Member, National Moon Sighting Committee, Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, Chief Imam and Waziri of Auchi, Edo State, Zakariyau Oseni, speaks to FATTEH HAMID about the need for Muslims to be selfless during Ramadan and what to do in order to have their prayers accepted
Why does Ramadan start on a different day each year?
It is because Muslims use the lunar calendar and not the Gregorian calendar. The lunar calendar changes every year because it is shorter with about 11 days every year. So, it can’t be the same.
For example, we started Ramadan on March 23, 2023, this year and by next year, by God’s will, it’s likely to start around March 11 or 12, 2024. That’s how it goes, there’s no big deal about it.
Why are Muslims very particular about sighting the moon before fasting starts?
This is because the moon has to be sighted. We don’t just do things anyhow or fix things anyhow; there’s an order, and things that have been laid down in the Qur’an, the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) and the interpretations of scholars of Islam over 1,400 years ago.
There are cases when Muslims begin fasting on different days. Why does this happen and what must be done?
There’s nothing wrong with that; there’s no big deal about it. The fact remains that the moon has to be sighted. It is even getting more orderly now because of the technological age that we are in now. People may sight the moon somewhere and people may not in another place. Each locality should use its own moon sighting to start its fasting and move on. There’s nothing bad about that.
Does fasting make you different within your community?
Yes, because fasting is supposed to make somebody more God-conscious and more cognizant of his duties to God and man; it (fasting) is to make a Muslim a better Muslim if he/she is serious about the religion. It is to make better the relationship between the person and Allah, and the relationship between all other beings regardless of their faiths or races. That is how it should be. It turns a lot of people into better Muslims. There’s always an exception though, there are some who are not so godly; they may do whatever they like and may go back to sin after Ramadan, which ought not to be. You know people are not the same, but people will get the reward they deserve. Allah said in Chapter 99 of the Qur’an that if anybody performs any deed of the weight of a seed, the person will get the reward on the Day of Judgement, and if the deed is evil, the person will get the same thing. So, people are not the same, but Muslims should follow the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet, and by doing that, we’re going to be better Muslims and this world is going to be a better place. This will also make us enjoy the hereafter better than this.
Should all Muslims fast?
No, it’s not possible. The Ramadan fast is compulsory for some categories of Muslims. First, you must be a Muslim; second, you must be mature, around 14 or 15 years for a boy, and for a girl, it is when she gets to the age of menstruation. Fasting is not compulsory for any child below that age. However, you can allow them to start practising how to fast and they will get the reward. Third, you must be sound, the person who would fast as a Muslim should be sound in mind. The person should not be having any mental problem; all Islamic worships are not to be practised by somebody who is having a mental problem because the person won’t know what he or she is doing. Women should not fast when they are menstruating. After their period, they’re mandated to pay back. When you’re aged, Islam exempts you from fasting; a pregnant woman whose pregnancy will give her trouble should not fast because it will give her foetus trouble. Travellers are also exempted. So, it’s not every Muslim that should fast.
What is the significance of Ramadan?
Qur’an Chapter 2:183 states that fasting has been made compulsory for all believers in Allah as it was prescribed for those before you so that you learn piety and God’s consciousness. When you are God-conscious, you’ll know what to do. You won’t steal, you won’t be a miscreant, you won’t misbehave with other humans, be they Muslims or non-Muslims, and you’ll learn to behave better. We are to learn it every year in order to become better.
You said earlier that travellers are exempted from fasting, in our age where travelling is no longer difficult as it used to be in the days of the Prophet, should travellers of this time exempt themselves from fasting?
It’s not every journey, not now that you’re in an air-conditioned car going from Lagos to Ibadan and you want to claim that you’re on a journey and won’t fast, that’s not it. Don’t even compare the lives of the Prophet. Come when there were motor vehicles that we used when we were young, but they are not the same as what we have today. At that time, there were many roads that were not tarred. Do you know the vehicle called Bolekaja? In the 50s, 60s and 70s, if you’re travelling in Bolekaja from Lagos to Ilorin, Edo, and Benin, these were tough times because many roads were not tarred.
