Ramadan has begun for 2018, and Muslims everywhere will now be fasting through daylight hours for a month.
The Islamic period leads up to the celebration Eid al-Fitr, and involves increased prayers and charitable behaviour as well as abstinence.
There are two traditional greetings shared between those practicing Ramadan. But which one should you use, and what do they mean? Let’s find out…
When you meet up with friends and family to share Iftar at sundown, there are two established greetings to choose from:
Ramadan Mubarak – ‘Happy Ramadan’.
Ramadan Kareem – ‘Have a generous Ramadan’.
During the entirety of Ramadan, which ends at sunset on the final day, Muslims do not eat, drink, have sex or smoke while the sun is up.
They also offer more prayers, contribute more money to the poor and regularly study the Quran. It’s also thought that pious behaviour and good deeds can increase a Muslim’s spiritual reward, known as thawab, during this period.
There are some exemptions from fasting: you can eat and drink if you are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating.
For those who are fasting, food and drink are served in meals called the suhur and iftar, before and after the sun is up respectively.
Sugary dates are traditionally eaten to break fast in the evening. Muslims continue with work and school during Ramadan, though they are encouraged to inform their employer or teacher of the fact.
As the Muslim Ummah all over the world begins the Ramadan fast, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has urged the faithful in Nigeria to use the period to pray for peace, unity, security, socio-economic development and political stability of the country.
In a statement to mark the commencement of this year’s Ramadan, the Speaker also enjoined them to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, self-discipline, tolerance, righteousness and sympathy for the less privileged in the society which the Ramadan fast teaches and promotes.
While describing Ramadan as a period for spiritual rejuvenation and enrichment, Dogara enjoined Nigerians to devote themselves in the worship of the Almighty and imbibe the lessons of love and peaceful co-existence with one another.
“In the spirit of Ramadan, I want to enjoin Muslims in Nigeria to maximize the spiritual and physical benefits associated with the holy month as well as assimilate the Ramadan’s ethical principles of sharing, caring, love, tolerance and piety”.
“The Ramadan fast is a very significant act of worship, being one of the five pillars of Islam, as such, I urge Muslim faithful to use the one month period in devotion and supplication in order to achieve the blessings inherent in the holy month and to pray to God to restore peace, unity and stability across the country”.
Ramadan is just days away. It is a 30-day period during which Muslim fast from sunrise to sunset every day. During the day, fasting Muslims only have two meals: the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal before starting the fast) and Iftar (the meal to break the fast).
Because of the long break between meals, a fasting person needs good, nutrient-rich food that provides enough energy to manage tasks and activities right through the long day. Jumia Food, Nigeria's no 1 food ordering platform, shares some tips for eating healthy during the month of Ramadan.
1. Reduce your carb intake
During the fasting month when you spend most of your day without eating or drinking, try to cut down your carbohydrate intake and eat foods that contain more fibre and protein. This will keep you full for longer and it will help your digestion system.
2. Avoid white foods
White foods are bread, rice and sugar. And some of them are processed with rather unhealthy compositions and have ended up with reduced nutritional value. Instead of eating white foods, you can down wheat bread, brown rice, and honey as a natural sweetener.
3. Stay away from junk food
It is not difficult to get junk food. They are available almost immediately, but they hardly contain any nutrition. It is always better to either order healthy meals on Jumia Food or cook your own meals, especially during Ramadan.
4. Foods and drinks that cause dehydration
Dehydration is the most common thing that happens during Ramadan. Try drinking a lot of water, eating foods that contain a lot of liquid, and avoid coffee and soda drinks as they can lead to dehydration.
5. Do not eat fried foods
Foods that are fried, too sweet or too spicy are not recommended for consumption during the fasting month. This is because they are difficult to digest and can trigger some serious health problems. As an alternative, you can have boiled, steamed or grilled foods.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has revealed that 900 Nigerians absconded after the 2017 hajj.
The NAHCON’s Commissioner in charge of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Mr. Yusuf Adebayo, told stakeholders at a meeting in Lagos yesterday that such absconding pilgrims were only wasting their time as they would be found out sooner or later by the Saudi authorities.
“We have also observed that about 900 Nigerians did not return with their state contingents after the 2017 pilgrimage; some did not even perform the hajj rites before absconding,” he said.
Adebayo urged pilgrims to always adhere strictly to the regulations guarding hajj exercise so as to enjoy full spiritual benefits of the exercise.
He further advised intending pilgrims for the 2018 Hajj to make early preparation to avoid unnecessary challenges, saying “most of the challenges we usually face are due to late preparation and the Saudi authorities have taken stringent steps to ensure that they do not recur in 2018.”
