By: Nurudeen Ismail, +234-907-615-8003

Religion Islam is the complete code of life. Islam teaches us to treat all mankind with love, respect, and honor as Almighty Allah commanded us to do so. One of the most widespread problems is poverty, hunger, and starvation that most of the human beings facing in these days. Allah Almighty loves those who help poor and needy people for getting His pleasure. Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Quran: “And in their wealth is a recognized right. For the (needy) who asks and the one who is deprived.”  (Quran, 70:24-25)
Helping poor and needy by giving charity is considered as one of the virtuous acts in Islam. Religion Islam warns those who cloak and save their wealth and don’t spend for the cause of Allah or in His way. Allah says in the Quran for these people: “It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West. But the righteousness is to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Prophets, and to give of your wealth out of love for Him, to your kin and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves…” (Quran, 2:177)
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought the rights and treatment of the poor which was the greatest reform in the society. Muslims are obliged to look after the poor and needy people, and required to spend of their wealth to help the poor out for the sake of Allah Almighty. Abu Huraira (RA) narrated: Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “Allah said, ‘O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Almighty Allah will punish those on the Judgment Day who accumulate their wealth without giving the due right to the poor and needy people. Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran: “And those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend in the Path of Allah then warn them of the painful torment.” (Quran, 9:34)
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) specifically commanded the wealthy people to give in charity and gave a very extreme warning to them if they didn’t do so: Abu Huraira (RA) narrated: Allah’s Apostle Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, ‘I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'” (Sahih Bukhari)
In order to eliminate poverty from the Islamic society, Islam imposes the structure of Zakat. Allah Almighty commanded us to treat the resulting problems stemming from poverty such as theft, murder, attacking people and taking their property unjustly by eliminating poverty from the society. Moreover, helping poor and needy people through charity revives the mutual social welfare and support among members of the Islamic society.