These are not the same as what we have today. Roads are now good, cars are air-conditioned. You have to measure it and have the fear of Allah. The journey that would give you trouble, give a lot of stress is what we mean. Even if you’re in an air-conditioned vehicle and you’re travelling from Lagos to Maiduguri, it is a long one. So, you have to look at yourself and the journey. If it’s easy for you, you can fast, but if you really know that you’ll go through a lot of stress, the exemption is better.
What is Fidyah and who are those eligible to do it?
Fidyah is the act that is done by those who cannot fast, which is the process of feeding a fasting Muslim which stands as though they fasted on their behalf while the two persons still maintain their rewards. These are some of the people that I have stated earlier. An example is someone with a terminal illness, and even the type of drugs he takes will give him trouble if he fasts; somebody who’s too old and all of that. So, they have to feed another person if they have the means. It means what the person will use to fast daily, or you calculate it all together and give it to someone who’s fasting.
What are Muslims expected to do during Ramadan?
Recitation of the Qur’an over and over; this is to really get the meaning of the Qur’an and thank Allah that we have interpretations now and people can easily access them in different languages. Muslims should also engage in meditation, attend preaching sessions and be nice to people. The Prophet Muhammad; peace be upon Him, was generous, but during Ramadan, he was extra generous. So, we have to learn that, not that we’ll be taking alone and not giving. If we receive, we give too, so that it circulates.
What are the things to abstain from while fasting?
No drinking, no sexual intercourse, and all forms of illicit actions should be totally abstained from. This Ramadan may be the last one a person will witness because no one knows when death comes. So, one should be very careful and conscious of God every time.
What are the acts that make prayers accepted during Ramadan?
Except one doesn’t fast well, one of the fastest prayers that Allah accepts are prayers made during fasting, especially when one is about to break the fast after all the toiling in the daytime. But for prayers to be accepted by Allah, generally, one must sincerely ask for Allah’s forgiveness, praise Allah, thank Allah in many numbers and send praises to the Prophet. Also, people should know what to pray for. Imagine praying to get questions before an exam; what kind of prayer is that when what you’re asking for is something bad? People also have to be clean when approaching Allah, glorify Him. Asking Allah what belongs to someone else is stealing and such prayers will not be answered. Prayers should not be for self alone; prayers must be sent to friends, neighbours, parents, kindred, the whole town, village, local government, state and the nation. In fact, many people don’t pray for Nigeria. If there’s trouble anywhere in Nigeria, it’ll affect every one of us. If a stone is thrown into the market, it’ll meet one’s relative. We have to pray for the good of this country. Even many people in government ask clerics to pray for them, but not for the nation. This isn’t good; sometimes, people say that is not too good, but no, it is not good. You can’t be too particular about yourself. Pray for the four corners of the country.
Is it all prayers that are made during the holy month that would be accepted?
Allah has his own way of accepting prayers. These things are immeasurable. He accepts what he feels should be accepted and sometimes, he even delays the acceptance. There are prayers you’ll make today and you’ll think Allah hasn’t accept your prayers, not knowing that He knows when that thing will be better for you and postpones it till that time.
Again, many people want prayers to be accepted quickly, but these are prayers that could destroy your life, that are not good for you. Allah knows better, he knows what is good for you and in your best interest. Humans also need to be careful in our arrogance towards Allah especially when we are praying for something. He answers our prayers better than we think.
How important is the Night of Majesty?
It’s a night during the month of Ramadan. In the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan, therein is that night, but only Allah knows. When a Muslim prays throughout the last 10 nights, there’s no way you’ll miss the night, it’s very important. If Muslims are really serious in Nigeria, this country will be in a better place and so are followers of other religions; wallahi Nigeria will be better. I pray that Allah touch our minds so that we can be able to do much better.
