Significance of fasting in the month of Ramadan 

As the Ramadan fast begins around the world, Nigerian Muslims are not left out and adherents are observing the fasting as one of the five pillars of Islam.

To Muslims, fasting is a means of guarding oneself from evil, and purification of the mind and body by imbibing all the elements of righteousness in reflecting the essence of piety.

Ramadan, the 9th month in the Islamic calendar was established as the Holy Month for Muslims after the revelation of the first verse of the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, on the night popularly referred to as the Night of Power or Majesty by Muslims.

The most distinctive feature of this sacred month is fasting which entails the purification of oneself from immoral thoughts and deeds that are contrary to the teachings of Islam.

The entire month is spent in devotion and service to Allah in truth and spirit, devoid of the vagaries of material desires and preaching to Muslims to get closer to Allah.

Essentially, healthy and able Muslims undertake the fasting called Sa’um in Arabic which requires adherents’ abstinence from eating food, drinking, and sexual intercourse, from dawn to dusk, in fulfillment of one of the five pillars of Islam.

Fasting also includes abstaining from falsehood in speech and action, abstaining from any ignorant and indecent speech, and from arguing, fighting, and having lustful thoughts.

Fasting emphasizes self-sacrifice, while the experience of hunger helps to grow empathy for those who often go hungry and lack most of the basic provisions of life that are often taken for granted by wealthy individuals in society.

In its ethical dimension, it connotes moral rectitude and in its spiritual dimension, it connotes purification of the heart and mind.

Through fasting, one demonstrates the highest degree of obedience by willfully submitting to abstaining from eating lawful food, drink, and sexual relations from dawn to sunset for a month every year.

This regimentation improves the spiritual and moral attitudes of the human being to make him come to terms with himself, taming his physical appetites, and subduing his greed and lust, thus following the path prescribed for all Muslims faithful in the holy month.

It is expected that the 2024 fast will provide opportunities for the wealthy and well-to-do Muslims to feed the needy in the society thereby making it possible for many Muslims to fast in this Ramadan to minimize the obvious challenges of the cost of living in communities.

The feeding of the less privileged Muslims is another way of appreciating God by the giver, and Muslims receive value from the rich amongst them, thereby strengthening the bond existing between the needy and the wealthy Muslims as admonished by God.

Governments at all levels in Nigeria, NGOs, and Civil Society Organizations should use the period to also provide food support and palliatives for those in need, irrespective of their religious beliefs, especially those fasting to reduce their suffering while fasting.

In their preaching during Ramadan, religious leaders should pray for peace and accelerated development in Nigeria as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu always solicits from them towards a secure, peaceful, and progressive nation.

At the end of the month-long fast, Zakkat or charity is mandatory upon all Muslims before the Eid el Fitr prayers to enable those in need to have food to eat with their families and serve as a reminder of the acts of kindness extended to mankind by Almighty Allah.

The principle of the Zakkat el Fitr is for the rich or privileged to give to the less fortunate and poor in society, and thereafter, share with them meals cooked to celebrate Eid el Fitr, to mark the end of Ramadan fasting in the new month of Shawwal.

The business community should, as a matter of showing concern and care, reduce the prices of commodities to Nigerians to enable the people to purchase goods necessary for fasting and celebrate the Sallah with a sense of belonging and happiness as obtained during other religious celebrations around the world.

Such empathy for the needy will go a long way in promoting mutual relationships not only among Muslims during fasting, but also among people of different religions in Nigeria and the world.