SALLAH MESSAGE: Reflections On The 1441 AH Ramadan For The Ummah

By Alhaji Salaudeen Abdulhameed

In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful.

Surely, All praises belong to Allah – the most high, come rain, come sunshine (all conditions of life man finds himself ). We sincerely bear witness that Allah is one, having neither partner nor equal. And we also bear witness that Prophet Muhammad was a messenger of Allah, sent as mercy to the entire world (universe). May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His noble prophet, his households, his companions and the generality of Muslims.

Brothers and Sisters in Islam world-wide, we use this golden opportunity to congratulate ourselves over the Divine Grace to partake in this year 1441A.H. Ramadan and the grace to complete it; even though in the face of challenges. The Qur’an puts it that the days of Ramadan fast are numbered (Q.2 : 184). Ramadan 1441A.H has come and gone. So also is our sincere belief in Allah that the threatening challenges occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic would soon be over with our devotion to Allah, prayers unto him and total reliance on him.

By coincidence, Ramadan fast of 1441A.H. was observed amidst restrictions and social regulations occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has put restrictions on congregation prayers; open air public da’wah, communal tafsir, communal tarawih and a host of others which could have fetched us enormous rewards in manifold; especially in the just-concluded holy month of Ramadan.

We have all realized that the Coronavirus which brought about lockdown of states has not only affected our religious congregation activities, it has also unleashed untold havoc on the world socioeconomic and educational settings. We should all admit that this period is really a trying time by Allah’s design and by his grace, we would overcome that trial. Remember that Allah says in the Qur’an: “Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘we believe’ and will not be tested? And we indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make it known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test”, (Q.29:2 -3).

However, it is in recognition of the fact that the present pandemic is a test that Muslims should rise to the occasion. We need to intensify our prayers for divine intervention for Allah to end the ravaging COVID-19. It is in connection to this that we commend our government at the federal and state levels on various  steps taken to combat the pandemic and to make life relatively comfortable for the citizens during this trying period through provision of palliatives, even though the palliatives were not properly administered at various quarters. Peradventure the lockdown lingers, governments have much to do in giving palliatives and cushioning the sufferings of the vulnerable people in our society.

Brothers and sisters in Islam, Ramadan has left with us a lot of lessons, including love and compassion for other fellow, the less-privileged and vulnerable in the society, endurance and perseverance, increased devotion to Allah  and piety. All these lessons as byproducts of 1441 A.H. Ramadan, should not be allowed to slip off we Muslims but rather, we should hold-on to them, because we never knew if another Ramadan  will come to us while still alive, hale and hearty.

Brothers and sisters in Islam, we use this forum to enjoin us to observe health guidelines of the state and federal governments to ensure that we are safe health-wise. The laid-down guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) should be adhered to in order to stay safe, because only the living have ample time to worship Allah, through series of Ibadah. Should:

– Avoid congregations for now and observe social distancing;

– Imbibe the culture of wearing face masks;

– Always wash your hands or apply sanitizer as presented by the noble prophet (S.A.W);

– Don’t exchange handshake, don’t hug and while sneezing or coughing, sneeze or cough on the elbow or cover your mouth with handkerchief or tissue paper;

– Rasulullah has also recommended that Muslims should be observing prayers to ward-off evils of pandemic thus: “Oh Allah! I seek your protection again leprosy, insanity, infirmity and denigrating ailments.”

We exited the holy month of Ramadan with the belief that we are forgiven and purified due to our display, constraint, self-control and restrictions. As rightly put by our model Rosulullahi (S.A.W), “whoever observes Ramadan fast in faith and sincere hope (of rewards and forgiveness) would be forgiven of his/her sins.”

In this case, the Ramadan 1441 A.H. is marched out, Allah remains and therefore, our devotion to him as well should be faithfully sustained. All good deeds like obligatory prayers (Salawat al-mafruudoh), Sadaqat,( arms-giving), Nawafil  (non-obligatory prayers) tilawatul-Qur’an (recreation of the Qur’an), Silatur-Rahim  (keeping up good relationships with relatives) tarku’amal shuuhi wal qawlu-shuuh (abstinence from evil deeds and foul talks), adhkar (remembrances of Allah from time to time e.t.c) should be sustained.

Finally, we congratulate ourselves that we are graced to witness the end of Ramadan fast of this year 1441 A.H. while we are alive. May Allah forgive all Muslim across the globe, who lost their lives to this trying period and console their survivors.

Brothers and sisters, Ramadan is exiting to usher in Shawwal observe your Shitta-Shawwal according to the sunnah of the prophet (S.A.W) because doing that attracts great rewards. Anyone who fasts six days in Shawwal to accompany Ramadan would be considered to have fasted for the whole year. We pray to Allah to accept it as an act of Ibaadah.

As-salaam alaykum, warahamotullahi, wabaraqaatuhu!!!