Hardship: Muslims Urged To Avoid Waste, Share With Neighbours In Ramadan
. Akintola, Adedimeji, Jose Seek Prayers For Nigeria
By Abimbola Abdullah
As the Ramadan 2024 begins, the Muslim Scholars in the country have enjoined the masses to take things easy and endure the current economic situation in the country, assuring that relief is around the corner, as much as Nigerians keep praying to God.
Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola in a chart with SlyeNews enjoined Muslims to avoid waste, share with neighbours and pray fervently for Nigeria during the Ramadan season.
He said: “My advice to Muslims this Ramadan in the face of economic downturn is to avoid waste, eat moderately and share what they have with their neighbours.
“I don’t mean Muslim neighbours alone but all neighbours, Christians, traditionalists and people of all faith. Hunger knows no religion and this hardship has affected us all.
“This is what Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught us as a messenger of Allah to all homo sapiens. He said, ‘Any Muslim who fills his belly but ignores his hungry neighbour is not a true Muslim.’
“Let us give and share this Ramadan. We must also allow this love language to guide our behaviour even after Ramadan. We must continue to share, to give, to love, to forgive and to tolerate. There can be no religion in the absence of love,” Akintola said.
In his own reaction, the Immediate past Vice Chancellor, Ahman Pategi University and Board member of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, said the fundamental principles of coping with difficult times lie faith, discipline and patience and Nigerians should embrace these wholeheartedly.
Adedimeji said: “The situation of things in Nigeria is bad but ours is not the worst in the world. So, Muslims should keep faith that with hardship, there is ease as Qur’an 94 verse 7 tells us. Our faith in Allah that our condition will be better should be unshakeable.
“Part of the goals of fasting is discipline or self control. A fasting Muslim doesn’t eat, doesn’t drink, doesn’t fight, doesn’t engage in any obscenity. This discipline will make Muslims cut their coat according to their cloth (not according to their size). Fingers are not equal and Muslims should embrace contentment with whatever they have or can afford whole knowing that their own situation is still better than the fate of other Muslims in other places in the world. Let Muslims maintain a high sense of discipline.
“Then, we should be patient because Allah is with the patient ones (Q2:249; Q8:46). This patience would make us rely on Allah with the conviction that Allah is sufficient for whoever relies on him (Q65:3). Life is tough but we still have every reason to thank Allah. Whoever is thoughtful would be grateful.
“My advice is that we use the blessed month of Ramadan to draw closer to Allah. We should eschew sins and embrace righteousness. Let everyone accept responsibility and focus on being a better human being. Let’s be kind to one another, let’s be helpful, let’s be humane in the way we deal with one another because we are all accountable as we are all leaders at various levels,” Adedimeji said.
National Vice President. Anwar-ul- Islam Movement of Nigeria, Alhaji Babatunde Jose, said Ramadan is the time to reach out to the less privileged and needy, considering the current economic situation in the country.
He said Muslims fast as an act of worship, a chance to get closer to God and a way to become more compassionate to those in need.
“It is therefore a month of giving especially to the hungry. Considering the condition in the country, ever increasing food prices, mounting hunger and escalating poverty, he said.
