Like other Muslims elsewhere, Muslims in Ghana yesterday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, a day’s festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a month when Muslims across the world hold a fast from dawn to dusk.
On this day they organise special prayers, which was the case across the country yesterday with the national event taking place in Accra.
Fasting (sawm in Arabic) is the Fourth Pillar of the Islamic religion and so with the exception of children, the aged, pregnant women, the sick and travellers, it is incumbent on all other Muslims to observe it.
Sawm takes place in Ramadan, the holiest month on the Islamic calendar and so the practice has come to be known as Ramadan among many people.
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the moon and so can take place for 29 or 30 days depending on when the moon was sighted.
This year, for example, Ghana’s National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, had to declare Sunday, April 3, as the first day of this year’s Ramadan.
By the grace of Allah, the sawm ended on Monday, followed by Eid-ul-Fitr yesterday.
The Ghanaian Times congratulates all Muslims on building endurance during the sawm.
Muslims deserve to celebrate the Eid, a happy moment, because during Ramadan they endure physiological hardships like abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset and from sex throughout the month, as well as parrying away all provocations.
The problem is that some Muslims, particularly the youth, over-celebrate the Eid through all manner of acts frowned upon by society such as drinking and speeding with motorcycles, which in years past resulted in accidents.
Fortunately, at the time of going to press yesterday none of such negative acts had been recorded, which is a sign of obedience and spiritual maturity.
This could be due to a piece of advice from the National Chief Imam earlier that Muslims should be measured in the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in order not to lose the essence of the 30-day fast.
If this is the case, the Ghanaian Muslims have shown the real object of Ramadan, which involves reflection and self-improvement in relation to one’s behaviour towards oneself, others and Allah, the Maker of all men.
Besides, they have reinforced their ever-sure regard for their leaders and the elderly, a trait needed always for nation building.
The Ghanaian Times, therefore, encourages Muslims to uphold this trait in all aspects of their lives.
That means they would live by the teachings of the Holy Quran such that whatever the holy book frowns upon would have no traces in their lives.
This way, they would not wait till Ramadan to behave well but all the time so they can be good influence on others.
The Holy Quran, for instance, teaches honesty, so let every Muslim uphold this virtue as this virtue alone can change the status quo for the better.
Honest people avoid corruption, cheating, over-pricing, fraud, conflicts, backbiting, sadism, robbery, bribery, defilement, recklessness and all other such vices.
The act of sharing food with both Muslims and others is not only to express the sense of care towards the have-not but also a forceful way of expressing non-discrimination, which is a fertile ground for peaceful co-existence and unity.
This falls in line with the Chief Imam’s entreaty to Muslim faithful to continue to dedicate themselves to compassion towards the poor and needy and be each other’s keeper.
May Ramadan and related Eid-ul-Fitr prompt Muslims to the lessons thereof, which should help them improve their lives, have a stronger relationship with their Maker and contribute better to national development.
Once again the Ghanaian Times congratulates all Muslims on going through the fast and ending it, as usual, with Eid-ul-Fitr.
May you not miss any of the blessings associated with the sawm and Eid-ul-Fitr.Eid Mubarak!
