As Muslims all over the world begin this year’s Ramadan fasting, it is pertinent to call on them to devote more time for spiritual rejuvenation and moral rebirth through prayers to save the world from self-destruction, hunger, disease, social and economic problems. The threats and challenges facing mankind today are so enormous such that only the Almighty Allah can bring succor to the poverty and hunger-stricken poor as well as save the world from annihilation.
The Holy month of Ramadan in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) provides a golden opportunity to seek divine blessings, succour and intervention through serious supplications. Muslims are therefore enjoined by Almighty Allah to fast throughout the month to strengthen their faith through self-denial of food, water and other worldly pleasures between dawn to sun set. Apart from its medical benefits of allowing all the bogy organs to rest during fasting, the rich among the Muslims would also taste the ferocity of hunger as daily experienced by the poor. This experience, it is envisaged would make the rich and the powerful more sympathetic to the plight of the poor and should thereby use their wealth for charitable activities.
Nigerian Muslims in particular should therefore avail themselves of this unique opportunity to pray fervently to Almighty Allah for ease of sufferings and hardships currently being experienced in the country. They should also pray for our leaders for Allah’s guidance to put them on the right path and make them responsive and compassionate to the yearnings of the poor. Muslims should also ardently pray for the peace, unity, prosperity and stability of the nation.
Daily Trust also appeals to the Nigerian Muslims to utilize this period to soberly reflect on the state of the nation and proffer ideas on how to solve the problems afflicting the country. Where do we go as a nation and how could we salvage the nation? It is the responsibility of Muslims in Nigeria to promote peace, tolerance and stability in the polity. They should eschew violence in all its ramifications and should do all they can to encourage harmony, dialogue and good inter-faith relations. Islam has enjoined all Muslims to live in harmony with one another and show compassion, love and fraternity to all mankind irrespective of their religious beliefs. There is no better moment to imbibe this spiritual admonition that the holy month of Ramadan.
