As Ramadan fast closes

Today Saturday June 24, 2017 which is the 29th day of Ramadan fast is about the end or a day to the end of this year’s Ramadan. Gratitude is to Allah (SWT) who successfully brought us to theclosing pointof this holy month. While many of us may be rejoicing at the end of the Ramadan fast, it is actually a thing of sadness if we consider the huge spiritual benefits that would escape us as the blessed month ends. Allah (SWT), the Wise, knows why He made this unique month just once in a circle of twelve months.We should be missing the month even as it in its final hours.

Our discourse this week will focus mainly on the events that signify the end of Ramadan including Zakat ul-fitr.Anasbn Malik (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said: “The Ramadan fast of believing servants of Allah (SWT) would hang between the heavens and the earth until he pays the Zakat ul-fitr. When he gives it out, Allah (SWT) would grant it two wings to fly to the seventh sky where it would remain until the owner comes for it”. This gives testimony to the significance of Zakat ul-fitrto Muslims. Zakat ul-fitr is a Sunnah that is compulsory on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free-born as well as slave. The Zakat ul-fitr of every Muslim is to be given out bythe person responsible for his/her sustenance. 

A man would give the Zakat ul-fitr of his wives, children, and every other person under his care. Abdullahibn Umar (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) fixed the Sa’a of dates or Sa’a of barley as the quantity to be given as Zakat ul-fitr at the end of Ramadan fast. In other words, it is to be given from the staple food item of one’s community. It could be rice, maize, millet, wheat, or similar grains or cereals. It could also be beans or ground-nut where such is the staple food. Malik relates that Abdullahibn Umar (RA) would always pay the Zakat ul-fitr in dates, except once, when he paid it in barley. 

The quantity to be given out, as Zakat ul-fitr per head is fourSa’a(cubic)  measures of the food item (grains or cereals) using the Sa’a of the Prophet (SAW). It is Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) to pay Zakat ul-fitrbefore going for the Eid prayerson the day of Eidl-fitr. However, there’s no harm if it is paid a day or two before the day of Eidl-fitr. It is reported that Abdullahibn Umar (RA) used to pay the Zakat ul-fitr two or three days before the day of fitr (final breaking of Ramadan fast). If a Muslim were unable to pay the Zakat ul-fitr before leaving his house for the Eid prayers due topenury, he/she would still pay it when available or affordable. Zakat ul-fitr has no waiver or substitute. It is obligatory on every Muslim. 

Apart from paying the Zakat ul-fitr before going for the Eid prayers, every Muslim is enjoined to break his fast in the morning of the Eid day. The sighting of the crescent of Shawwal (tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar) marks the end of Ramadan. Therefore, it is expected that everyone who fasted during Ramadan should break the fast by eating or drinking in the morning before leaving the house for the Eid prayer, or before leaving the mosque in respect of those who took part in I’tikaf (religious seclusion) for the Eid praying ground. Refusing to eat or drink after daybreak on the Eid day after Ramadan does not make one more pious than others. Rather, such is a contradiction of the prophetic practice. Any Muslim who does that thus seeks to extend the Ramadan beyond and against Allah’s will. 

It is wrong for anyone to believe that Ramadan ends only after he/she has sighted the crescent with his/her own eyes. Getting the news that confirms the sighting of the crescent either through the radio, television, mobile phones, e-mails, and similar means of communication from genuine and reliable sources brings the Ramadan to an end. Nevertheless, our eating, drinking and celebrations over the end of Ramadan should not be outrageous as to make us appear ungrateful to Allah (SWT). Muslims, particularly, the youths, must shun disproportionatecelebrations and keep off anything that may lead them into orgies.

Eidl-fitr is not an event for us to go back to our old sinful life of betrayal, telling lies, backbiting, rumour mongering, insincerity dishonesty and immodesty. Resuming this kind of unholy life only makes us hypocrites. The end of Ramadan fast should not be an end to all the good deeds by which we stood in the last one month. Let us resolve to continue with all the virtuous deeds we tried to keep during Ramadan including constant recitations of the Holy Qur’an, observing night superogatory (tahajjud) prayers, inviting others to dine with us as well as devoting time to admonitions from scholars. Let us vow to continue to eschew all the unrighteous acts we avoided in the entire Ramadan. 

We encourage believers after they might have taken some rest from the sleepless nights they spent in devoutions especially during the last stage of the Ramadan, to observe a voluntary fast of six days in this Islamic lunar month of Shawwal. The recommended six days of fasting in Shawwal is voluntary. It is not compulsory. We are only exhorted by Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) to observe it. The six days of voluntary fast (otherwise called SittatuShawwal in Islamic literature) can be observed consecutively or intermittently, as may be convenient for one. Imam Muslim (RA) reports on the authority of Abu Ayyub that the Prophet (SAW) said “…whoever follows Ramadan (fast) with six days of (of fasting) in Shawwal would be as if he had fasted a whole life time”. 

In our closing supplications this Ramadan, let us remember the weak, the vulnerable, and the sick including President MuhammaduBuhari. Let us pray for Nigeria; asking Allah (SWT) to tackle all the challenges confronting us as a nation. Let us pray to Allah to guide our leaders aright; blessing them with wisdom and foresight. May Allah (SWT) forgive our sins, accept our acts of devoutions and sacrifices in the past 29 days, and make Al-Jannah our final abode in the hereafter, amin. Barka da Sallah in advance!