Alhaji Momodou Lamin Touray, president of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) has called for the establishment of a Zakat centre in the country, so that assistance to the poor and needy could be coordinated more effectively. According to Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA) the top cleric made this recommendation on Friday in a sermon delivered at his native village of Gunjur, Kombo South, Western Region of The Gambia. According to him, the Islamic injunction to give alms to the poor and the needy (Zakat) is a very important pillar among the five tenets of Islam. He said this was why it is seriously attached to the growth and prominence of the Muslim community. He also added that effective distribution of Zakat to deserving people would go a long way in slashing down inequality levels in the society. “We live in a world where the poor are getting poorer and the rich are becoming richer. This will continue unless something drastic is done to reverse the trend. Our neighbours should not go hungry when we have plenty at our disposal. As Muslims, we should share whatever we have in order to create a world of peace and prosperity for ourselves and for our fellow human beings,” he advised. He further gave a description of people deserving of alms or Zakat as stipulated by Islam among whom are the weak, orphans, travelers, people who are incapacitated, those who cannot find means of sustenance hard as they try and Zakat collectors. “Giving alms is not about encouraging laziness on the part of the recipients. However, it is aimed at creating peace, goodwill and happiness in the Islamic society. The Quran categorically stated in Suratul Jumuah that Muslims should disperse to different avenues in quest for livelihoods, so the question of sloth does not come in,” he asserted. He further enunciated that the institution of alms (Zakat) as a pillar of Islam was not done to wrest the hard-earned income of better-off people and giving it to the indigent. He then urged youths and Muslims in general to acquire skills and trades that will help them in not just honestly sustaining their families but also in fulfilling the pillars and requirements of Islam.
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