MUSLIMS have been urged to support one another during the holy month of Ramadan, especially the underprivileged in the society who are living from hand to mouth as a result of the current economic hardship.
The admonition was given Friday last week at the 2024 pre-Ramadan lecture of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) with the themed ‘Fasting in the Month of Ramadan: Beyond Food and Drink’.
At the event, which was held at the Conference Hall of the National Mosque, Abuja, lectures were delivered by the trio of Professor Rafat AbdulHamid of the Department of Islamic Studies, University of Abuja; Sheikh Muhammad Nura Khalid, a former Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque and Sheikh Abdussalam Ali-Agan, Chief Imam, Nasrul-Lahi-Li-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), Abuja zone.
The guest speakers charged Muslims to cultivate the habits of giving more charity during the Ramadan fast, displaying compassion towards fellow Muslims, exhibiting the fear Allah in their interactions with one another and providing succour to the needy at all times.
“FOMWAN has deemed it necessary to organise this lecture especially to call on the well-to-do to come to the aid of the underprivileged in our midst, considering the present situation we are in.
“It is a very trying time and challenging period for most Nigerians. People are desperately in need. And as we all know, Islam is a complete way of life that touches every part of human endeavours. Islam is aware that people are not equal, even when there is no trial.
“There are people that need our assistance and this is a very good opportunity to help one another and maximise the benefits of this Ramadan in giving out charity to the poor and the needy. We have come together to remind ourselves about this very important deed (act of giving) in Islam.
“This is the time to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor for them to have that sense of belonging. People are hungry and we must come to their aid and give them all the support they need to survive,” Professor AbdulHamid stated.
For Imam Nura Khalid, it is all about changing the society for the better and being godly rather than being religious.
He said: “It is all about changing the narrative, changing the gesture, changing the situation. We must reform the society. If all the Muslims will go beyond eating and drinking, if they will go beyond changing food timing or eating time to the extent of promoting humanity, our society will be reformed.
“You will agree with me that Nigerians are very religious but we are less godly. We are even inhumane. Why do we have killings, abductions, looting, and corruption in a country that claims to be religious? We must change from being religious to becoming godly, from shouting about religion to becoming humanists.”
Imam Aliagan, in his message, said fasting could only go beyond eating and drinking only when Muslims do the right thing, please God and become compassionate towards every creature of Almighty Allah.
He said: “The theme, ‘Fasting in the month of Ramadan: Beyond Food and Drink’, is very apt. It is brought for us to know our levels. When you fast and your fasting ends only in abstinence from eating and drinking and nothing else, then that is the type of fasting that does not really interest Allah, does not really attract reward, and does not really make any difference.
“But what we are trying to understand here is that for fasting to go beyond eating and drinking, everything about you must fast – your eyes, your nose, your ears, your hands, your legs, every part of your body. You must be conscious of Allah and fear Him in your heart and it must be seen in your actions.
“You don’t insult while fasting. If you don’t insult, it goes beyond eating and drinking, if you don’t embarrass anyone, it goes beyond eating and drinking, if you cease from being a corrupt official during fasting, respecting the period and even trying to extend it beyond the fasting period, it means your fasting is beyond eating and drinking. Trying to cut down on your expenses in order not to be extravagant makes you fast beyond eating and drinking. Be a God-fearing fasting Muslim, not a religious fasting Muslim.”
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