Ramadan: Preaching national cohesion and peaceful co-existence

As Nigerian Muslims join their counterparts all over the world to indulge in the absolutions of Ramadan fasting, it behooves on Islamic faithful to pray fervently for enduring peace, security, political stability and economic prosperity of the nation.

Since Islam is a religion that promotes peace and tranquility, its adherents have no choice but to be prayerful and peaceful in their conduct during and beyond Ramadan.

It is not a coincidence that this year’s Ramadan comes at the same time that the Christian faithful are observing lent thus bringing the bulk of Nigerians into a season of penitence, an occasion that must be used in seeking help for and healing our land. Nigeria and Nigerians need the mercy of the almighty God at this time more than ever before on the back of the fallouts of the 2023 general election which ended up dividing Nigeria dangerously along ethnic, regional and religious lines.

Fasting in Ramadan, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is total abstinence from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk for 29 or 30 days.

Nigerian Muslims were directed to commence this year’s fasting on March 23, which is equivalent to Ramadan 1, 1444 after hijrah (AH), by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who announced the sighting of the new moon in a broadcast to the Muslim Ummah in Sokoto on Wednesday night {March 22).

The need to fast in the month of Ramadan is contained in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 verse 183, which says: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may take heed or guide against evil”.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is also the month of blessings, the month the Holy Qur’an was revealed, the best and the most precious month in a year.

Those exempted from fasting during the period are contained in Qur’an Chapter 2 verse 184- “….but whoever among you is sick or on a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days and those who are not able to do it may effect a redemption by feeding a poor man, so whoever does good spontaneously it is better for him, and that your fast is better for you if you know”.

Also exempted from fasting are pregnant women, the aged, those on drugs and the nursing mother. The menstruating women are also exempted from fasting in the month but can repay the fasting for the same number of days they missed it.

Apart from fasting for 29 or 30 days, Muslims are expected to dedicate themselves to other religious duties like supplications, public lectures and tafsir (exegesis of the Glorious Qur’an).

Among the lessons, fasting teaches mankind are self-restraint, compassion for others, equality, patience, endurance, tolerance and enjoying good health by avoiding excess foods.

It must be borne in mind that since the current political, economic and security situations in the country demand perseverance, Muslims and other Nigerians should know that only prayers especially in this holy month of Ramadan could address such challenges.

While felicitating the Nigerian Muslims on this auspicious occasion, we call on them to use the holy month of Ramadan to rededicate themselves to the teachings of Islam and continue to live peacefully with one another irrespective of religious and tribal differences. It should be noted that ethnic profiling which characterized the just-conclude general elections in the country, has no place in Islam.

Consequently, we challenge the Muslim Ummah to devote themselves to worship and offer fervent prayers for the new leadership in Nigeria to succeed in steering the affairs of the country. As we just concluded the 2023 general elections and leaders emerge at the national and state levels by Allah’s will, we, therefore, call on all Muslims to use this holy month to pray in guiding the affairs of our great country.

Governments at all levels must be made to know that workers in the country are facing pangs of hunger due to the cash crunch which resulted from the Naira redesign. These are the same suffering workers who, ironically are suffering from starvation that are being required to fast in the month of Ramadan according to the dictates of Islam. There is no gain in saying therefore that the entire Nigerian populace urgently requires some measure of palliatives which only the incoming administration can provide hence the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure that the needed regime hits the ground running as early as its inauguration on May 29, 2023.

We, therefore, appeal to the well-meaning individuals among the Muslim faithful and other Nigerians to assist the vulnerable and the poor people with food during this holy month of Ramadan to ease the hardship people are going through. We also urge state governments particularly those owing salary arrears to their workers to pay up to cushion the effects of hunger and starvation. We further charge the Muslim faithful to do more of assisting the needy among others throughout the Holy month of Ramadan fasting as prescribed by the Qu’ran.

We also appeal to those engaging in crimes and criminalities to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan by sheathing their swords and letting peace prevail in the spirit of the holy month. Those who engage in criminal activities should be reminded that wanton killings, kidnappings and destruction of lives and property are neither part of the tenets of Islam nor the culture of Nigerians. We make bold to remind such people that such acts are against Islam as much as it is against other religious injunctions.

It is regrettable that since the commencement of Ramadan, prices of goods and other consumables have skyrocketed in major cities across the country. The survey specifically showed that there has been a significant increase in the prices of tomatoes, pepper and some other foodstuffs.

We implore the traders not to use the opportunity of the holy month to unnecessarily increase the prices of goods and other commodities with the aim of cheating customers as Almighty Allah frowns at such an attitude.

While urging Muslim brothers and sisters to continue to use this month to also pray for peace to reign in the country, we wish them, Ramadan Kareem.

For a better society

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