The chief Imam of Abia State, Sheikh Ali Ukiwe, has urged the Muslim community in the state not to observe the Ramadan fast as mere formalities but to practice and live by its lessons always.
Ukiwe spoke to LEADERSHIP in Umuahia, the state capital, yesterday, as the period is approaching its end, stressing that they should continue with the fast faithfully and hopefully.
“You all know that the significance of the Ramadan month of fasting is for you to seek the forgiveness of your past sins by the Almighty Allah and to amend your evil ways.
“And if before now we’ve been having crisis, animosity, prejudices or things of that nature, this time around, we expect to have and live in a better society,” said the cleric.
Speaking further, the Abiriba-born Islamic scholar noted that from the lessons, they’re supposed to have a society where love, unity, understanding, peace, and serenity prevail.
“So, that is all the lessons we’re supposed to learn from the Ramadan fast. Returning to our evil way of life after the period is not good for us. No, we shouldn’t.
“It is good after Ramadan for us to be a better people, to love people more than before, to help people more than before and to create a peaceful environment more than before.
“That is exactly what I expect the Muslim Umma in the state to do after spending the month of Ramadan fasting faithfully and obediently to the Almighty Allah,” he said.
On the Sallah, he argued that though the economy is not too favourable, they should celebrate it with what is available to them “and be grateful to the Almighty Allah for bringing us this far”.
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