A member of the Greater Accra Regional Peace Council, Alhaji Alhaji Khuzaima Osman, has called on Muslims to live peacefully, be law- abiding and be kind to all, wherever they find themselves.
He said Islam enjoyed Muslims to be law-abiding and promote peaceful co-existence, adding that “believers are ones in pursuit of peace, happiness and development.”
Alhaji Osman, who is also the Executive Secretary of the Tijaniyya Muslim Movement of Ghana, said this in a Khutbah (sermon) he delivered at Jumah (Friday) prayers at the Zumunta Mosque, East London, during a visit to the United Kingdom.
The theme of the sermon was “The Strength of Islam is in the unity of Muslims.”
“Brothers and sisters in Islam, we are being respected because of our ethics and unity as one body called Muslims. One of the characteristics of Muslims is our sense of unity and brotherhood regardless of our race, ethnicity, tribes and social background. We lose our respect and strength the moment we allow certain things to divide us,” Alhaji Osman said.
Quoting extensively from the Qur’an and Hadiths on unity in Islam , Alhaji Osman said “The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “The Faithful are to one another like [parts of] a building – each part strengthening the others” and “Every Muslim is a brother to a Muslim, neither wronging him nor allowing him to be wronged.”
“And if anyone helps his brother in need, Allah will help him in his own need; and if anyone removes a calamity from [another] Muslim, Allah will remove from him some of the calamities of the Day of Resurrection; and if anyone shields [another] Muslim from disgrace, Allah will shield him from the disgrace on the Day of Resurrection.”
Touching on the Ramadan fasting, Alhaji Osman said “Grace and glory be to Allah Who Has made fasting a protection for the pious and the month of Ramadan blessed for the believers, a source of profits for the worshipers.’
Almighty Allah said in the Qur’an: ‘O you who believe, fasting has been enjoined upon you as it was enjoined on those before you, that you may have taqwa.’
He recounted, Prophet Muhammad SAW said: ‘Fasting is a shield. So the fasting person should avoid obscene speech and should not behave foolishly and ignorantly, and if somebody fights with him or insults him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.’ By the one in whose hand is my soul, the smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the scent of musk.”
Additionally, Bukhari reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – that Allah’s Messenger – pace and blessings be upon him – said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan in faith and expectation for reward from Allah will be forgiven on their previous sins.”
On the significance of the last 10 days of the Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Seek the Night of Destiny (Night of Power) in the last ten nights of Ramadan when nine remains, when seven remains, when five remains. [i.e. on the 21st, 23rd and 25th and 27th nights].”
“This is a month in which the beginning is mercy, middle is forgiveness and the last ten days is a freedom from the fire for all believers. Whoever lightens the burden of their slave, Allah shall forgive them and free them from the fire.”
“Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in the next ten days of Ramadan when Allah free His slaves from the fire and let wish one another well and good in this World and the next,” he added.
By Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman
