Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques in Okene, Kogi State, Sheikh Murtadha Muhammad Gusau, has called on Muslims to safeguard their wealth from calamity by faithfully paying Zakah.

Delivering his Friday sermon on Ramadan 3, 1447 AH (February 20, 2026), Imam Gusau emphasised that Zakah is not a loss but a divine mechanism for purification and protection of wealth.

According to him, wealth is not preserved through stinginess or hoarding but through obedience to Allah by giving out the prescribed portion to the needy.

“Zakah cleanses wealth from greed and spiritual impurities and blesses the remainder with increase and barakah,” he said, quoting the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as saying: “Wealth never decreases from charity.” (Muslim).

The cleric explained that paying 2.5 per cent of eligible wealth purifies the remaining 97.5 per cent, adding that Zakah is not a voluntary act of generosity but an obligation and a right due to the poor.

Citing the Qur’an, Imam Gusau referenced Surah Al-Baqarah (2:261), where Allah likens those who spend in His cause to a grain that grows seven ears, each bearing a hundred grains. He described Zakah as “the most profitable investment,” promising returns both in this world and in the Hereafter.

He also warned against withholding Zakah, recalling a hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari in which the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said that wealth hoarded without paying Zakah would appear on the Day of Judgment as a poisonous snake encircling its owner’s neck.

The Imam highlighted historical examples, noting that during the reign of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, proper administration of Zakah led to widespread prosperity to the extent that collectors reportedly struggled to find eligible recipients.

Imam Gusau narrated the well-known story of three men among the Children of Israel—one leprous, one bald and one blind—whom Allah tested with wealth after curing their ailments. According to traditions recorded in Bukhari and Muslim, only the formerly blind man acknowledged Allah’s favour and shared his wealth, earning divine pleasure, while the others faced punishment for their ingratitude.

He described Zakah as one of the five pillars of Islam, quoting the hadith: “Islam is built upon five…”—testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establishing prayer, giving Zakah, performing Hajj, and fasting Ramadan.

The cleric stressed that Zakah applies only to wealth that reaches a minimum threshold (nisab) and is capable of growth, noting that Islam does not impose it on personal belongings such as homes, vehicles or household items.

He further explained that the Shari’ah requires only a small portion—often one-fortieth—of qualifying wealth, describing the system as just and merciful. He cited the Prophet’s instruction to Mu’adh ibn Jabal when he was sent to Yemen, directing that Zakah be taken from the wealthy and returned to the poor without seizing the best of people’s possessions.

Imam Gusau warned that greed had destroyed past nations, quoting the Prophet’s caution: “Beware of greed, for greed destroyed those before you.” (Muslim).

He noted that Zakah purifies the soul from miserliness and strengthens faith, describing it as proof of sincerity in belief. He also pointed to its social benefits, saying it addresses poverty, supports debtors and stranded travellers, and fosters brotherhood and social harmony.

Referring to early Islamic history, he recounted how Abu Bakr al-Siddiq fought tribes that refused to pay Zakah after the Prophet’s death, declaring that Zakah is the right of wealth and inseparable from prayer.

“Zakah is a bridge of Islam—whoever crosses it is saved, and whoever turns away from it is ruined,” Imam Gusau said.

He urged Muslims to calculate and pay their Zakah promptly and joyfully, describing it as a shield against calamity and a source of peace rather than punishment.

The sermon concluded with prayers for the victory of Islam, security in the land, righteous leadership, and well-being in this world and the Hereafter.

Imam Murtadha Muhammad Gusau can be reached via gusauimam@gmail.com

or 08038289761.