The very essence of fasting, according to the Holy Quran, is piety (taqwa). Allah Subhanahu-wa-Taala said: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may attain taqwa,” Qur’an 2:183.

Fasting in Ramadan is a duty every adult Muslim of sound mind, good health and not in transit must perform. Thus, those who are not required to fast are non-Muslims, people with insanity, little children, the ill, the aged, travellers and women who are in their menstruation or postnatal periods, pregnant or breast-feeding.

As-salam alaikum waramotullahi, wa barakatuh! Alhamdulillah! Allah has brought us to another season of blessings by His Grace. The blessed month of Ramadan —the month of striving in obedience and supplications, the month of fasting, reading the Qur’an, standing in prayer at night, and seclusion in the mosque; the month which has the Night of Decree, in it, a night in which the Quran was revealed, a night that is better than a thousand months.

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Prince Chibudom Nwuche has called on politicians in Rivers State to eschew the negative culture of bitterness, blackmail and chicanery in their desperate bid to witch-hunt and to stop Rivers sons and daughters from being elevated to higher national duties.

As we look out for the moon today for new month of Shawwal, how much has Ramadan affected you positively and how have you adjusted to the requirements of the month? What have you been doing that you would not want to do again? Would you like to continue doing what you always do in Ramadan? It is indeed a rewarding time.

Zakat is simply the calculation of your dues on your assets and the fourth pillar of Islam, while Zakatul-Fitr’s scope and implication transcend what we must do in the case of the former. However, we should remember that Zakat becomes due, one year after a person’s wealth reaches the value of Nisab (minimum amount paid).

Allah created times, and He chose and elevated specific times, certain months, days, or hours in status and virtues. Undoubtedly, the month of Ramadan is one of these blessed times and the best month of the year. From among Ramadan, Allah further raised the status of a night over that of one thousand months, and that is  laylat’l-qadr.

RAMADAN is a month of reflection, giving and devotion. It is not a month for the gluttons. There are traditions, values and objectives of the blessed month. We have earlier discussed sahur but in order to elucidate on a question on sahur, I found it necessary to share it in this column.

The Prophet (s.a.w) was reported by Anas to have said: “eat something for sahur even if it is a date. For there is in it barakah.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Isn’t it great that Allah is rewarding us for eating?

With our unflinching resolve to make the best out of the month, carry out all the required ibadah, actively involved in acts of devotion, prayers, Tarawih, Tahjud, Quran recitation, and other forms of worship, we have to work towards realising these goals. We will go into details of all these one after the other insha Allah.

We praise Allah for being part of those who will observe this Ramadan. Many had wished to observe this month, but they have not got the grace to be alive today while many others have also not got the wherewithal to observe it. Alhamdullilah.

It has been a rewarding 29-day spiritual activity: a period of recompense, a period of closeness to Allah, a period of illumination by the Glorious Qur’an, a period of re-direction of destinies and possibilities, of charity, of divine blessings. It is indeed a memorable period.

As the rainy season is suitable for farming,where crops and farm produce will grow and remain fresh, the period of Lailatul Qadri is a period for renewing our relationship with Allah and ensure closeness to Him.

In about a few days from now, we will bid the Ramadan month farewell. How have you spent the last three weeks? Has it been fruitful, spiritually exciting and physically rewarding or have you wasted the time unknowingly? Ramadan, as usual, has flown by.

Ramadan fast has been prescribed for all Muslims for the development of their souls and to enable them subdue their carnal appetites. This much exertion and sacrifice of sensual desires has been made obligatory upon every Muslim; that he neither eats nor drinks anything nor seek sexual satisfaction during the whole of the blessed month, in compliance with the command of Allah (SWT) and in the process avoid all sinful acts.