God ordained fasting for Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), other prophets and pious people to teach them peaceful coexistence, patience and perseverance and to prepare them for life, an Islamic scholar, Imam AbdulSalam AbdulKadir has said.
Delivering a lecture titled ‘Peace Building and Lessons of the Holy Month of Ramadan’, at a Peace Symposium/Iftar (breaking fast) jointly organised in Kaduna on Tuesday evening by Rotary Club of Kaduna, Muslim Peace Network and Justice Development and Peace Communication, the Islamic scholar cited Zachariah and Mary as people who God ordained to fast apart from prophets and their followers.
“The significance of Ramadan shows that fasting prepares Muslims for peace and how to act for the next 11 months. Allah prescribes fasting for Muslims just as He prescribed it for all nations before the Prophet. Zakariyau (Zechariah) at over 100 years was asked to go for three days fasting and not to talk to anybody, as a sign that his wife will conceive the pregnancy of Yahaya (John).
“Mary after giving birth to Jesus was told to fast for one day and not to talk to anybody so that she can avoid explaining how she came by Jesus’ pregnancy without making a wrong statement and without lying. Allah prescribes fasting for generations before us even the people of Jesus (Lent) which means Allah ordained all of us to be at peace.
“Fasting is not just abstaining from food, water and your partner but to abstain from anything that can cause trouble in the society and to make you more pious. The month of Ramadan is also a month of patience. If you are fasting and you are fighting, stealing, lying, killing, causing trouble, insulting people, Allah says its better not to waste your time to fast,” he said.
For Reverend Father Joshua Achi, who spoke on the topic: ‘Peaceful Coexistence a Tool for Development’, it would be impossible to leave the Kaduna segregated along religious and tribal lines and return to the once united Kaduna. But the citizens can design a new Kaduna that would ensure their unity and togetherness even in diversity.
President Rotary Club of Kaduna, Rotarian Joyceline Anagende said, “one of the seven areas of focus in Rotary is peace and conflict resolution. It is a key part of our activities which is why Rotary Club of Kaduna in partnership with Muslim Peace Network and JDPC organise the symposium to preach peace. There are crises, insecurity, kidnapping across the country, which is why we are here.”
The Executive Director, Muslim Peace Network, Malam Hussein Makanjuola, said peace is key in every life, family and community.
