By Mohamed Awal/ILORIN// The Chief Imam, Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Central Mosque, Okesuna, Amilengbe Ilorin Kwara state, Ustaz Yusuf Mashood Dagbo in his Friday’s Sermon referred to fasting technically as abstinence from eating, drinking, sexual intercourse and all other things that can vitiate fasting from dawn till sunset with the intention of worshipping Allah.
Imam Dagbo who is also a Marriage Counselor, Educationist and Cultural expert established that fasting in Islam preceded the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as Allah said in al-Qur’an in Suratul-Baqarah (Chapter 2 verse 183) thus: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil) to attain piety”. The import of the verse as explained by the Chief Imam of GGDSS, Okesuna was that Allah has commanded groups and individuals to fast in the past but the circumstances surrounding their fastings differed. However, in Islam the focus of all kinds and manners of fasting are geared towards increasing the observers in faith, piety and perseverance.
As Muslims worldwide started the fasting of Ramadhān 1446AH/2025CE, the Chief Imam encouraged the observers to fast it as if it’s the last Ramadhān they would ever fast in their life time, so that all the benefits attached to it will be enjoyed in full. The Chief Imam also reiterated that fasting is the most rewarding and cumbersome to identify who truly fasts it, it’s because it’s very difficult to judge and that’s why the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said in one of his Ahadith that out if all deeds of mankind, it’s Allah who rewards fasting by Himself as He is the only one who recognises true observer of fasting. The Hadith quoted thus: Abu Sa’īd said: The Prophet (SAW) said: ‘Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, says: *Fasting is for me I shall reward for it.* The fasting person has two moments of joy: When he breaks his fast and when he meets his Lord. By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the smell that comes from the mouth of the fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.” Sunan an-Nisāi, 2213.
Imam Mashood Dagbo said, Ramadhān fasting as it is compulsory upon every Muslim; sane, healthy, matured, free from illness and ailment as well as legal excuses occupies the fourth pillar of Islam after Tawhid (faith) , Salah (five daily prayers), Zakah (Annual Alm Charity) before Hajj. Indeed, generations before the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had been fasted as earlier quoted in the verse, but none of the generations before him had fasted in the month of Ramadhān. It is because, Allah (SAW) established fasting of Ramadhān to honour and pacify the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in order to fill the gap between the earned rewards of past generations.
The Chief Imam said further that Islam as a religion and governance has encouraged the Muslims as it’s obligatory on them to fast in the month of Ramadhān by itemizing th benefits to derive from fasting in the ninth lunar calender; Ramadhān. Meanwhile, the Chief Imam; who used to focus his Friday’s Wisdom on authentic Hadith to substantiate his claims quoted the Hadith as follows:
Abu Hurayrah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhān due to faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. Whoever stands in prayer during the Night of Decree due to faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven”. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1901 & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 760
The Chief Imam itemized the lessons and jurisprudence of the quoted Hadith as follows:
1. The Hadith establishes the legal position of observing Ramadan fast for all Muslims who live to witness the crescent of the month of Ramadhān that year
2. Hadith reveals that a full reward is given to whoever fasts in the month of Ramadhān truly and expectedly with faith in Allah and respects all the rules guiding the fasting in Islam
3. Hadith states that Muslims must stay away from all that can vitiate his/her fasting and debars him from getting full reward
4. Hadith tells us that a truly fasting Muslim in the month of Ramadhān will have his sins forgiven if he/she doesn’t commit felonies such as Shirk (Having partnership with Allah), Zina, false witness etc.
5. Hadith identifies that some rewarding deeds during the month of Ramadhān, such as; observation of Tarawih (Night prayer) in congregation with Imam, listening to Tafsir and sermons physical and electrical
6. Hadith states that whoever observes Tarawih wholeheartedly, his/her sins shall be forgiven save felonies
7. Hadith recommends other related good deeds during the month of Ramadan such as; recitation of Qur’an, listening to Tafsir, Sadaqat, Listening to Sermons, Night prayers etc
8. Hadith establishes that the best Day in life occurs in the month of Ramadhān, which is Night of Decree where Allah changes bad to good as one prays and supplicates to Him. The Day is not easy to observe or coincide with except with rigorous worship in the last ten days of Ramadhān
9. Hadith reveals that an accepted deed on the Night of Decree (Majesty, Power, Redeem and Reformation) is as if one worships and rewards for eight -three years( 83) and 3 months, which is an equivalent to one thousand (1000 months) described in Suratul-Qadr
The Chief Imam prayed to Allah to accept our worship during and after the month and preserve the congregation and entire Muslims to witness more years of Ramadhān in good faith, sound health and prosperity. The Chief Imam equally advised the congregants as they go about their businesses to calm down, fear Allah and be hygienic by washing our hands regularly, observe five daily prayers, eat healthy food and stay in an healthy environment to strengthen our immunity
The Chief Imam of GGDSS, Okesuna, who is also a Visiting Chief Imam at Al-Abidah Central Mosque, Foma Babalaje, Ilorin South Layout, Abayawo Quarters, Ilorin lastly offered prayer thus: O Allah, as we observed first Friday in the month of Ramadhān, preserve us to fast it to the end and to witness many more in good health, faith, wisdom, and tranquility and accept our worship in it.
About Author
