Ramadan: Atiku, Al-makura urge prayers, tolerance

 

As Muslims begin their 30 days Ramadan fasting yesterday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged followers of the Islamic faith in the country to observe the Holy month with soul-searching and deeper commitment to family.

He also urged Muslims to pray for Nigeria and its leaders at all levels to overcome the challenges confronting the country.

In a goodwill message to Muslims to mark the commencement of the Ramadan fasting period, the former Vice President, said the occasion should be a unique opportunity for Muslims to demonstrate greater self-discipline and compassion for the weak, the poor and the suffering.

He explained that the 30 days period of fasting should be a reminder to Muslims to come to terms with what it means to go without eating from morning to evening, and thereby appreciating the conditions of millions of ordinary Nigerians that go without eating daily.

According to him, Muslims should use the occasion to increase their love and compassion for the less fortunate members of the society, adding that we should take the spirit of compassion beyond Ramadan by making it a permanent feature of our everyday life.

The former Vice President also appealed to Muslims to use the spirit of the Ramadan fasting period to promote tolerance, love and peaceful coexistence to higher and more enduring levels.

The Turaki Adamawa said, "The best public relations for our religions is our conduct towards others in terms of love and tolerance. We must be good Ambassadors of our faith, because our humble Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) himself attracted adherents to Islam through personal examples of love, tolerance and justice. The best service we can to do Islam is to live by its teachings."

He enjoins Muslims to give support to one another, and give even greater support to the political authority in our country and various localities.

Also yesterday, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State enjoined Muslim faithful to use the month of Ramadan in turning a new lease of life tolerant of one another and sacrifice.

Al-makura called on the strong to stand by the weak, the wealthy to support the needy and the oppressed to forgive the oppressors as the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammed (SAW) teaches acts of piety and forgiveness.

He said by so doing, we will build a tolerant society where people coexist peacefully preserving the rights and respecting the rights of others.

Al-makura also urged Muslim Ummah to use the Ramadan period not only for abstinence but to also seek God,s guidance on how to move the state forward and the country at large.

He said that the month should serve as a guide for Muslims on how to achieve positive goals that will continue to re-unite the state and the country for peaceful co-existence.

Al-makura equally called on Muslims to use the period to strengthen their relationship with God Almighty through the memorization of the holy Qur’an and good neighborliness.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to make the advent of this month an opportunity for the Muslim Ummah to learn more and strive to reject disunity and to achieve the ideals of Islamic teachings.

He called for care for the less privileged, most especially those living with disabilities that are mostly in need of care and love.