JIBWIS Hotel of unmerited controversy

By Ibrahim Muhammed

Wa Ikamatil Sunnah (JIBWIS) to build a Guest House in the city of Federal Capital Territory has activated the wrath of critics mainly on social media. Some of the critics described the project as a ‘misplaced priority’ while others hinged their argument on the desirability and viability of building a Hotel by an Islamic organisation like JIBWIS.

According to a source close to JIBWIS, the guest house costs N220 million to erect, and situated within the Abuja city center. While those who criticize the projects called it a ‘misplaced priority’ JIBWIS in a reaction posted in its facebook page insisted that the ‘guest house is necessary to accommodate its regular guests for various programs in Abuja and will serves as source of revenue generation for the body”.

“Th e reason why JIBWIS embarked on the project is because we spends huge amount of money in accommodating our guests from within and outside Nigeria whenever there is an event especially in a city like Abuja.” Th e second idea is to have a Hotel that is conforms to Islamic tenets. It said that “Izala guest house in Abuja is necessary to save huge amount of money the organisation spend in hosting its guests from within and outside Nigeria.

Apart from generating income; it will also serve as an avenue to promoting sanitized Guest accommodation.” For example, it is diffi cult to locate hotels that are devoid in alcohol, prostitutions and other form of social ills. So we want to have guest house that our foreign Muslims brothers will be comfortable to lodge in whenever we have an events in Abuja.

Th e group also promised that it will soon establish Microfi nance Bank to empower its members among other citizens On why JIBWIS prioritize building of guest house than building school or hospitals as suggested by some of the critics.? Th e group said that it has ‘built thousands of schools across the country and even in the neighboring countries. Th e schools include nursery, primary and secondary schools and even higher institutions. Th e schools teach both Islamic and western education.”

On the other hand, the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia owned many fi ve star Hotels. Th e Zamzam Hotel is an off shoot of Haram investments outfi ts. Sharia compliant incomes generated are used to maintain the Mosque and assist Muslim Ummah in need. An Islamic funds operate by Islamic organisation can contributes money that is then invested so that profi t can be earned in a manner compliant with Sharia. One of the richest organisations in Malaysia today is an Islamic organsiation called Tambug Hajj. Tambug Hajj is an Islamic organsiation that manages hajj pilgrims in Malaysia.

Th e government in Malayisa sometimes borrowed fund from Tambug hajj or goes into partnership with them to execute laudable projects. Currently, Tambug Hajj has investment portfolios that run into millions of dollars. It had controlling equity ownership of 2 very successful Islamic banks in Malaysia and owned over 200, 000 acres of palm oil plantation employing 580, 000 workers in 12 factories.

Its construction subsidiary is among the top league construction companies in Malaysia and currently involved in a $3B construction project and had had majority stake in one of the most successful IT companies in Malaysia. Th ey also owned chains of Hotels Well, It is forbidden for any Islamic institution or investment fund to deal in the following goods: alcoholic drinks; dead animals (i.e., those not slaughtered according to the rules of the Sharia); pork, ham, bacon and related by-products; gambling machines; anti-social and immoral goods such as tobacco, pornography, drugs, etc.

It is the view that if a guest house does not indulges in the above listed forbidden activities; then JIBWIS decision to build its guest house in Abuja should be commended rather than blanket criticism. It is very important to appreciate the openness and transparency exhibited by the leadership of JIBWIS in successfully completion of the project. Th e guest house was build out of donations collected from Muslim Ummah. Th e criticism could have been justifi ed if the leadership of JIBWIS embezzles the fund allocated for the projects

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