Happy Sallah
After 30 days of Ramadan fast, Muslims in Nigeria join their counterparts in other parts of the Muslim world today, Monday, May 2, 2022, to celebrate Eid el-Fitr which marks the end of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Islam provides that Ramadan fast is observed until the 30th day if the moon of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, is not sighted on the 29th day of Ramadan.
As Islamic injunction demands, Muslims had in the past four weeks lived a life of moderation and self-denial; refraining from negative conduct and other acts that run contrary to the teachings of the Islamic faith. Ramadan, as usual, is a period when Muslims seek closer ties with Allah through diverse acts of worship that include charity, recitation of the Qur’an, observance of prayers at night and seeking forgiveness of their sins.
Having become spiritually elevated, it is hoped that Muslims would have imbibed the spiritual lessons of Ramadan and resolved to always live according to the consecrated tenets of the religion. This exhortation is important to remind ourselves that as individuals, it is our duty to exhibit the needed capacity to do good by elevating decent values in our lives. That way, the practical benefit of self-denial carried out during Ramadan would have been achieved.
The end of Ramadan, however, should not mean an end to the virtues of charity, good neighbourliness and tolerance which in the last one month characterised the life of Muslims. They should not consider the end of Ramadan as a welcome opportunity to go back to old habits, including unnecessary exuberance while dining, which undeniably is against prophetic eating traditions. Through the holy injunctions of Ramadan, which expectedly should impact positively on the spiritual state of our minds, Muslims at the end of Ramadan should be able to undertake right and proper actions.
The injunction to share with others during Ramadan even the little that is available to us is an entreaty to eschew selfishness, greed and covetousness, which are evils that have continued over the years to hamper the development of Nigeria. The Zakat or poor rate payable by Muslims to the poor and the indigent at the end of every Ramadan fasting is equally one religious duty that underscores the need to care for others, especially the underprivileged. This is the basic message of Eid el-Fitr.
In the spirit of the Sallah season, Muslims are encouraged to uphold the virtue of peaceful coexistence with adherents of other faiths and recommit themselves to the pursuit of religious tolerance and societal rebirth. Hosting visitors across religious boundaries during this festive period would help to build strong bridges of understanding in the multi-faith Nigerian society where religious bigotry has become more obvious than expected. As the best epitome of tolerance, Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who brought the message of Islam to humanity lived peacefully in Madina with Christians, Jews and pagans. Allah states in Qur’an 2:256 that: “Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear for Error…”
We also urge Nigerian Muslims to, on this occasion, pray for the guidance of persons in leadership positions. The leadership of the country has repeatedly let the nation down, especially in the critical challenges of kidnapping, banditry, and general insecurity of lives and property. Leaders should use the Eid el-Fitr to reflect on the state of the nation and strive to fulfill their obligation of making life generally better than what obtains now.
While we empathise with kidnap victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack who observed their Ramadan fast and Sallah in the hands of kidnappers, we urge all to pray for their safe release and that of all others being held hostage by abductors. Despite the excruciating discomfort from labour pains usually experienced by a pregnant woman, the trauma of being delivered of a baby in a kidnappers’ den is better imagined. With a tragedy such as this in our hands, Mr President’s insensitivity in the hosting of a presidential dinner for days is rather unfortunate.
Besides securing the lives and property of Nigerians, leaders should also be sensitive to citizens’ aspirations to decent life, good education for children, potable water, stable and affordable power supply and good prospects for employment, especially for graduates and skilled workers. While those entrusted with power should exercise it for the common good of the people they lead, which in specific terms should translate into the provision of basic amenities and infrastructure that will improve their living conditions, the led on their part have a fundamental responsibility to remain loyal to constituted authority by being peaceful and law abiding.
To appreciate all the unfortunate yet intractable circumstances prevailing in the country and to further apply the lessons of Ramadan, calls on Muslims to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr with moderation. We wish all Nigerians Barka da Sallah and a peaceful celebration!