Ramadan is here again: That period of the year when Muslims embark on a month-long fast in obedience to Islamic injunctions. What is its significance and how should faithful prepare for the season? BISI ALABI WILLIAMS and SULAIMON SALAU spoke to some clerics.
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?Preparation Entails Cleansing From Past Sins, Repentance?
(Luqman AbdurRaheem, National Amir of The Muslim Congress (TMC), Nigeria)
ALLAH says: ?The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur?an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must observe fasting that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number of days during which one did not observe fasting must be made up from other days. Allah intends for you ease and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.?
Muslims, as fathers, mothers, matured boys and girls are implored to prepare themselves proactively before the blessed month approaches. Spiritual preparation entails cleansing ourselves from past sins, misdeeds, wrongdoings and iniquities by seeking swift repentance (Tawbah).
The prevalent sins and excesses in human society, especially Nigeria include adultery, alcoholism, drug addiction, peddling of narcotics, fornication, gambling, fraudulent sales, dirty businesses, and dishonesty by artisans, rigging of elections, imposition of imbeciles as political leaders, counterfeiting, harmful businesses and corruption by public servants.
Other aspects of spiritual preparation include: constant and regular Salat, charity and Zakat, modesty in dressing, shunning of tribalism, envy, jealousy, backbiting, rumour mongering and frivolities.
Physical preparation entails a cursory examination by every individual Muslim of his/her state of health, in readiness for the 29 or 30 days of spiritual retreat and fasting.
It is also a deliberate move to seek the advice of a Muslim medical doctor on fitness to fast, especially by the sick, aged and those suffering from ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressure, fever et cetera. On this, we recommend test in malaria, ulcer, high-blood pressure et cetera. A strong Muslim is better than a weak one.
Islamic organisations, mosques, business organisations, NGOs, Charity-based association and Muslim communities are all requested to have well-designed programmes and projects for implementation in the month of Ramadan.
Organisational preparations include the setting up committee on Ramadan, engaging in Mosque rehabilitation/decoration, environmental sanitation, printing of pamphlets/leaflets for awareness, sponsorship of lectures on radio/TV, fund raising activities for public lectures, Laylatul Qadr, Eidul-Fitri get-together, Zakat-ul-Fitri collection, sensitisation on Zakat assessment, collection and distribution and monitoring the crescent (moon).
On the preparation to monitor the crescent, which unfortunately is one of the causes of disunity in Nigeria, we recommend the counsel of the Prophet (Peace be upon him): He said: ?Count well the crescent of Sha?aban because of Ramadan? He also said: ?Start to observe fasting when you see it (crescent of Ramadan) and give up observing fasting when you see it (crescent of Shawwal). And if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it, complete the counting of Sha?aban to be 30.?
?It?s An Opportunity To Preach And Practice Love?
(Moshood Adenrele Fashola Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Juma?at, Nigeria)
FOR Muslims, Ramadan is a month of prayer, spirituality and forgiveness. Through fasting, we can achieve nearness to our Master, God Almighty. In Ramadan, everybody tries to create the love of Allah in his heart and ask His forgiveness. During this holy month, a more concentrated effort is made to say the personal Tahajjud prayers, which are offered in solitude during the hours of darkness, alone and in the presence of God.
In the last 10 days of Ramadan, devout members, men and women must disconnect themselves from worldly affairs; stay in the mosque and pray. We should draw closer to God Almighty. We should show our obedience to him and help the poor and the needy. We should pray to Allah that these noble qualities should continue throughout our lives. We must observe charity and compassion, peace and goodwill to all mankind.
August 1st will be the first day of fasting. Muslims around the world will be fasting from dawn to dusk during this holy month. The Prophet Muhammad told us that, ?Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me. And I (alone) will reward it. Fasting is a shield. During the fast, we should not indulge in obscene language, or raise our voice at anyone. And if anyone reviles us, we should tolerate them. Believers are assured that Allah accepts their prayer and He exhorts them to call on Him, hear Him and believe in Him.
