Muslims around the globe have commenced the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, where followers of the faith fast for a month.
Ghanaian Muslims would certainly not be left out of the celebrations, and the President, John Mahama, has penned a statement noting the significance of the ritual, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
The President notes the spiritual and moral significance of the month, and expresses solidarity with them as they embark on the journey.
“This spiritual time of introspection and self-restraint also requires of all Muslims to welcome each new day by sacrificing their earthly desires of food, water and other worldly pleasures for the spiritual life of prayer, alms-giving and the general realisation of God’s presence in all places and at all times.” he writes.
“I appeal to my Muslim brothers and sisters that during this month of Ramadan they should remember to pray to Allah to open the windows of heaven and shower on us his choicest blessings and also grant us a more peaceful 7th General Elections than we have ever witnessed.” He added.
The holy month would end next month, with the celebration of eid ul fitr on the 7th of July, 2016.
Ramadan Mubarak to our Islamic brothers.
Read the President’s statement in full, below…
Once again, we are in the ninth month on the Islamic calendar – the holy month of Ramadan dedicated to fasting, prayer and alms-giving as commanded by the Holy Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him).
This spiritual time of introspection and self-restraint also requires of all Muslims to welcome each new day by sacrificing their earthly desires of food, water and other worldly pleasures for the spiritual life of prayer, alms-giving and the general realisation of God’s presence in all places and at all times.
A higher form of spiritual life is demonstrated by our Muslim brothers and sisters during this period with ever more reverent practices of virtue espoused by almost all religions.
This fosters a period in which compassion and empathy leads the devout Muslim to the realisation that he/she cannot sit in one corner unconcerned about the wellbeing of his/her neighbours and friends but as a religious command must reach out in charity and goodwill.
There is a beautiful story in a famous book Kimiya-e Sa’dat written by Imam al-Ghazzali of which a certain Shaykh [Junayd al-Baghdadi] gave his disciples a fowl each and asked them to kill it in a place where no one could see them. His numerous disciples all returned after killing their fowls except one who returned with a live fowl. When the Shaykh asked why, the humble disciple replied, “I could not find a place where Allah would not see me.”
This exemplary story should prompt us to at all times conduct ourselves in a manner that acknowledges the presence of our maker. And there is no better time to observe this than during the holy month of Ramadan where peaceful coexistence with neighbours and friends is ubiquitous.
True to the injunction by the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) that Muslims should be ambassadors of peace and love to the world, our Muslim brothers and sisters, like the followers of the other religions, have contributed tremendously to the peace and security that has provided the foundation upon, which our nation Ghana is rapidly developing.
Indeed, I am in no doubt that in the whole world, we Ghanaians in particular, practice Islam in its truest and purest form, and as President, I am proud to preside over a country where there is perfect peaceful co-existence among people of different religious faiths.
As a nation, we have always welcomed this period with great anticipation due to the increased solidarity and goodwill that manifests among others.
At this time Muslims set the tone for piety across our villages, towns and cities; and all others join in, ensuring that the country experiences the peace that Islam promises.
Our new National Mosque, which will soon be commissioned, will serve as the custodian of the tenets of this beautiful religion and help us shut-out the doors to extremists’ influence of radicalisation and terrorism.
I appeal to my Muslim brothers and sisters that during this month of Ramadan they should remember to pray to Allah to open the windows of heaven and shower on us his choicest blessings and also grant us a more peaceful 7th General Elections than we have ever witnessed.
May Allah answer our prayers and may his Peace envelope this Nation.
Ramadan Mubarak