By Ishola Balogun

We have discussed about generosity, kindness and giving in Ramadan. It is not also good to be wasteful. Some Muslims are unable to distinguish between their needs and luxuries, hence they engage in wasteful spending on themselves, buying things they would not need in Ramadan while there are lots and lots of people in need of one thing or the other that you can provide.

Some, at the end of each fasting day, pile up varieties of food that they cannot consume, thereby spending more on what they do not need. If you have more, remember the have-nots. The act of giving is Ibadah, and no act of Ibadah can be said to be too much.

Some sleep through the whole night with the alibi that they had a hectic day. Some even find it easy to compromise their sahur for more hours of sleep. Ramadan is a time we have to increase all our spiritual devotion. The day and night should be a beehive of spiritual activities. Like I said some days ago, at the moment, if you visit some mosques during tarawih prayers, you will notice a drop.

We should rather step up activities because it will take another 12 circle of the moon before we witness another Ramadan. So, we need to maximise the period by using our time wisely and spending in the way of Allah.

While some good-spirited individuals spend more money in feeding poor Muslims, some also sponsor Muslims to Umurah and Hajj. That is a great reward indeed.

Muslims should explore all avenues and opportunities of carrying out good deeds, while also realising that their priorities should be dictated by the desire to secure al-janah and be less-concerned about mundane things.

A Muslim should apply himself to deepen his sense of following the practice of Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), in every aspect of his life, at all times and especially during the month of Ramadan.

This requires seeking more knowledge about how to maximise the benefits of the month, its etiquette, assimilating the wisdom and goals of fasting, and facilitating the means that allow all the Muslims to benefit from their fasting and increase in their ibadah.

Ramadan timing for today

City               Fajr              Iftar/Maghrib

Abuja          4:49am      6:53pm

Ibadan       5:09am      7:05pm

Ilesha           5:05am      7:08pm

Ilorin             5:02am      7:05pm

Kano           4:38am      6:53pm

Lagos          5:10am      7:04pm

Asaba         5:00am      6:55pm

Zaria            4:45am      6:53pm

Maiduguri 4:20             6:35pm

Jalingo         4:35am      6:38pm

Please, note that at Farj time, sahuur ends and Magrib time, Iftar begins.