Self employment; Waqf. Desisting from usury and corruption

How can these help

In eradicating poverty?

Zakat is among the five pillars of Islam. A compulsory act in Islam for all those who are

qualified to pay it, to know how important the issue zakat is, it was talked about 42 times in

22 surahs of the holy Qur’an. In line with brotherhood concept which is emphasized in

Islam, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in 9AH received obligation on Muslims to pay zakat on

wealth. The institution of zakat is a unique instrument and mechanism in Islam that is used

to combat poverty.

Therefore one of the responsibilities of a Muslim in poverty alleviation is the payment of

zakat. Zakat is been paid so that the riches does not circulate among the rich alone but also

extends to the poor. It is a form of income redistribution; another person is empowered

from the riches of others without inflicting pain on the giver

SELF-EMPOWERMENT (entrepreneurship)“To be an entrepreneur and be involved in business consists of exerting significant effort and hard work, which is highly encouraged in Islam” (Obaid. 2015). Prophet said: “No doubt, it is better for a person to take a rope and proceed in the morning to the mountains and cut the wood and then sell it, and eat from this income and give alms from it than to ask others for something.” [BukhariVol. 2, Book 24, Hadith 558]

WAQFYumna and Clarke, give the definition of waqf from two perspectives, linguistically and from the Shariah perspectives. Linguistically, the word waqf means to stop, to contain or to preserve. Looking from the perspective of Shariah, the term “waqf” is referring to an act of holding certain physical assets and preserving it to the long term benefit of religious services. The first waqf to be recorded in the history of Islamic world is the

purchase of land and construction of the Quba’ Mosque by the Prophet S.A.W. (Bello, Doragawa 2010) Though the first waqf in Islamic history is created for religious purposes, it is important to note that the objectives of waqf are not restricted to only religious purposes

Desisting from usury and corruption Corruption itself is a pathogen for poverty, it causes poverty in the first place since it prevent wealth from circulating. And yet hinders the alleviation of poverty. Fund meant for the alleviation programmes are being embezzled by the agencies Buraidah ibn Al-Husaib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that

the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"When we appoint someone to a (public) post and provide him with an allowance, anything he takes beyond that is an ill-gotten gain.| (Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani).

Cont… Usury on the other hand is seen by the world as means of eradicating

poverty, however it will not eradicate poverty but rather add to it. It is forbidden by Allah, in many verses of the holy Qur’an: Suratul- Baqarah (2:275-278), Suratul-Aalimran (3:130) and the three chapter after it. It is the only crime Allah promised war to the offender.

Thanks for listening!!!