TODAY’S VIEWPOINT IS ON EMBRACING REFLECTION, CHARITY, AND UNITY DURING RAMADAN. IT IS WRITTEN BY DR. KAZEEM KOLAPO – OLALEKAN, THE CHIEF IMAM OF OSUN STATE UNIVERSITY, EJIGBO CAMPUS MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic year called Hijrah year.
The uniqueness of the month is in the fact that fasting is made compulsory.
In Quran two verse one hundred and eighty three, Allah says “o you who have believed, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be righteousness”
The Qur’an verse clearly states the purpose of fasting.
Before the commandment of fasting in Ramadan, there were other forms of fast observed by the earlier prophets and people of Makkah.
Stressing the importance of this month, the prophet said “when Ramadan comes, the heavens are opened, the gate to hellfire is closed and devil is chained”.
This explained why Muslims take the month of Ramadan very seriously and observe the fast by abstaining from eating, drinking and having sexual relation with one’s spouse from dawn to dusk for 29 or 30 days, depending on the number of days in the month.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is to start on the sighting of the new moon.
It is traditional that some Islamic scholars are assigned the tasks of searching for the new moon and reporting their findings to the constituted authority.
In Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto is saddled with the responsibility of announcing the commencement of the fasting.
Some categories of Muslims are exempted from fasting during Ramadan.
These are elderly people, expectant mothers, nursing mothers and those embarking on strenuous journey.
These set of people are to payback the missed days of fasting as soon as they can, after Eid-il-fitr celebration.
Those who cannot fast, particularly on health related grounds are allowed to feed a fasting Muslim.
However, Allah says fasting is the best.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is highly meritorious, to the extent that Allah says all acts of worship done by man is for him but fasting is for him and he rewards for it.
In the month, aside all the forbidden acts in Ramadan, fasting Muslims are enjoined to be more engaged in acts of worship such as reading of the Quran, attending Qur’an exigencies also known as Tasfir classes, giving charity and more.
Since the holy month of Ramadan teaches the virtues of perseverance, patience, purity of heart and mind, discipline and giving to the less privileged, it behooves on humanity to embrace the acts of supporting their fellow humans.
The nation’s leaders should also put strategies in place to mitigate the current level of suffering on the citizens, which is occasioned by the present economic situation.
it would be more rewarding to use this year’s Ramadan period for self appraisal, promote love and give freely to the less privileged, live in peace and unity among other religious believers.
