The Grand Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i has charged Muslims to leverage the forthcoming Ramadan to seek an end to the economic and security challenges beleaguering Nigeria.
The prominent Islamic scholar said this at a pre-Ramadan lecture organised by the CIO in Lagos on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.
Muslim News gathered that the pre-Ramadan lecture is an annual programme of the organisation, which is held in Sha’aban (the Islamic month preceding Ramadan).
This year’s edition featured Sheikh Shafi’i and the Director, Markaz Da’wah of Nigeria, Amir Qamarudeen Ajala, as guest lecturers, who enlightened the audience on preparation for the holy month.
In his lecture, Sheikh Shafi’i underscored the importance of Muslim scholars creating awareness for the people to prepare adequately for Ramadan.
He said, “There are different aspects where Muslims should prepare for Ramadan. They include spiritual, financial, physical, administrative, moral, psychological, among others.”
Sheikh Shafi’i noted that the objective of Ramadan is to establish taqwa (piety) which he said Nigeria needs to overcome its challenges.
He also asked Muslims to intensify prayers for improved security and economic prosperity during the holy month.
He said, “Allah has made Ramadan fast compulsory for us to ensure piety (taqwa). Taqwa, in the view of Abdullah Bn Masu’d, is to execute all that Allah directed and refrain from all that he forbade. Virtually everything is embedded in taqwa.
“Ramadan can serve as a solution to the challenges we are facing in our country. Ramadan is basically about taqwa (piety). Allah has promised to grant people who are pious and righteous blessings and prosperity. It’s up to us to recommit ourselves this month and increase our piety.
“Ramadan is also a month of prayers. Let’s intensify efforts to pray for security and economic prosperity in our country. Allah knows about the economic downturn we are facing. So, we should turn to him to change our situation for the better.”
Sheikh Shafi’i, who examined the role of Ramadan fast in the lives of Muslims during trouble, with the Palestinians as a case study, said the Zionists are already in panic mode because they understand the holy month is a unique period for all Muslims.
He urged Muslims across the world to support Palestinians with prayers and increase awareness about their ordeals during Ramadan.
“Ramadan fast has a great impact on the lives of Muslims encountering trouble. History has shown that there were some battles the Prophet (PBUH) fought during the month of Ramadan, like badr which stands as the first battle of Islam. Fathu Makkah (the conquest of Makkah) also happened in the month of Ramadan.
“For some months now, our Palestinian brothers and sisters have been facing trouble at the hands of the oppressive Israeli regime. This Ramadan, we can also play our part to support them to overcome the enemies of Islam. The Zionists are already in panic as Ramadan approaches; they know the period is a different phase for Muslims all over the world.
“I encourage Muslim brothers in Nigeria and across the world to support the people of Palestine with our prayers and lectures. We should raise awareness of the ordeals of the Palestinians during Ramadan. Scholars should offer tafsir (exegesis) on Suratul Israa, especially the first 10 verses.”
The Grand Mufti explained that the Palestinian struggle is based on three key areas, including protecting the lives of the citizens — both Muslims and non-Muslims — from the Zionists.
“The Hamas group has been fighting so hard to protect the people of Palestine from the occupation and assault of the Zionists. They are also out to protect their land which rightfully belongs to them. Most especially, their mission is to protect the Masjid Al-Aqsa (Quds) in Palestine. The activities of Hamas and the resistance in Palestine are essentially on these three aspects. Palestinians are not all Muslims; there are Christians and people of other religions among them. The ongoing resistance also involves the protection of these persons. So, it’s not about Islam alone, but humanity,” he said.
For his part, Amir Ajala, who is also a leader in CIO, said it is only the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Saad III, recognised as the leader of Muslims in Nigeria, that can announce the commencement of Ramadan fast in the country.
He explained that Ramadan commences with the sighting of a new crescent or the marking of 30 days in Sha’aban.
“Commencement of fasting of the month of Ramadan has been clearly stated in Islam. One, it is either you count Sha’aban to be 30 or the sighting of the crescent and these two things happened when the Prophet (PBUH) was alive.
“There were instances when the Prophet (PBUH) did not even sight the crescent but people would sight it, bring the report to him and then he would direct Bilal to go and announce the sighting of the new crescent. When there is a cloud in the sky and the new crescent of Ramadan cannot be sighted, then count your Sha’aban to be 30 but only the leader can announce the sighting of the new crescent of Ramadan.
“I am not talking about the leader of your community but the leader of the nation. I am not talking about the leader of your organisation. You cannot announce on your own, even though in Shari’ah, one person is enough to start Ramadan once you have two witnesses. Today, the leader of the Muslim Ummah of Nigeria is Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who has gathered a lot of Muslim scholars working on the sighting of the new crescent and giving updates every month. And if you are conversant with the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), you would know that they have arrangements concerning moon-sighting.
“So, only the Sultan of Sokoto in Nigeria can announce the commencement of fasting and since five years ago, in Lagos and I am not talking of other states, we have been following the announcement of the new moon to commence and end fasting of Ramadan by the Sultan of Sokoto because Lagos Central Mosque follows the Sultan.”
Amir Ajala charged Muslims to engage in a lot of spiritual activities that would bring them closer to Allah.
“Allah mentioned it in Qur’an Chapter 2 Verses 183 and 187. In the first verse, Allah ended it with “so that you can have taqwa.” Allah wants us to have self-restraint, to control our souls and desires.
“An example is when you are with your legal wife during the days of the month of Ramadan and refrain yourself from having sexual intercourse with her because you are fasting. If anybody now comes to you after that to seduce you, it is expected that you will use the same method you are trained by in the month of Ramadan to restrain yourself from having an affair with her, which is unlawful to you.
“The same thing is true for food. In Ramadan, you have your lawful food but cannot eat it because of the fear of Almighty Allah. So, because you have this training during the month of Ramadan, you will be able to abstain from unlawful means of life after Ramadan,” the scholar stated.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary General of CIO, Engr. Luqman Balogun, said Ramadan is a unique month for Muslims, noting it is important to sensitise people ahead of it.
“Ramadan is the best of all visitors that one can entertain in one’s life because therein lies a lot of goodies. For example, Lailatul Qadr, which Allah says is better than 1,000 months, is in Ramadan, apart from so many other benefits. So, it is a unique opportunity that Muslims cannot afford to miss. That is why we need to sensitise ourselves to prepare for meeting this month and that is why we are here today,” he said.
Engr. Balogun asserted that the challenges in the world today are caused by a lack of faith in Allah, adding that people are not disciplined enough to follow His commandments and refrain from things He forbids.
“The global problem, as far as we are concerned, centers on faithlessness. People don’t believe in their Creator. Ramadan has come to tutor them to refrain from their whims, caprices and desires for them to be disciplined. Of course, you know when you are hungry in Ramadan you don’t eat. When you are thirsty you don’t drink. That is with your lawful means. So, you who can do that won’t have difficulty in turning away from things that do not belong to you outside of the fasting month.
“If people are disciplined, if we have the fear of Allah, we would not be in this kind of situation we find ourselves in today. This programme is to train Muslims who are supposed to be models for other people. If Muslims are upright and faithful to their Creator, we would realise that our time and sojourn on this earth are but for a short time. So, we cannot afford to do anything the way we want but the way Allah wants and we will be able to have the fear of Allah in anything we are doing.
“That is why this programme is very important for Muslims, for this country and the global space too, because a lot of crises, a lot of atrocities are going on around the globe now.”
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