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Sunday urged all Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another irrespective of their religious or ethnic affiliations. Mr. Obaseki made the call on Sunday when he received some Muslims in the state who paid him a Sallah visit at the Government House in Benin.
The Governor particularly advised adherents of the Islamic faith to practice the lessons of Ramadan for peace to continue to reign in the country.
Mr. Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, said for a country to remain united, Nigerians, regardless of their religious leanings should protect the interest of their neighbours.
According to him, this is enshrined in the Holy Qur’an and the Bible which promote love for one another.
He called on Muslims in the country to adopt the Edo style of religious tolerance, where all citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs, celebrate every festival as one people.
He also urged them to pray for those beating the drums of disunity to have a change of mind.
He said the calls for the break-up of the country could only lead to war which would not be in Nigeria’s interest.
Earlier, the Chief Imam of Edo, Abdulfatah Enabulele, had called on Nigerians to be their brothers’ keeper by embracing things that would further unite citizens.
He also challenged political leaders to address the various agitations nationwide.
The Chief Imam prayed for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari, and for the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to have more wisdom to move the country forward.
In Oyo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi called for sustained prayer for Nigeria’s unity even as Muslims join their counterparts across the world to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr.
Speaking at the Eid prayer ground in Ibadan to mark the end of Ramadan, Mr. Ajimobi, urged the people of the state to live peacefully with one another and ensure the country remained united.
Mr. Ajimobi, who was represented by Ishmael Alli, the Secretary to the State Government, said: “The symbol is specifically obedience and total supplications to Allah. Specifically, we must thank Him for all we are enjoying in the country.”
“We must all live in harmony in this country. We must remain a united Nigeria, likewise pray that Allah grant us abundance.”
He further urged all Nigerians to contribute immensely to the development of the country and prayed for the speedy recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his sermon, AbdulGaniyu Abubakri, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, called on Muslims to learn from the lessons of Ramadan.
“We had in the last 29 days been closer to Almighty Allah in total obedience and supplications.
“As we have ended the Ramadan fasting, our people must continue with the good deeds.
“They should reflect on the lessons of the period and uphold its teachings,” he said.
Hazeem Gbolarumi, a former deputy governor in the state, urged Muslims to adhere strictly to the teachings of Ramadan.
He urged Muslims to remain steadfast in prayer and to submit totally to the will of Allah.
Also, Muhammad Magaji, the Aguma of Gwagwalada, Abuja, called on Nigerians to embrace peace and to show support to the federal government.
Mr. Magaji made the call at the end of the Edi-el-Fitr prayer on Sunday in Gwagwalada.
According to him, there is need to live in unity and harmony in order to move the nation and the economy forward.
“I want to emphasise the need for peaceful co-existence because it is the tool for achieving unity and progress as no nation can make progress without unity.
“I want us all to embrace and support the agenda of this government so that we can all benefit from it,” he said.
He urged adherents of the Islamic faith to practice the teachings of Ramadan, which he said underscored the virtues of tolerance, patience, kindness and peaceful co-existence with non-Muslims.
He also called on parents to educate their children in both Western and religious education, saying “Charity begins at home’’.
Earlier in his sermon, Muhammad Zaria, the Acting Chief Imam Gwagwalada Central Mosque, had called for unity among Nigerians as it would encourage growth and development of the country.
On his part, the Deputy Imam, Abuja National Mosque, Muhammad-Kabir Adam, urged unity among Nigerians irrespective of their religious, ethnic and cultural differences.
Mr. Adam was speaking during the Eid-el-Kabir sermon at the National Eid Ground on Sunday in Abuja.
“We should know that it was not a coincidence that Allah created people with different backgrounds – religion, ethnicity, culture or any other differences that exist among the humanity.
“But it is for them to live together in unity and benefit from each other and not to disintegrate.
“Every citizen must respect the law of the land and shun all evil and wrong-doing,’’ he said
He called on Federal Government and all stakeholders to provide an environment conducive for the youth to engage in productive ventures to stop them from being used as destructive tools.
Some Muslims, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, urged Nigerians to pray for the recovery of President Buhari and the accelerated recovery of the country’s economy.
Jibiri Musa applauded the federal government for its efforts at restoring peace in the country, particularly in the north-east.
Mr. Musa said even in the face of daunting challenges, Nigerians were still standing together to ensure that peace was restored in the country.
He, therefore, called on all Nigerians to live in harmony with one another irrespective of their differences to see that “our great country is not divided’’.
Another resident of Abuja, Latifat Salisu, stated that Eid-el-Fitr festival is significant because it represents a celebration of the true love and grace of Allah to mankind through sacrifice, devotion and faith.
