Muslim businesspeople must pay ‘zakah’ or alms for the needy during the holy month of Ramadan to help the poor.
This was the view Sheikh Altieb Akech Mawien shared with Voice of Hope Radio in Wau.
‘Zakah’ is one of the five pillars of Islam together with the creed, prayer, fasting and the holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
Sheikh Akech congratulated the Muslim community in South Sudan on the holy month of Ramadan.
He advised Muslim faithful to be committed to the five pillars of Islam especially the ‘zakah.’
Sheikh Akech explained that ‘zakah’ was compulsory during the Khartoum regime, but now is voluntary to maintain a close relationship with God by helping the needy.
He said that a Muslim’s money will be safe from theft or looting, if a believer pays the ‘zakah.’
Sheikh Akech criticized the way money is collected by Western Bahr El Ghazal State Islamic Council, especially ‘zakah’, because the collection lacks transparency.
He said until now Islamic Council has no clear policy for the management of the huge amount of ‘zakah’ collected for the benefit of common South Sudanese.