Page 1 of 27
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 07
August 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 259
In Search of an Effective Zakat Distribution System in
Kano State Nigeria
Sheriff Muhammad Ibrahim ; Aliyu Dahiru muhammad
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Bandar Baru Nilai, Negeri Sembilan Malaysia
International Institute for Islamic Banking and Finance,
sheriffAlmuhajir@gmail.com
Abstract
This paper is developed to compliment a
previous article by the author “In Search
for an Effective Zakat Management in Kano
State Nigeria” to paper aims at checking
the operations of the Kano state
government established zakat institution
called Kano State Zakah and Hubusi
Commission. The institution, however,
could not meet its desired goals of
improving the socioeconomic wellbeing of
Kano citizens. Poverty still remains a most
visible feature in the state. Hence, the
article examines the current practice of
zakat distribution by Kano State Zakah and
Hubusi Commission to identify challenges
faced by the institution. Several challenges
related to limited awareness regarding the
roles of zakat and its objectives,
unsystematic and inefficient zakat
distribution leading to lack of trust by the
zakat payers and direct zakat payments are
identified. Then, through comparison of
best practices of zakat institutions
management in other Muslim countries,
interview and discussion with local experts,
the article suggests solutions to improve
the situation. The findings of this study help
in suggesting the distribution of zakat for
social welfare programs aiming at
establishing sustainable development
among the community.This will help
improve zakat institution and management
in Kano state in particular and other parts
of the world in general.
1.0- Introduction
Zakat is an obligation in Islam that plays an
eminent role in shaping and enhancing the
lifestyle of people regardless of their
economic strength (Nur Hafizah and
Sharifah 2012). According to Hairunnizam
and Radiah (2010), in a society, Zakat acts
as a distinctive measure taken by Islam in
order to abolish poverty by enjoining Zakat
on the rich. From an Islamic point of view,
failure in collecting Zakat would result in
poverty, hardship, enmity and loss of social
welfare
Nik Mustapha (1987) stressed in his
research that the fulfillment of one’s basic
needs is the main reason for the distribution
of zakat. Failure in satisfying the basic
needs of the masses can lead to poverty and
in wide disparity between the rich and poor.
He used the theory of distribution and
consumption in order to review present and
the future status of zakat in Malaysia, and
concluded that the community will enhance
with equitable distribution of income and
wealth among the members of the
Page 2 of 27
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 07
August 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 260
community. Wealth generated from zakat
has helped in reshaping the economic status
of many people across the Muslim
communities.
In support of this assertion, Kurawa (2008)
discovers that despite that Kano is blessed
with fertile lands, work force and being the
center of economic activities in Northern
Nigeria, hardship and loss of social welfare
is clearly witnessed. Therefore, he
concluded that the failure of Zakat
management system is among the chief
reasons to these social vices.
Studies conducted on zakat potentials in
Kano, reveals the problems associated with
zakat systems in Kano for instance: limited
awareness about zakat, its principles,
obligations and concepts among the
Muslims Sheriff and Amir (2013).
Disorganized application of zakat
management causes difficulties in
understanding and establishing
relationships between the zakat payers and
the zakat managers (Muhammad 2010).
Kurawa (2008) also discovered that
inefficient distribution of zakat is one of the
focal reasons that contribute in prevalence
of poverty among the people of Kano.
Zakat management is one of the
mechanisms established by the Kano State
Government in 2003 under its program,
Kano State Economic Empowerment and
Development Strategy (K-SEEDS). This
program aims to reduce the prevalence of
poverty in the state. Thus, the state
government established its first and only
zakat institution named “Zakat and Hubusi
Commission” (Kano Gazette 2003). The
establishment of zakat Commission
replaced the former zakat organization that
used to serve the state as a non- governmental body. In short, the Zakat and
Hubusi Commission now serves as the
official body charged with zakat collection,
management and distribution which was
once a voluntary work of a Zakat
Institution (Ostien 2008).
Astonishingly, despite these efforts, poverty
is clearly a witnessing fact in Kano. This
situation has attracted the attention of many
researchers and has raised many questions
regarding the programs and the methods
adopted in these implementations.
Muhammad (2006) discovers that Kano
State Zakat and Hubusi Commission needs
to improve its services by ensuring
adequate awareness and sensitization as
this will heal the ties between the zakat
givers and the zakat managers.
In order to deal with the issues related to
zakat management, the institution must
consider a suitable approach to convince
the society through proper administration;
thus, a slower response by the institution
will only have a negative impact on the
development of zakat institutions.
This study aims at checking the Zakat and
Hubusi commission as the official body
charged with zakat collection, management
and distribution in Kano to suggest the best
practice of zakat distribution
This study realizes the limited empirical
researches done in order to examine factors
leading to the inefficiency of zakat
distribution in Kano, Nigeria. The study
also acknowledges problems related to
other aspects of zakat administration
including collection and management of
zakat, but due to the nature of the paper is
limited to proposing the best practice of
Page 3 of 27
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 07
August 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 261
zakat distribution suitable for adoption in
Kano. This work if utilized may be
significant in improving the zakat systems
in many ways including; policy making,
source of inspiration by the ulamas
(clerics), help givers observe the obligation,
help alleviate poverty and establish social
welfare among the community.
2.0- Literature Review
The literature of this study focuses on
previous studies carried out on zakat
management and administration. This
introduces the research to the best theories,
practices and experiences related to zakat
management. It also directs to suggestions
and recommendations on possible ways to
implement a systematic zakat distribution
in the state of Kano.
2.1- Zakat Distribution in Kano
Zakat in Islam is a fund allocated to eight
categories of people as mentioned earlier.
These include: the poor, the needy, people
working for Zakat, those hearts are inclined
towards Islam, the one who frees slaves,
the indebted, for the sake of Allah and the
wayfarer. (Qur’an al-Tauba 9:60)
Even though Muslim scholars have argued
about the consideration of needs and
priorities in Zakat distribution, all these
categories are legitimately entitled to zakat
as mentioned by the Qur’anic injunction
(Ibn Alqayym 1994). Scholars also
discussed that each among the above
mentioned categories may be presented in
different forms, but must be in
correspondence with the eight conditions
mentioned. For instance, a person found in
prison or in detention may be grouped to
the category of slaves, and he can therefore
be freed using the Zakat funds. Similarly,
an Islamic community or state that is in
peace and enjoys a diplomatic relation with
a Muslim state, and gets affected by a
natural disaster, may be considered as
persons whose hearts are inclined towards
Islam. For this reason, they may receive
zakat (Qardawi 2006).
In order to check the modes of Zakat
distribution in Kano, this study looks into
documents showing the operations of Zakat
collection in the state. It was found that
there was no specific list of persons eligible
for Zakat in the state. According the reports
organized by the Commission, the
following categories were found as people
who have the right to enjoy zakat funds:
a- Sick persons not able to take care their
medical bills
b- Imams and Qur’anic /Islamic schools
leaders/ Muadhins
c- Disabled persons
d- General public for Ramadan breakfast
e- Widows and divorced women along
with their wards
f- The aged
g- Prisoners
h- People whose hearts are inclined to
Islam
i- Development of the Commission sites
and properties (Zakat and Hubusi
Commision 2004 – 2010)
The Zakat and Hubusi Commission carried
out the exercises of Zakat distribution, as
empowered by section (4) sub section (c) of
the Zakat and Hubusi Commission Law
(2003). The distribution of Zakat funds
takes place publicly and periodically, with a
view to encourage the public on the
importance of giving out Zakat through the
Commission. The Commission outlined
