The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ramadan

  • Synopses on Ramadan

    At no time in the life of man can the true nature of human existence be more manifest than in Ramadan. It is in that sacred month that Muslims reflect mostly on the purpose of their existence on earth.

    Some people fasted actively last year but are no more today. Some put their feet at the door step of Ramadan this year but may not enter it.

    Some may fall by the way side along the line. Some will fast with absolute faith in Allah and confidence in making use of the lessons of Ramadan. Some may join the spiritual train with no idea of its destination.

     

    Segments of Ramadan

    At the beginning of the sacred month called Ramadan, the need to classify the 30 or 29 days in that month into three segments is necessary. The first segment contains the first ten days of the month during which the blessings of Allah will come to the fasting Muslims freely and in abundance. Except for meeting that segment with strong faith and genuine intention, there is no working for it. That segment will end after the first 10 days and pave way for the second segment of ten days that will begin on the 11th day of the sacred lunar month.

    During the 10-day period of the second segment, most fasting Muslims should intensify worshipping (‘Ibadah) by spending their days and nights repenting on their known and unknown sins as well as by chanting Istighfar every moment. But automatic forgiveness through such a process should not be expected.

     

    Conditions

    Usually, conditions are attached to divine forgiveness. One of such conditions is for every fasting Muslim to admit his/her misdeeds, repent on such misdeeds with a resolution never to return to them. The second condition is to voluntarily and genuinely seek forgiveness on the sins committed. And the third condition is to resolve never to return to such misdeeds again. To seek Allah’s forgiveness and blessings during the month of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was reported to have said that “if you want to speak with Allah, make your request on prostration. And if you want Allah to speak to you, recite the Qur’an”. That Prophetic recommendation is, however, not limited to the month of Ramadan alone. No one who abides by the above conditions and follows them scrupulously will ever be disappointed. Allah is both promising and fulfilling. He never reneges on His promise. For instance, in Qur’an 2:186, Allah promises thus: “…when my servants ask you (Prophet Muhammad) about me, tell them that I am very close to them. I answer the prayers of whoever seeks My favour if he/she seeks from Me (without any intermediary). So, let them expect my favourable response and trust in Me so that they may be rightly guided”

     

    Midway Ramadan

    Those second ten days are not just to consolidate on the blessings of the first ten days, they are also to prepare the fasting Muslims for the last 10 days when they will be expected to be fully liberated from the evil machinations of any Satanic forces.

     

    Life and Death

    The quality of human life is not ordinarily measured in terms of the time spent or manner of death. In Islam, death is neither the consequence of sin nor the repercussion of ignorance. There are instances when the sinless dies and the sinful lives. There are also instances when the learned person dies while the ignorant one lives.

    The schedule of life and death is not in the custody of any human being. Death is a debt which every living being owes and must pay.

    Not even Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was spared of death or given a foreknowledge of it. Allah revealed in the Q. 10:49 thus: “Say I have not the power to benefit or to harm myself except what Allah pleases.

    Unto every nation is a fixed term. When their terms expire, they cannot delay it by an hour nor can they bring it forth before its time”.

     

    Imagination

    The above quoted verse of the Qur’an is one which some ignorant non-Muslims have severally quoted and interpreted according to their whim. In their wild imagination, as Jesus also did not admit a similar situation, those ignorant people want the Prophet to claim infallibility to enable them call him a liar.

     

    Nostalgia

    One major feeling which fasting Muslims cannot do without after Ramadan is nostalgia. Some people who ar now dreaming may not live to realize their dreams. Some who are now looking forward for certain benefits may not receive them. This does not make them sinners or criminals but destiny must take its own course. As for death, it is only in the imagination of man that age should be a factor of death.

    We shall all die at our scheduled time. Therefore, whoever is privileged to pass through this year’s Ramadan successfully should endeavour to add spiritual value to his or her life and not diminish in faith after the sacred month. We shall all account for that value before Allah.

     

    Role of Wives

    In a few weeks’ time, this year’s Ramadan which is just about to start will come to an end by the grace of Allah and we shall continue to look back with nostalgia to the good things we have done in the sacred month. For instance, we shall remember that in no other month of Hijrah calendar is the role of Muslim women more pronounced than in Ramadan. Like in other months, they display the roles of wives, mothers as well as that of their husbands’ confidants. But more than in other months, they exhibit their religious dedication vividly in Ramadan.

    Even as they assist their husbands financially in maintaining the homes, they still take care of those husbands as well as the children and relatives domestically. At the time of the day when the husbands are knocked out by fatigue arising from fasting, the wives are still busy in the kitchen preparing Iftar for the household. At the time in the night when some husbands are engaged in Tahajjud, or are snoring in bed, the wives are already up in the kitchen preparing the Sahur for the family.

    Some of these women are pregnant. Some are suckling their children.

    Some of them are knowledgeable enough to do the Tilawah (recitation of the Qur’an) like their husbands. Some are even rich enough to finance the home fully or partially.

    And, in all these activities, they never feel tired. Where and when they feel tired, they never show it. If any month has ever depicted the virtues of women, it is Ramadan and the women activities in it. If for the reason of their activities in Ramadan alone, they deserve tenderness and dignified treatment in the hands of their husbands.

     

    Role of Children

    We shall also remember the role of our children in the month and then endeavour to ensure the continuity of those rewarding activities.

    Children are Allah’s greatest gift to man. Their presence in a house is blessing. Their contribution is immense. Those are children for you. They can play the role of teachers just as they can do that of students. They learn fast, they teach fast. They are a major security for parents in any given environment.

    Children play both temporal and spiritual roles in a matrimonial life.

    And with such roles, they sometimes create hope for humanity and sometimes, they signal despair. They are the greatest asset in the possession of parents in time of peace. They are also the greatest weapon for those parents against the forces of Satan.

    Because of their innocence, they pave way for God’s forgiveness and quick acceptance of prayers. And, most importantly, children guarantee the continuity of man’s existence on earth. It is only with them that the fulfillment of today’s promise is possible tomorrow.

    In the Qur’an, children are mentioned many times and most often with reverence. They are treated in that glorious book as a major issue in the life of man. As orphans, they do not only have a role to play, they also compel some adults to play a role relating to them.

    As heirs to their parents, they have substantial shares in inheritance. Muslim children are like cubs. They follow the footstep of their parents or guardians very closely. They are often with their parents during the five daily prayers. They watch their parents as the latter give charity to the poor. They accompany them to public lectures and Islamic social gatherings.

    And, in Ramadan, children are part of the Muslims’ total spiritual package. They wake up with them at night. They fast with them in the day. They break the fast with them at sunset. They join their parents at Tafsir and night lectures. They participate in Laylatul Qadr and in giving Zakatul Fitr to the poor. Who can substitute the role of children in a matrimonial home?

    In all the above mentioned activities, children are supposed to be encouraged. At the tender age of seven, they should be guided to fast even if for half a day. And when they reach the age of 10 they should be strengthened in faith and in religious deeds. They should be provided with necessities of life both on the temporal and spiritual grounds. With these, they will grow up to become the fulfillment of their parents’ dreams.

    Most children grow up as good or bad citizens by emulating their parents. A child is therefore what his parents make him. If advantage of Ramadan is not taken by Muslim parents to mould their children into good Muslims what other platform will be used? Your child is your sun.

    Make hay with it while it shines.

     

    Right of Neighbours

    We shall also recall how we related to our neighbours, especially the non-Muslims among them in that month. In Islam, neighbours are as important as the next of kin. And, Islam attaches so much respect to them. According to Bukhari and Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was reported to have sworn by Allah three times saying: “he does not believe in Allah! He does not believe in Allah! He does not believe in Allah! And when he was asked who? He replied by saying: whoever creates fear in his neighbours atrociously”

    In another Hadith also reported by Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet was quoted as saying that “Whoever believes in Allah and the last day let him be nice to his neighbours and respect his guests”

    In the month of Ramadan a good Muslim is expected to wear a new toga of sobriety and repentance. He doubles his good deeds to his neighbours, extending generosity to them and cultivating a new atmosphere of friendliness and trust with them. He genuinely gives them as much impression of love and brotherhood as he does with his consanguine relatives.

    It does not matter whether those neighbours are Muslims or non-Muslims. Neither does it matter whether they are tribesmen or non-natives. The Prophet did not discriminate in his Hadith when he was admonishing on neighbours. And that is the inalienable position of Islam on neighbourliness. Whoever, had quarreled with his neighbours before Ramadan, therefore, let him/her go and settle the quarrel.

    Besides abstaining from foods, drinks and sex, in the month of Ramadan, a good Muslim must mind his relationship with people around him, including neighbours. Fasting in the month of Ramadan cannot be taken in half measure. Whoever wants to receive full rewards for his religious activities in Ramadan should treat his neighbours well. And, when Ramadan is over, the good deeds must continue.

     

    Ramadan as a Pillar of Islam

    Ramadan is not made a pillar of Islam by accident. Its purpose is to return man to the original state of purity in which he was created.

    That Allah entrusts the world to man is also not by accident. Allah consulted widely before entrusting this great responsibility to man when the latter volunteered to bear it. This much is revealed in Qur’an 33:71 thus: “We offered the trust (of the world) to the heavens; the earth and the mountains they all turned it down and were afraid of it. Man undertook to bear it but he has proved to be insincere and deceitful”. For man to re-examine himself, repent over his misdeeds and become redeemed, therefore, Allah brought Ramadan as a means of rescue.

     

    Needs and wants

    It is in the month of Ramadan that Muslims reconfirm NEEDS rather than WANTS as the necessities required for the sustenance of their lives.

    Muslims, by their faith and orientation, are not, ordinarily, given to WANTS. They are more concerned about NEEDS than WANTS. The reason for this is not far-fetched. With NEEDS come contentment and satisfaction while WANTS are the cause of greed and avarice.

    Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, had provided the needs of every living creature even before its creation. But then, He (Allah) knew that of all those creatures man alone would go beyond NEEDS into the realm of WANTS. That was perhaps what informed the negative role which Satan assumed in the life of man shortly after the creation of Adam and Hawau.

    By introducing WANTS to man, what Satan did was to create a permanent job for himself in the life of man. Without WANTS the world would not have been what it is today. Blood would not have been shed. Money would not have been deified. Hatred would not have been known to man.

    And, man’s inhumanity to man would have been totally averted. The details of these synopses will soon come up on a daily basis in a column called RMADAN GUIDE. It is annually written by yours sincerely.

    Look for it as from Monday, May 6, 2019,  in sha’Allah. RAMADAN

    KARIM!

  • May Day rally, Ramadan force postponement

    The maiden Lagos Media Marathon earlier scheduled for May 1 has been postponed due to May Day celebrations.

    In the last few weeks, the office of the Lagos Media Marathon had received calls from unionists; some of whom are journalists and others outside the media industry who will be part of the May Day celebration and at the same time hope to be part of the Media Race.

    It was in this regard that the organisers toyed with the idea of having the race on May 18 but even before the date was officially announced, Muslim faithful noted that this would again coincide with the Ramadan Fasting and would not be fair on the thousands of them that have already registered to be part of the race.

    In the light of the constraints occasioned by the May Day celebration as well as the Ramadan Fasting, the organisers have bowed to the pressure to further postpone the maiden Lagos Media Marathon and a new date is to be announced soon.

    In a similar light, major sponsors hoping to be part of the Media Race have also pushed for a change in date so that they get a lot of mileage as they support the historic road race which will be the first of its kind in this part of the world.

    While the registration portal on www.lagosmediamarathon will still be left open for as many as possible interested runners, those that may want a refund of their monies due to the changes in date can indicate.

    “There is the need to let people know that we are focused on organising a credible race and we are particular about getting it right even from the first edition.

    “While we regret the inconveniences the changes may have caused, we are ready to refund the monies of those that want them back, but for those that are ready to keep faith with us, a new date will be announced soon,” Debo Oshundun the Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Lagos Media Marathon and Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Lagos branch stated.

  • Ramadan affects shopping habits, boosts online sales

    Online sales and traffic increase during Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, but decline during Eid el-Fitr (Eid), the religious holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    Thousands of online transactions  are said to have been recorded from retailers online and in store.

    This week, being the third week of Ramadan, presents the biggest opportunity for retailers to engage consumers who are actively browsing and buying items for the upcoming celebrations. Online merchants said it would see up to 57 per cent jump in online retail sales and 14 per cent uplift in online travel sales.

    Online behaviour is also influenced by Ramadan traditions, says Afam Anyika, former Yudala Online Retail Platform marketing manager. With ecommerce, transactions in the day went down to 61 per cent compared to 66 per cent they recorded before Ramadan.

    “There is usually an increase in ecommerce sales after breaking fast at 29 per cent compared to 26 per cent pre-Ramadan, presenting an opportunity for retailers to reach out to shoppers,’’ he said.

    Mobile represents an important factor as well, with 37 per cent of onsite retail conversions happening on mobile app, retailers are advised to move beyond a mobile-friendly site to investing into an app, Anyika claimed.

    Fashion-related items are said to be the most popular during this period, followed by living products and electronics.

    “Ramadan is an important festive season. Rapidly rising disposable incomes, a growing appetite for modest fashion, a period when retailers should enlist smart solutions to engage shoppers across all touch points and deliver the most impactful content at every point in the customer journey. As shoppers spend time with their friends and families after sundown and on Eid, they are less likely to browse and shop online. Retailers are advise to pick the right time of the week and time of day to increase their digital marketing efforts, so they can achieve an uptick in online transactions,” said Buyology boss, Yeye Arogundade.

    Other findings include website traffic and ecommerce sales increasing from three weeks before Ramadan, and spiking during week three and four, with increases of 85percent and 67percent respectively. A decline in online sales and web traffic is expected at the start of Eid by 34percent and 20percent with online sales rebounding in the week post-Eid with an increase of 35 percent

    Week three and four of Ramadan will see online merchants becoming the biggest growth drivers, with an increase of 77percent and 52 percent. Shoppers too are expected to undertake the cross-device journey, with 46 per cent viewing products across multiple devices and one in four shoppers switching devices at least 3 times during their purchasing journey.

     

     

  • ‘Ramadan is month of reflection’

    An aspirant of upper chamber of the legislative building from Osun West Senatorial District, Omoba Dotun Babayemi, has urged Muslims to observe the last 10 days of the ongoing fasting in strict adherence to the stipulation of the holy Quran.

    After his visit to 110 wards in 10 local government councils of the district, Babayemi said being a Christian does not rob him the understanding of what the month of Ramadan symbolises to the Muslims, pointing out that fasting is one of the bonds that exist between Muslims and Christians.

    Babayemi later distributed consumable items to his hosts with words of assurance that they would regularly be empowered by his foundation to live more meaningful life.

    If elected, Babayemi pledged to give the electorate adequate representation, adding that the era of a senator burning the bridge after election is over.

    Oluwo of Iwo Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi told Babayemi of the need to encourage the youth to take active position of responsibilities.

    Babayemi promised the monarch to sponsor pro-youths bills when elected into the Senate.

    “My political philosophy is built round empowering the youth because in it lies the hope of this country. This is my focus, and I am not going to relent in this laudable project,” he said.

     

  • Mating in Ramadan

    Reading One of the most important aspects of marriage is mating. It is the means of procreation of children as legitimized by consummation of marriage. Across nations, tribes and cultures, legitimate mating serves as the lotion of love. It is also perceived as the natural balm with which to soothe the aching areas of the matrimonial conflicts. A matrimonial home without sexual intercourse is like a desert without an oasis. Therefore, Ramadan should not be used as an excuse to abdicate legal responsibility by abstaining from the matrimonial bed.

    In Islam, sexual intercourse in the matrimonial home is so important that its constant denial by either party without any cogent reason is classified as a sin. Mating in Islam is not just for procreation of children. It is also a reconfirmation of love and fulfilment of nature’s promise. With matrimonial intercourse, paradise is attainable. Without it, paradise is deniable.

    While elucidating on the gains of Sadaqah, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once told his companions that mating is Sadaqah if it is legitimately done. And legitimacy here means doing it with ones legitimate spouse. The prophet’s position on this is confirmed by Qur’an 2: 223 thus: “Your wives are your fields, enter them as you please…”. Denial of matrimonial intercourse to a spouse without reason is a violation of a fundamental marital right. Even where both spouses have tested positive to HIV, sexual intercourse should not be ruled out. And where only one of them is tested positive the couple should reach an understanding on how to go about it.

    In Ramadan, a couple can be as sexually active as outside Ramadan provided it is done between dusk and dawn.

    It is, however, assumed that no serious Muslim will ever want to indulge in any unwarranted circumstance like intercourse to skip Salatus-Subh (early morning obligatory worship) by not taking Janabah bath at the right time. Allah judges deeds by intention. Whoever claims to be a Muslim must embrace Islam totally. Necessary as sexual intercourse is in a matrimonial home, it must not hinder any obligatory worship of Allah.

     

  • Ambode, deputy to Muslims: continue good deeds after Ramadan

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his deputy, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule have enjoined Muslims to continue to uphold the tenets of Islam beyond the month of Ramadan by strengthening their faith in God, showing love to one another and always embracing peace and harmony while resolving conflict.

    The duo made the call at a Special Ramadan Lecture and Iftar organised by Adebule for Muslims at her official residence in Ikoyi.

    The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello noted that since Islam as a religion preaches peace, unity and love, Muslim faithful should always love one another and strengthen their relations with fellow human beings irrespective of their beliefs, tribes or culture, adding that more developments would be achieved where there is peace and tranquillity.

    Adebule urged Muslims to remain steadfast, committed, peaceful to the worship of Allah and continue to pray for the development of the state and prosperity of Nigeria as a whole.

    According to her, Ramadan is a period of prayer, thanksgiving, forgiveness, spiritual training, and self-examination.

    Muslim faithful, she said, should avoid acts and things forbidden by Islam during and after the holy month.

    She called on Nigerians to always avoid violence or other acts capable of undermining developments in the society.

    Her husband, Alhaji Saheed Adebule, advised Muslims to remain steadfast in their daily prayers and to extend love and care to their neighbours.

    ”We have to be steadfast to remain with God, that is what we require to make our nation great,” he said.

    The guest speaker, Alhaji Dhikrullah Hassan urged Muslims to always be upright, steadfast and depend totally on God for everything.

    “We are faced with enormous challenges today because we have refused to be steadfast in our service to God, we have refused to trust and depend on God.

    ”We need to retrace our steps, avoid unlawful acts, pray and communicate more with God; and allow God to do His will. Depend on Him solely for everything because Allah does not forget His duties,” Hassan, the Osun State Amirul Hajj, said.

     

  • Children in Ramadan

    Children are Allah’ greatest gift to man. Their presence in a house is blessing. Their contribution to matrimonial security is immense. Those are children for you. They sometimes can act as teachers just as they can as students. They learn fast. They teach fast. They are a major security for parents in any given environment.

    Children have both temporal and spiritual roles to play in a matrimonial home. And with such roles, they sometimes create hope for humanity and sometimes, they signal despair. They are the greatest asset in the possession of parents in time of peace. They are also the greatest weapon for their parents against the forces of Satan.

    Because of their innocence, they pave way for Allah’s forgiveness and quick acceptance of prayers. And, most importantly, children guarantee the continuity of man’s existence on earth. It is only with them that the fulfilment of today’s promise is possible tomorrow.

    In the Qur’an, children are mentioned many times and most often with reverence. They are treated in that glorious book as a major issue in the life of man. As orphans, they do not only have a role to play, they also compel some adults to play a role relating to them.

    As heirs to their parents, they have substantial shares in inheritance. Muslim children are like cubs. They follow the footstep of their parents or guardians very scrupulously to the admiration of the latter. Children are often with their parents during the five daily prayers. They watch their parents as the latter give charity to the poor. They accompany them to public lectures and Islamic social gatherings.

    And, in Ramadan, children are part of the Muslims’ total spiritual package. They wake up with them at night. They fast with them in the day. They break the fast with them at sunset. They join their parents at Tafsir and night lectures. They participate in Laylatul Qadr and in giving Zakatul Fitr to the poor.

    In all these activities, they are supposed to be encouraged. At the tender age of seven, they should be guided to fast even if for half a day. And when they reach the age of 10 they should be strengthened in faith and in religious deeds through fasting. They should be provided with necessities of life both on the temporal and spiritual grounds. With these, they will grow up to become the fulfilment of their parents’ dreams.

    Most children grow up as good or bad citizens by emulating their parents. A child is therefore what his parents make him. If advantage of Ramadan is not taken by parents to mould their children into good Muslims what other platform will be used? Your child is your sun. Make hey while it shines.

     

  • Ramadan: Alaafin urges clerics to be moderate

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has advocated the need for Clerics and other preachers to keep their sermons within the realm of moderation and modesty. In his Ramadan message, Oba Adeyemi pointed out that all religious communities must understand that there is no alternative to inter-faith dialogue, as there can never be a universal religion or an exclusive society for adherents of a particular religion.

    While calling on Muslims in the country to see the period of Ramadan as abstinence from sins and all acts inimical to peace and development in the country, Oba Adeyemi counseled all religious communities to educate their leaders or preachers on the need for religious harmony and the toleration of other faiths.

    He admonished Nigerians not to perceive religious diversity as a barrier to human relations and development, but rather a tool or resource for national development. The royal father noted that religious faithfuls in the country should, therefore, realise the fact that religious tolerance and harmony are both legally sanctioned and socially inevitable, as the world can never be composed of one religion or culture.

    ‘’This desirable scenario of religious harmony can be achieved in Nigeria only through the establishment and sustenance of a neo-religious educational praxis that would generate a culture and orientation of multi-religiosity in our children and youth, as well as a commensurate programme of re-orientation of the adult population. Hitherto, the dominant model of religious education in Nigeria has been faith-oriented and overwhelmed by religious indoctrination and dogma.”

     

  • Extend love, selfless service beyond Ramadan, Ambode urges Muslims

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged Muslims to extend love to others and imbibe the act of selfless service to humanity during and after Ramadan, saying such would go a long way in making the world better.

    Speaking at a Ramadan Tafsir held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, Ambode said those having in excess must show gratitude by helping others and also exhibit total submission to God’s commandments.

    “To all my Muslim brothers and sisters, I just want to use this opportunity to greet all of you that as we commence the Ramadan. Let’s show love to ourselves and also show love to our neighbours.

    “You need to love yourself first before you can even show love to another person. So, when we have in excess, we must show the attitude of gratitude to be able to give to others because somebody else has over provided for us,” the Governor said.

    He said since assuming office, the guiding philosophy of his administration had been about inclusion and to positively touch lives, just as he admonished Muslims to imbibe the spirit of giving selflessly to others at all times.

    “Beyond Ramadan, we must also show the attitude of giving at all times; that is the philosophy of our government; that is the practice we have been doing in the last three years; we must touch the poor and we must touch our people.

    “There are people who are suffering and that is why we do projects that are people-oriented; that is why we go to areas that have never been touched before; that is why we would be in Ayobo, Akute, Badagry, Epe and places that have not been touched and that is the whole essence of why Allah has brought us on earth.”

    Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef thanked Governor Ambode for implementing unrivalled programmes and policies that have brought unprecedented development to the state, and thereby making Lagos free of religious or ethnic violence since assuming office in 2015.

    Dr AbdulLateef called on Muslims and all Lagosians to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote for continuity to preserve Ambode’s legacies and sustain good governance that Lagosians “are currently experiencing.”

    The Commissioner enjoined Muslims and clerics especially to step up on their prayers for Ambode and Lagos State, saying spiritual leaders remained important partners for togetherness to help in the acceleration of developmental objectives of the state.

    Lagosians, he said, must increase their good and noble characters, eschew bad habits and promote love, peace and unity to ensure that Lagos remain a safe, secure and healthy place to live.

  • The Guest of all Swansons

    Preamble

    Seasons are like the tides of an ocean. They roll out spirally in quick succession and reshape the world’s environment from time to time. They invariably come with a multiple of months. No one measures a season in the absence of months. And there can be no season without months.

    Europeans have so much respect for seasons that when they have an important guest they call him/her an ‘August visitor’. The Gregorian month called August is the peak of summer season and the most comfortable month of the year for the Caucasian race of Europe, hence the term.

