Imam tells Muslims to sustain lessons of Ramadan

As Muslims celebrate the Eid el-Fitr, they have been told to sustain the lessons of Ramadan of patience and generosity in obedience to Allah.

Speaking after closing the Ramadan Qur’an tafsir, Ahmad Adam Kutubi, the Imam of Zone 7 Police Headquarters, Abuja (a DSP) said for the blessing and tranquility of fasting to be everlasting, Allah requires the people to be faithful to his injunctions and sincere in their attitudes.

He said as the Ramadan ends, the poor should not be left hungry but given the Zakkat al-fitr, which is four measures (sa’i or mudunnabi) of foodstuff including grains and cereals, common in the community by the head of each family on behalf of all members and any other person in his care.

Imam Kutubi said greater reward is given by Allah where the Zakat is given out early -a couple of days before the Eid prayer -to enable the needy also have food for the celebration.

He listed three Eids-the weekly Friday congregation; the Eid el-Ftri after Ramadan; and Eid el-Kabir after Arafat, after the hajj - in Islam which are all in acknowledgement and celebration of the bounties of Allah by the faithful.

“Coming after the ZakatulFitr (on Sallah day) is the Eid prayer. The people dress their best and head to the Eid ground reciting the takbir for the two raka’at prayer and to listen to the khutbah (sermon) by the imam.

“The sermon appraises the Ramadan and exhorts the faithful to keep up. Allah requires the faithful to be constant in doing good and steadfast in avoiding everything that will be detrimental to ourselves or others at all times,” the imam said.

He cautioned the people against ostentatious and wasteful lifestyles, and to always be alert to distorted preaching of the religion of Allah.