By Harun Razaq

One of the topics that are usually treated by Islamic preachers when Ramadan approaches is how to prepare for the blessed month. This preparation comes in different forms and one of it is through health preservation. Sound health is one of the most crucial needs of all human beings at any stage in life. The performance of religious obligations which is the purpose of man’s creation on earth depends on sound health.

Without it, man cannot enjoy his life. In fact, health is an invisible treasure and best grace that Allah granted to his slaves which man must appreciate at all times. Some of our ancestors such as Shykh Hafiz Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir of Qur’an explained “the delights in Qur’an 102 verse 8 that man shall be questioned on the day of judgment on sound health and other favours.

Also, Ibn Abba (R/A) reported that the Messenger of Allah said: Two favours are treated unjustly by most people: health and free time. This means that the people are not showing gratitude for these two favours. (Tafsir Ibn Kath
ir)

Islam values sound health greatly that a Muslim is exempted from certain act of ibadah (worship) during sickness, travel or when he or she is short of certain health provision. This should not be interpreted to mean that a Muslim is allowed to discard ibadah during the aforementioned period as some people used to do today.

The Islamic guidance on health preservation derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah and compiled by Allamah Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyyah in his Tibbun nabawiy (The Prophetic Medicine) maintained that it depends on good arrangment of food, drink, clothes, inhabitation, air, sleeping, movement, rest, marriage affair etc. It is important to note that each of these has a laid down rules in Islam.

The food and water must be halal and not haram. It should be taken according to Sunnah: for example to wash the hands, sit on the mat, mention the name of Allah before and after; to take dinner before sleeping and not to sleep immediately after taking dinner; to eat nourished food such as meat, honey, fruits etc and not to drink water immediately after a meal etc.  The cloth must such that can be easily worn and be removed. Male cloth must not be too long to the extent of covering the ankle and must not be too shut to the extent of exposing the body to the heat or cold etc.

UMA holds pre-Ramadan lecture

The University of Lagos Muslim Alumni,UMA,’s 19th pre-Ramadan lecture comes up on Sunday, June 30th, 2013 at the University’s main auditorium.

According to a press release signed by UMA’s Executive Secretary, Alhaji AbdulFattah Okanlawon, the event will start by 10am.

Okanlawon stated that guest speakers expected at the occasion include Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Sheikh Abdullah Akinbode, adding that the theme of the event is: Corruption and Justice in Nigeria.

Last Saturday,  this year’s capacity building workshop for graduating students, an anuual event of the group which focused on: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence was held at the main auditorium of the university. Speakers includedAlhaji Faizal Zuglool of Penckers British School, Mr. Ololade Raji of Accenture Nigeria and Professor Fatimah AbdulKareem of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. Pen-ultimate week, a ‘Fitness Walk’ round the Campus and Voluntary Blood Donation was held at the University Sports Centre as part of the pre-Ramadan programme.

Muslim Media Watch wants FG to proscribe ethnic militant groups

An NGO, Muslim Media Watch Group (MMWG), has called on the Federal Government to ban all ethnic militant groups in the country.

The Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the call recently while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin.

Abdullahi said his group had nothing against the ban placed on Boko Haram.

According to him, anything that will bring peace and stability to the country and pave way for progress is okay by the media watch group.

He said that it was not enough for the government to proscribe only the Boko Haram while other ethnic groups were terrorising the country.

“Federal Government should not focus on only one group to deal with, for instance, all militant groups in the country should be banned as well,” he said.

Abdullahi called on the government to ban such groups as MASSOB, MEND, Egbesu and Ombatse.

He said since all the militant groups carried arms and procured ammunitions with which they killed people both in the Northern and Southern parts of the country, they should be banned.