Brave Dickson
As Nigerian political leaders who won the just concluded 2019 general elections await their swearing-in on May 29, a Muslim leader in Rivers State has predicted double blessing for the country because of this month’s Ramadan fast.
The Vice President-General of the Rivers State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Uhor made the revelation in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt.
The Islamic leader also used the Ramadan season to warn the country’s political office holders to stop corruption and draw closer to Allah.
Alhaji Uhor said, “Allah is ready to forgive the sins of those who will fast in accordance with His directives and also bless them in addition.
“This month of Ramadan that coincided with another political transition era offers the best opportunity for all Nigerians especially the political class to draw closer to Allah.
“Allah is ready to erase all the economic and social political woes of this country and give us a brand new country that is full of peace and development if only we will imbibe the virtues of Ramadan.
“Ramadan month has always been the greatest of all months because it was in Ramadan that the Holy Quran was revealed, hence people should get close desist from sins and keep doing good.”
It could be recalled that fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, which also include prayer and charity. The fasting involves abstinence from food, drink, smoking and sexual activity from dawn to sunset.
Ramadan stands as the ninth month on the Muslim calendar and is believed to be the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammed. The time spent in fasting is used for prayer, chastity and the spiritual purification of the body and mind.
The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness thereby making fasting
obligatory for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan was made obligatory during the month of Sha’ban, in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Mecca to
Medina.