Allah, the Beneficent, has provided humankind a path that leads to His mercy and love. He has prescribed various means for successfully attaining this path ?the right path for which we beseech Allah in our daily prayers through the Al-Fatihah. One of the means the Beneficent has given us to find this right path is fasting. He blesses us every year with the holy month of Ramadan to draw ourselves nearer to Him.
Muslim must take full advantage of this opportunity to preach and practice love to those around them. They must gain closeness to Allah through fasting and regular prayers and pay special attention to Tahajjud prayer. Incorporate Qur?anic teachings in your lives by reading it, understanding it, and most importantly practicing its injunctions.
Continuous prayers must be made for our leaders for wisdom to tackle all the challenges of government.
??The Month Of Positive Spirituality, Charity, Compassion, Acceptance?
(Sabitu Ariyo Olagoke, Founder and Spiritual Head, Shafaudeen In Islam Worldwide)
THE month of Ramadan is an opportunity for many Mosques and Muslim organisation to mount vigorous teachings on the need for religious harmony and peace in the overall interest of the nation.
That is why Muslims in Nigeria, and indeed the world, have been urging religious leaders to remain in the vanguard for tolerance and peace, which is the true message of Islam.
As we commence the holy fast, we must seek peace and promote it with all and sundry. We should not allow religious crisis to tarnish the good ideals of our religion or allow satanic tendencies and religious crisis to deny our nation of the bountiful blessings that Almighty Allah has promised us during this holy month.
Lessons from Ramadan include piety, kindness, honesty, perseverance and fear of God. These are ethical values, which need to be imbibed by the Nigerian government and its people, so that we can have a safe polity with feasible measure of achievement in poverty alleviation and accelerated development.
Our nation needs the dividends of Ramadan to tame its social menace and promote harmonious atmosphere for good neighbourliness and national cohesion. For this reason, let us all accord Ramadan its much-deserved respect as a divine task for mankind in general and Nigerian Muslims, in particular, to salvage our cause.
All Muslim must join hands with the government in its pursuance of true greatness for Nigeria politically, economically and socially, even as we reflect on the lessons of the holy month.
Despite the claims of some fundamentalists, Ramadan is the month of self-discipline, peace, and tolerance. During this highly spiritual time of the year, we should be guided in our daily life by higher Islamic principles. For example, self-discipline takes the form of controlling some of our ravenous human desires. The pleasure we usually seek in eating delicious food is voluntary curtailed. When the sun sets during Ramadan, we are supposed to continue controlling our appetite by eating moderately, while at the same time think of the plight of those who do not enjoy what we take for granted.
In addition to self-discipline, self-control during Ramadan also applies to other activities in our daily life. We are supposed to control our anger, and seek reconciliation instead of hostility toward others. In fact, a rational Muslim, who truly understands the peaceful nature of this holy month, will never abuse others verbally or even by thought.
This self-discipline during Ramadan derives its value and meaning from a historical designation of the 30 days or less for achieving spiritual peace.
A rational is required to uphold the law of the land, show respect for others, and become a positive force in the community. It is actually during Ramadan that Muslims are supposed to reveal more than any other time the true nature of Islam, embrace love, peace and tolerance. Of course, Muslims should not wait until it is Ramadan to show tolerance toward others. We should become the most tolerant among all humans, or at least, this is what we read in the Holy Quran, our sacred book.
Ramadan is the month of positive spirituality, charity, compassion, and acceptance. The caring and sharing aspect of Ramadan as exemplified in the way the rich interact with the poor should be a culture to be imbibed by government in dealing with her people in order to realise dividends of democracy by all.
Muslims are supposed to become charitable toward those in need, compassionate toward Muslims and non-Muslims. Moreover, they should use this spiritual opportunity to renew their relationship with God and with other humans. Accepting others during Ramadan usually takes the form of showing great respect for human dignity while maintaining the sacredness of human life.
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