Ramadan: As month of Rahma arrives….

In the name of Allah, most beneficent, most merciful

Assalaamu Alaikum!

Muslims all over the world are expected to begin the fasting of the month of Ramadan tomorrow or next, as the case may be. We wish to use this medium to wish the teeming readership of this column a blissful Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem!

For more than a decade, Ramadan Talk has become an annual column on the pages of this esteeemed newspaper. All praises are due to Allah for sparing our lives to witness another Ramadan. Therefore, the column will, inshaAllah, feature throughout the month.

Ramadan Talk is meant to remind us on the observances and etiquettes of the month of Ramadan, as most of what would be discussed have been said before either in this column or by our revered scholars.

In order to avoid controversy, Ramadan Talk will restrict itself to the submissions of the Holy Qur’an and the authentic traditions of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh). These, as usual, will be adopted in accordance with the explanation provided by those who followed the prophet’s footsteps especially those from the generations the prophet (pbuh) described as the best of all generations. (Khairun Nasi Qarni summal lazina yalunahum summal lazina yalunahum), the best of all generations is mine and then those that follow and those that follow.

 Moon Sighting

The Islamic Studies (Education) Department of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria had few years ago organised a National Conference on moon sighting with a theme ‘Moon Sighting in Islam: A challenge to Muslim Unity in Nigeria’. The conference was attended by over 200 participants from the academia, religious organizations, government and traditional institutions from different parts of Nigeria. Fifty four (54) papers were presented and discussed on various sub-themes of the conference.

Some of the resolutions of the conference are still relevant and would be of immense benefit for the readers of this column, as the search for the new crescent of Ramadan begins today or tomorrow. These resolutions are presented thus:

* The system of moon sighting should be strengthened by all traditional rulers and other stakeholders.  In this regard, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria should ensure the establishment of functional Moon Sighting Committees at all levels. The Committees should report their findings to the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs who will in turn announce it to the Muslim Ummah on monthly basis – This resolution has been implemented by His Eminence, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III and the activities of the committees have substantially reduced the controversies that shrouded moon sighting before in Nigeria.

* All Muslims in Nigeria are enjoined to respect and abide by the official announcement (of moon sighting) of the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria – who is Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar III.

* Nigerian Muslims should use their local sighting as the basis for the commencement of every lunar month.

* The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria should engage Muslim opinion leaders from various organizations for periodic dialogue on issues related to moon sighting.

* Moon sighting authorities can make use of experts in relevant subjects or disciplines who can assist them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

* Mass public enlightenment campaign should be done on matters relating to moon sighting through Friday sermons, media and other enlightenment for a.

The Month of Ramadan

The fasting of the month of Ramadan commences after the sighting of the crescent moon. The search for the crescent of the new moon begins from 29th of Sha’aban, which is the eight month of the Islamic lunar calendar. If the crescent was not sighted on the 29th of Sha’aban, Ramadan fasting automatically commences on the completion of the 30 days of Sha’aban.

Commencement of Ramadan ushers in the holiest month of the year. It is the month which Allah has promised to forgive past sins and rewards of good deeds are doubled. As such, Muslims all over the world celebrate the arrival of the blessings which Allah has enveloped in the 29 or 30 days of the month. Whoever sees the crescent of the new moon or hears about it from a trustworthy source is obliged to begin fasting. Using the calendar to determine or calculating the onset of Ramadan is not permissible.

Ramadan is the Islamic month of obligatory fasting. It is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is obligatory for all adult Muslims in good mental and physical health who are not on a journey.

Notes on fasting

According to the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah (sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace) fasting is in two categories, namely, the obligatory and supererogatory. Ramadan fasting is one of the three categories of obligatory fasting. Islamic fasting connotes abstention from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset. It must be preceded by the avowed intention (niyya) to worship Allah as He directed through His Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is adjudged obligatory on account of Allah’s directive in Chapter 2, verse 183 of the Holy Qur’an that all those who believe in Him should fast as prescribed for the preceding generations. Allah in that verse says that fasting makes believers pious.

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said in the Sunnah that Islam is built on five pillars. According to Bukhari, he mentioned fasting in the month of Ramadan as one of the pillars.

Intention (Niyya)

Niyya is an obligatory pillar in fasting. It induces the heart to focus on Ramadan fasting immediately one sees the new lunar month or a trustworthy source announces the sighting. Fasting without Niyya is null and void. Niyya must be made before dawn after the sighting of the new moon.

Muslim reported in a Hadith that Allah enjoins all who believe in Him and the message of His Prophet (pbuh) to “fast when you see the new moon and end your fast when you see it.” This means that sighting of a new moon ushers in the Ramadan fasting and ends it for the Eid-el-fitr (Sallah) celebration.

The individual is not necessarily required to see the new moon himself. It suffices for any adult, sane and trustworthy Muslim with good eyesight to announce seeing the new crescent with his own eyes. The word of such a person is enough to kick start the fasting.

Next week, inshaAllah, we will look at the virtues, etiquettes of Ramadan and other issues.

For observations, corrections, suggestions, questions or contribution, please contact 080-38608418 or [email protected]