MSFN
Background
It
is no secret that the economic situation in Nigeria makes it difficult
for the majority of people to afford good education. As a result of this
difficult economic situation, some Muslims are being lured into other
faiths as one of the means to get education,job, and general advancement in life etc.
The Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme
of the Federal Government is expected to relieve the financial
difficulties at the primary and junior secondary school (JSS) level.
Hence, there is the need to develop a scholarship scheme to cater for the
senior secondary and tertiary levels. The MSFN scheme is therefore aimed
at these levels.
In addition to the economic need, there appears to be a breakdown of
community spirit in society, a situation that has been fostered by the
self – first (nafs) attitude and policies of
successive governments. This situation is clearly NOT Islamic because the
best Deen was brought for the benefit of the
entire mankind, and needs to be corrected. In a way, it is connected to
the bad economic situation of people, which means that most people are
busy with their individual economic survival on a daily basis.
The Muslim should safeguard his dignity, develop self-reliance, and be
far removed from dependence on others. Essential industries and
professions are not merely permitted by the Islamic Sharia; they are in
fact an obligation on the Muslim Community as a whole. Such obligations
are termed " obligations of self sufficiency"(Fard Kifayah).
This implies that the Muslim community must include among its members
people engaged in every essential science, industry, and profession in
numbers sufficient to meet the need of the Ummah
in particular and the society in general. If therefore a shortage of
qualified persons in some field of essential science or industry, the
entire Muslim community is blameworthy, especially those in positions of
authority. The MSFN scheme is geared towards inculcating a greater
community spirit in the recipients, fulfil our duties as the vicegerent
of Allah, and hopefully in the society at-large.
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