By Princely Onyenwe, Abuja
President Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, III have wished the muslim population of a successful Ramadan Fasting declared to kickstart today Saturday 2nd of April, 2022.
While declaring the Ramadan open after the sighting of the moon by the order of the Islamic Council, the first day of Ramadan was pronouced to take effect this morning Saturday the second day of April, 2022 while charging Muslims to go to God in prayers and fasting throughout the season.
The Ramadan crescent moon was sighted in multiple locations in Nigeria on Friday evening, prompting announcement of the commencement of Ramadan fasting.
In a live broadcast on Friday evening monitored by The Nation, the Sultan stated that fasting commences on Saturday in accordance with the Sharia.
He noted that according to reports he received, the new moon has been sighted in Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, and Plateau.
Checks by The Nation show Muslims follow a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days.
Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims worldwide as a month for fasting, prayer, reflection, and assisting the needy.
During the period, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn to dusk for 29 or 30 days.
The Ramadan ritual is observed to attain a spiritual bond with God as contained in Qur’an 2:183: “Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn piety and righteousness.”
The sighting of the new moon, after Ramadan, marks the beginning of another month, Shawwal, and the celebration of the Islamic festival, Eid-L-Fitr.
It is more or less a fastening period in the religious calender that begot the resurrection Power in the christian practice.
In his address to the nation, PRESIDENT Buhari GCFR has welcome the month of Ramadan, a time of fasting and intense devotion for Muslims.
Buhari stated that the period offers a unique opportunity to feel the hunger experienced by the poor, so as to feel what it is like to be deprived and marginalized.
While calling on Muslims to seek greater personal discipline, which is necessary for the realization of a great nation.
We must all desist from spending lavishly and wasting food while others face hunger and destitution. Caring for our neighbours, and the poor and the marginalized, should always be our priority.
Let us seize the opportunity to pray for peace in Nigeria and around the world, and for healing and harmony everywhere.
He finally wished all Muslims a successful completion of the fasting period.
Happy fasting from 9News Nigeria!!
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