The Chief Imam of Obantoko Mosque, Sheik Jemeel Olalekan Olorunseye has urged Moslems to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan, which included personal sacrifices, piety and self denial at all times.
Sheik Olorunseye who spoke while delivering the 2024 Annual Ramadan Lecture hosted by National Merit Newspaper, Nigerian Times and Business Trust Newspapers with the theme, Fasting and Feasting: Prospect and Challenges of Healthy Ramadan; charged moslems to pray for divine healing of the nation from wanton waste of lives and property that had characterised the polity in recent time.
He noted that Ramadan is beyond abstinence from food and drinks but an opportunity to imbibe the values of justice, tolerance and compassion.
Sheik Olorunseye said: “Ramadan is more than a month of fasting. We fast to strengthen our relationship and our appreciation of Allah. We fast to make ourselves better servants of both Allah and our fellow man. However, this month is more than abstention from food and drink from dawn to dusk. It must entail imbibing the spirit and true meaning behind the holy month. We must keep hold of the excellent and wonderful things the holy month of Ramadan signifies.
“As we embark on fasting and spiritual reflection, let us proceed, imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, self-discipline, goodwill, justice, tolerance, mercy, compassion and generosity that lie at the heart of Islam.
“Let us strive to emulate Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) example of humility, forgiveness, and service to others.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Nurudeen Olaleye thanked the Organiser of the programme saying that Nigerians must move in a piety way that we may make of ourselves a better people and nation in which all people, Muslim and non-Muslim, may live in trust, peace and justice as Allah would have it be.
“As we engage in supplications to Allah, let us also remember our country and leaders in our prayers. The lessons of the holy month of Ramadan point to the success of unity, not the failure of division.”
He prayed that the Ramadan period brings peace and unity to Nigeria.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of National Merit Newspaper, Business Trust and Nigerian Times, Amona Tajudeen Oladeinde enjoined Muslims in the country to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, sacrifice and love for one another.
Amona Tajudeen Oladeinde said the period of Ramadan is a holy Month when faithfuls fervently commit to prayers.
“This is the period the Muslim Ummah will develop and strengthen their powers of self-control to resist wrongful desires and bad habits, and therefore guard against evil.
“In fasting, by refraining from the natural human urges to satisfy one’s appetite, Muslims are exercising their ability of self-restraint, so that they can then apply it to their everyday life to bring about self-improvement.
