Stand Point

Now that Ramadan is here

 

With Joke Adeniyi-Jackson

The holy month of Ramadan has started and Muslims around the world are observing fast. This is a season that is revered most especially in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, believed to be the cradle of Islam.  Though recent ugly happenings have belied this sobriquet of the ancient. Hence,  the need for sober reflection by adherents of Islam in Ilorin, as well as prayers for the city to regain its fading glory tainted by social vices being perpetrated by youths in particular in recent time.
It is common knowledge that fasting goes beyond just keeping away from food and water for the entire day; it offers opportunity for its observers to imbibe positive attitudes that could impact on their social life. In this context, tolerance should be one of the front line virtues to be exhibited by Muslims during this period. It helps in better social interactions and invigorates social relations. However, some people get edgy and tend to fly off the handle easily during this period perhaps as a result of the pangs of hunger, which gets them angered at the snap -of -a- finger.  It is instructive that tolerance is one of the qualities required for a better society for all to live in, as it largely depends on trust and cooperation. Muslims need to show great tolerance and respect for others and fasting is one of the ways of learning this noble virtue. Understandably, the purpose of fasting is to help develop self-restraint, self-purification, God-consciousness among others which engender tolerance.
This is a time to exhibit a level of righteousness by shunning vices and societal evils. Since fasting is not just an exercise for the improvement of spiritual but also moral and character of human being, those observing the fast are expected to keep themselves holy. This is because these are acts that could make their spiritual exercise to go in futility and rendering their Ibadah unacceptable before Allah. Realising vices and evils in the society and abstaining from them is the first step that a person can take in the way to virtuous life and betterment of society.
It is widely believed that fasting teaches the rich to have empathy for the poor. This I observed during my one year mandatory service as corps member in Bauchi State. The class disparity between the rich and the poor faded out as the well-to-do showed kindness and compassion to the less privileged. The poor who could hardly get food to break their fast are invited over to the homes of where they relish different types of dishes while breaking their fast. This spirit of caring and sharing, the love of humanity and the love of God is simply amazing. So, the wealthy Ilorin indigenes should emulate this rare virtue in this month of Ramadan by taking steps to ameliorate sufferings of those on the lowest rung of the social strata. It is instructive that this act will also go a long way in reducing crime and social injustice in our society. The teaching of Islam which harps on being each other’s keepers should not elude individuals in this month of Ramadan. The ‘haves’ should engage more in charity in the Holy month, in order to get blessings from Allah.
In addition,  it has been observed that traders seize the opportunity of the Ramadan to increase the prices of goods in order to earn extra profit. A market survey conducted in Ilorin on Wednesday showed that prices of commodities especially food stuff have sky rocketed. Needless say that this development compounds the problem of an ordinary man; negatively affecting his standard of living. On this backdrop, the state government must put up measures to check indiscriminate hike in prices of commodities. This could be achieved through establishment of proper regulatory system that would ensure that people are not made to pay more at a time like this.
Since it is believed that Ramadan fasting has transformation power to make human beings better,  it is hope that the virtues imbibed during the Holy months by Muslim would not be discarded as soon as the spiritual rejuvenation exercise is over. The positive change in attitudes achieved during this period by individuals should be translated to a better society for all to live in irrespective of religious creed.
In conclusion, the need for a revamped Ilorin devoid of social vices and immoralities should form the crux of discourse and reflection during Ramadan lectures and prayers should be offered in that direction too.
Ramadan Mubarak.

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