Islamic Council boss congratulates Muslims on successful Ramadan Africa » Gambia Wednesday, August 07, 2013 The president of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) has congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of Ramadan – a month long fasting and intense prayers, which wraps-up either today or tomorrow. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Observer Tuesday afternoon at his office at the Council’s headquarters along the MDI Road, Imam Momodou Lamin Touray hastened to praise the Almighty Allah for enabling the fasting Muslims see through the end of the Holy month. He reiterated that Ramadan is only one out of the 12 months of the Muslim calendar, but stated that it is the most blessed month that gives chance to the Muslims to increase their rewards and invoke Almighty’s Allah’s blessings. He said Muslims are normally modest and God-fearing during Ramadan, but lamented that after the Holy period before they revert back to things forbidden by the religion. "We have made fasting an obligation on you and we have made it on those before you," the SIC boss quoted a verse in the Holy Quran. He said fasting is the deed that a Muslim does only for the sake of Allah by staying away from food and every other thing forbidden by the religion during the day. Imam Touray stressed the need for Muslims to continue to spend the other 11 months in the worship of the Almighty Allah. “As Muslims and human beings for that matter,” he said, “we are in dire need of guidance in this world.” This guidance, he explained, can be found in the Qur’an and Sunnah that Allah revealed to Mankind through His Final Messenger (PBUH). "Therefore, it is of utmost importance that each and every one of us strengthens our connection with this source of guidance in order for us to get the direction that we need in this world," he enjoined. One of the most practiced forms of worship during this month, according to the erudite Imam, is the constant recitation of the Holy Scripture, indicating that the Messenger of Allah (PUBUH) would review the entire Qur’an during this period. He said Allah has made it an obligation upon every living Muslim to give out charity (Shadaka) on the morning of Edl Fitr. This, he said, is the responsibility of family heads. "The prophet has said that the Shadaka serves as an earning for the needy people, saying on the day of Edl Fitr, no Muslim should beg. Empathy The SIC boss also commented on compassion that the month brought about, noting that it teaches one to understand the pain of others. He elaborated that the hunger and thirst that one endures through fasting is nothing compared to the hardships that many elsewhere in the world are faced with. “But even so, by experiencing just a fraction of this pain should cause a Muslim to sympathise with one another on a far greater level,” he remarked. ‘Shawal’ and the fasting of Six Days After Ramadan, Touray said the month of Shawal – meaning in Arabic uplift or breakage – begins. He told the Daily Observer that Sunnah dictates Muslims to fast six days during Shawal. He however cautioned that Allah has forbidden Muslims to fast on the Eid day but to engage in festivity and joy. Imam Touray concluded by thanking the Almighty Allah for granting Muslims all over the world another opportunity to fast and end the month, invoking his blessings for more opportunities in many years to come. Author: by Amadou Jallow
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 09:02:57 +0000