     

     Guest in Islam

    In Islam, no guest is more venerable than Ramadan. Perhaps, it is more to it rather than to man that Prophet Muhammad referred when he said: “whoever believes in Allah and the ‘Last Day should venerate his guest”. Ramadan’s visiting time is not restricted to any particular season of the year or Gregorian month. Its arrival in the world may be in any season. It is therefore a guest of all seasons.

     

    Effect on Mankind

    With Ramadan as a guest, not only the Muslims but the entire mankind is consciously or unconsciously engaged in hospitable activities. Those who cannot fast in it do take advantage of its presence to  buy or sell some relevant needs and wants. There can be no indifference to the awful presence of Ramadan in any part of the world.

     

    The Coming of Ramadan

    Once every year, something creeps into the world like the early morning light. It moves kaleidoscopically into an arena where the centre becomes its stool. It lifts its veil at dawn and beams its focus on the world with an arresting attention during the days. It then envelops the nights in a shroud of covenant and links the dream of man with its fulfillment.

     

    Its Voyage

    No one except Allah knows Ra,madan’s port of embarkation. No one knows its destination. All we know of it is that of a guest that is so vividly present in human world and yet so invisible. That is RAMADAN for you, the month of forgiveness, liberation and blessings. Its coming every year is often heralded by a retinue of envoys. The months of ‘Rajab’ and ‘Sha’ban’ are the immediate escorts that alert humanity of its imminent arrival. Like the sun in the midst of stars, when Ramadan ascends the throne in full regalia all other months, lunar and solar, quickly take their bow in its honour.

    Call it the king where other months are chiefs and you will be quite right. Call it the doctor in a world of sick people and you will not be wrong. Call it the compass in the wilderness of straying humanity and you would have been precise in truth. Call it the reformer of human soul or  the sterilizer of human spirit or even the purifier of human body and you will not be wrong. In its entourage are equally invisible divine ministers such as piety, knowledge, truth, justice and peace, all of which usher it into the world with splendour.

     

    Meaning of Ramadan

    Having taken its name from a natural healing phenomenon, this ninth lunar month is truly baking in effect. The word:  Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word ramd (meaning to bake). The name emanated from the time before the Islamic calendar, when the month of Ramadan often came in summer. The month thus personifies a baking summer that immediately follows a clement spring. Its mission is to firm up all loose ends in the life of man. And it does that with a touch of perfection.

    For pious men and women, the entire month is spent in fasting from dawn to dusk. Such fasting is not about abstinence from foods and drinks alone. It is also about self restraint from all sinful acts that constitute grave iniquities. As a matter of fact, Ramadan is about repackaging of human  destinies through new and sincere resolutions.

    Figuratively, fasting during this sacred month is believed to be a burner of all sins.

     

    The Month of Revelation

    It was in this glorious month that the revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) first began.

    In this month, all gates of paradise, according to the Prophet, are open while those of hell are closed. The first ten days in it are pregnant with blessings galore for those of the Muslim Ummah who need blessings and seek them. The next ten days personify forgiveness for those who realize the gravity of their sinful acts, repent on them and resolve never to return to such acts again. The last ten days are meant for the liberation of mankind from the manacles of Satan. Whoever is so liberated automatically becomes like a new born baby arriving in a new world with a tabularasa (clean slate).

     

     The Month of Destiny

    In the last ten days is a particular night called Laylatul Qadr (the night of Power) in which the secret of human destiny is encapsulated. Meeting that night consciously and spiritually is like securing the master key to one’s own apartment in Paradise. But secure such key, one needs to remain awake throughout those nights to be fortunate to meet the great night of Power. Incidentally, Allah did not disclose even to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), which particular night it is. But by asking the Muslims to look for it in the odd nights of the last ten days, the Prophet has helped the global Muslim Ummah tremendously.

     

    Umrah and I‘tikaf

    During the last ten days of Ramadan, some willing Muslims, in accordance with the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), do go for Umrah (Lesser Hajj) in Makkah or take to I’tikaf (spiritual seclusion) locally, to reaffirm their total submission to Allah. Following this is a special session of charity made compulsory for all Muslims irrespective of age, gender and status. During that session, to give to the poor and the needy is not a matter of choice for those who have enough. This type of charity is called Zakatul Fitr or Sadaqatul Fitr. It is traditionally given in the very early morning of Ramadan Festival Day or the night before it to enable the poor and the needy celebrate the festival with the Ummah in a festive mood.

