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Eid-el fitr: Nigerians call for prayers to overcome challenges

By Sulaimon Salau and Toyin Olasinde
08 July 2016   |   2:00 am
Muslim faithful have been urged to use the festive season to reflect on the true teachings of the religion and pray for the nation to overcome the prevailing national challenges.
Ishaq Akintola

Ishaq Akintola

Muslim faithful have been urged to use the festive season to reflect on the true teachings of the religion and pray for the nation to overcome the prevailing national challenges.

The various entities and personalities that felicitates with the religious faithful in separate statements yesterday urged Imams in all mosques to pray for peace and tranquility in Nigeria, adding that congregations should also pray with the members of their families at the end of every salat (prayer).

The messages came from Muslim Ummah of the South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), The Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and National Council of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO).

About 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world are celebrating the Eid el-Fitr, a festival, which marks the end of Ramadan.

The Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ishaq Akintola, called the attention of the Federal Government to the rising poverty and hardship among the populace.

Akintola reminded government that Islam advocates tangible support and palpable palliatives for the suffering jamaaheer (masses).

He quoted Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy (SAW) saying that, “A man who fills his own stomach but ignores his hungry neighbour is not a good Muslim”. He also said, “Be merciful to those on earth and He who is in heaven will be merciful to you”.

He urged Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers, saying that, “Orphans, widows and little children should be singled out for acts of philanthropy. Nigerians are urged to sustain the lessons of Ramadan among which piety, patience, self-restraint and perseverance are most prominent. There is no gainsaying the fact that support for the Federal Government’s war on corruption and patience in the face of the raging poverty are the first steps towards ensuring the sustenance of these lessons,”

Media Consultant to MUSWEN, Femi Abbas, said Muslims should remember the social and spiritual gains of the sacred month and fulfill their covenant with Allah in such a way that those gains will not be taken away from us by Satan.

“We should remember to pay our mandatory Zakatul-Fitr and be kind to the less privileged ones in our celebrations. We should also remember that Ramadan is not only a symbol of our submission to the Will of Allah, it is also a reminder of what our conduct towards others should be as Muslims throughout the rest of the year.

National President, UNIFEMGA, Abdulwaheed Odeyimka, said the month of Ramadan is unique for many reasons: “It is a month traditionally associated with prayers, peace, restraint, piety, reflection, charity, kindness, devotion and love. It is the month in which the gates of Paradise are open and the gates of Hell are closed.”

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