She, therefore, called on all Nigerians to remain steadfast and committed to the cause of uniting and developing the country through show of love to others.
“This period is for sacrifice and obedience to divine guidance and a time to share our resources with our neighbours both Muslims and non-Muslims and also to remember the less privileged’’.
Source
NAN
For the next 29 or 30 days, Muslim faithful in Nigeria and in different parts of the world will abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. Ramadan is one of the key tenets or pillars of the religion and many Nigerians can wait for it to start. Colossus Gists with the help of Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares reasons why Nigerians love fasting.
1. Free food
There is so much to eat and drink during fasting especially when it is time to break the fast. Many mosques dish out free food that even non-Muslims come around to eat.
2. Save more
Since you will spend less, there is every likelihood that you will save more when compared to the days you are not fasting.
3. No flirty eyes
This is for men especially. They are encouraged to lower their gaze and be more conscious of what they look at. This is because lusting over a woman and almost undressing her with their eyes may render their fast null and void.
4. Less smoking and drinking
Muslim customers who drink and smoke will not patronise bars for the next month. It is an opportunity for them to quit these habits that are not permissible in the religion. Regardless, some people cannot resist the temptation as they go in the evenings after fast to take a whiff.
5. They are more spiritual
It is during Ramadan you find people who do not pray nor open their Qu'ran performing these acts of worship. They discover their spirituality.
A Sharia court sitting in Erena district of Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, has forcefully married out one Janet Habila, a Christian girl to her Muslim boss, one Nasiru, a tailor, without her parents’ consent.
According to Sun newspaper, the Court decision has sparked an outrage by the parents of Janet who have vowed to challenge the court decision with their last drop of blood.
Janet Habila, 16, was an apprentice in Nasiru’s tailoring institute in Erena, where her father had enrolled her to learn the trade after she refused to further her education beyond primary school
Janet’s father, a devoted church leader with the United Mountain of Grace in Shundna village and Janet herself, until recently was the leader of the Sabo Rayi (new life) group in the church.
Janet was enrolled in the tailoring institute in 2016 by her parents as a way of empowering her, but rather than learning the trade, the parents were shocked to receive a notification of her marriage through a Sharia court in Erena.
Nasiru, a Nigerian national who settled in Erena, was said to have approached the court to join him and Janet as husband and wife without seeking the consent and approval of the parents.
According to a source close to the family of the girl, Nasiru was said to have craftily organized some Muslim men and women in the area to stand as the parents of Janet in court to enable the marriage to take place.
Habila Gambo, Janet’s father told Sunday Sun that unless the decision by the Sharia court, presided over by Umar Shehu to forcefully marry his daughter out to her Muslim boss without his consent was reversed, ‘it will eventually lead to a possible religious crisis in Erena.’
Gambo warned that even if such illegality had happened elsewhere and they get away with it, ‘Erena and its environs would be thrown into confusion and possible anarchy by the practice of forced conversion and marriage.
China has banned "abnormal" beards and full-face coverings in the remote western region of Xinjiang as part of tighter "anti-extremism" regulations that also prohibit rejecting state media.
Xinjiang is home ot about 10 million Uighur Muslims, who have said they routinely face discrimination.
Hundreds of people have died in recent years in the region due to unrest blamed by Beijing on "separatists", though rights groups say the violence is more a reaction to repressive Chinese policies.
The new legislation took effect on Saturday and lists a wide range of restrictions, including rejecting or refusing "radio, television or other public facilities and services", marrying using religious rather than legal procedures and "using the name of Halal to meddle in secular life of others".
The rules also ban not allowing children to attend government schools, not abiding by family planning policies, wearing robes that cover the whole body and face and "abnormal growing of beards and naming of children to exaggerate religious fervour", according to the text of the rules published on a government website.
It did not clarify how the rules would be enforced.
Many Uighurs complain of cultural and religious repression and discrimination by China . Beijing has denied the accusations.
A number of similar regulations had previously been introduced in some places in Xinjiang, including stopping people with headscarves , veils and long beards from boarding buses in at least one city. The new rules, however, expand the list and formally apply them to the entire region.
The popularity of veils for Uighur women in particular has grown in recent years in what experts say is an expression of opposition to Chinese controls.
China has said Xinjiang faces a grave separatist threat from Uighur fighters allegedly linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), prompting the government to ramp up surveillance measures and police patrols. The government has provided little evidence for such claims.
ISIL released a video in late February purportedly showing Uighur fighters training in Iraq and vowing to strike China, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a "great wall of iron" to safeguard Xinjiang, referencing the military response following the pro-democracy protest in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
Rights groups have said that Chinese religious restrictions on Muslims may have driven more than 100 to join ISIL.
Source:
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
