The Qur’an says: Wazhakir faina zhikra, tanfau-l-Mumineen: “And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.” When it comes to approaching our Islamic duties/ obligations we do so little in advance, especially for Ramadan. We have to remind ourselves that there is no better time than now to prepare for the month.  In fact, our […]

One of the many annual ibadah through which a Muslim can erase his sins, increase his good deeds, gain position in paradise and free him/herself from hell fire is Ramadan. But, these blessings of Ramadan can only be achieved by serious Muslim that does the following: (1) prepare him/herself and the environment properly for worship for the blessed month of Ramadan. (2) Rejoice and congratulates one another at the beginning of the month.

“It was Shaykh Uthman dan Fodiyo who said he could live with kufr but not with injustice. Though the Ummah might have suffered injustice of unimaginable proportions, the period of Ramadan is meant to re-commit ourselves to the Almighty Allah by showcasing the beauty of Islam to all through justice, forgiveness, kindness and love. “Surely, Allah enjoins justice, doing good (to others) and giving to the kindred and He forbids indecency, evil and rebellion. He admonishes you that you may be mindful.” (Q16:90).

Moon sighting is a subject that encapsulates the unity and if otherwise, the disunity of a Ummah. According to reports, some group of Muslims have already fixed a date for the commencement of Ramadan without regard to the rules and practice of the Prophet which we profess to follow. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is an act of worship and not in origin, a political matter or one directly related to the practical systems of Islam.

But certain developments within the nation’s Muslim community in the last three decades show a clear gulf indicating that the religious leaders have apparent irreconciliable views on certain fundamental matters concerning Islam. In 1981, the Maitatsine uprising, reportedly traced to religious extremism, virtually overran Kano and some other parts of the north while disagreements relating to the adoption of the Muslim Shariah legal system resulted in bloodbath in Kaduna in 2000.