    The first day of the month after Ramadan (Shawwal) is spent in great celebrations and joy and it is observed as the ‘Festival of Breaking the Fast (Eidul Fitr).

    Where else can one find a guest like Ramadan? Where else can one meet a guest like Ramadan that hosts his host and heals him of ignorance and ailments? That is why Muslims often say in this unique month especially when the crescent is sighted: ‘RAMADAN KARIM’ which means ‘Venerable Ramadan’.

     

     Sighting the Crescent

    To start or end fasting in the month of Ramadan, sighting the crescent is just symbolic. Without sighting the crescent, the indices of recognizing the time to start or end the month are naturally vivid to those who care.

    It is not for fun that Ramadan is preceded by two glorious lunar months of Rajab and Sha’ban. The number of days in those two months is to enable any serious Muslim to know the time of arrival of Ramadan and prepare for it. In Hijrah calendar, no lunar month exceeds 30 days and none is less than 29 days.

    Crescent or no crescent, therefore, it is very possible and easy to know when to start Ramadan or end it every year. The confusion often engineered by some people through the sighting of the crescent is therefore unnecessary and avoidable. If Rajab is 30 or 29 days, no noise is made in looking for the crescent before starting Sha’ban. As soon as Rajab ends, Sha’ban starts.

     

    Dynamism of Islam

    Islam is such a dynamic religion in which things like sighting the crescent are not made rigid. Sighting the crescent is not the only condition for starting the great month. After all, the new crescent is not necessarily visible to all eyes at any given time in any locality. That is why a few people who may be privileged to sight it are implored to invite some others to witness it and then inform the recognized authorities who, in turn, announce the arrival of Ramadan to the Muslim community in the locality or region.

     

    Globalization of Ramadan

    Besides faith (Iman) and pilgrimage (Hajj) which are the first and last pillars of Islam, nothing else is really globally uniform in practical terms with regards to timing in Islam. The variation in geography has legitimized the variation of time in the observance of Salat, Sawm and Zakat. Iman is global because it resides permanently in the minds of the Muslims irrespective of their localities. Hajj is equally global in uniformity because it is performed in only one place at a particular time. In a world where a gap of about nine to eleven hours exists between one part of the world and another, talking of global uniformity in starting or ending Ramadan can only border on sheer ignorance. For instance, it is impossible for the Korean Muslims living in Korea and their English brethren residing in England to start Ramadan on the same day. Even within Nigeria, all Muslims can only start Ramadan on the same day, if they have equal opportunity to meteorological information and geographical atmospheres. And even with that, it is not possible for them all to start or end daily fasting at the same time. That is why the announcement or publication of Ramadan timing can only be according to the various localities.

     

     Geographical Variations

    That Ramadan fasting is prescribed as a universal obligation for all Muslims in a particular month is deliberate. Allah who did the prescription is not oblivious of the geographical variations in the world. Neither is He unaware of the possible invisibility of a new crescent to most eyes at particular times. The design is to allow for the reverberation of the effect of Ramadan across the world. And time variation in worship or celebration of festivals is not peculiar to Islam. Even in Christianity, neither Easter nor Christmas is globally celebrated in one day. And, there is no media noise about it in Nigeria. It is only when there is variation in starting of fast in Ramadan that Nigerian media becomes negatively active in its reportage. As a matter of fact, what is effectively global about Ramadan fasting is the month and not the time of starting or ending the fasting. The time of dawn and that of dusk vary from locality to locality. It is therefore possible for the Muslims in one part of the world to be breaking their daily fast at a time when their brethren in another part of the world are commencing theirs. The genuineness or otherwise of Ramadan fasting is not to be judged by man. That is why Allah is reported by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as saying in a sacred Hadith (Hadith ul Qudsi) thus: “Fasting is mine and I am the One to grant rewards on it.”

     RAMADAN KARIM!