President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged Muslims in the country to display humility, forgiveness and service to others which are the examples displayed by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) .
Tinubu said this in a congratulatory message to Muslims as the Ramadan fasting period commenced on Thursday.
He said, “As we begin this year’s Ramadan, I bring warm greetings and congratulations to all Muslims who have received the grace of Almighty Allah to witness this holy month.
“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.
“Let us move in this way that we may make of ourselves a better people and nation in which all people, Muslims and non-Muslims, may live in trust, peace and justice as Allah would have it be.”
He urged Muslims to use the period to say prayers for Nigeria, its leaders and also the diversity in the country which must be strengthened.
“We must join hands to bring progress in Nigeria by praying for unity and progress. The lessons of the holy month of Ramadan point to the success of unity, not the failure of division.
“May this Ramadan bring us all closer to Allah. May our fasting and prayers be accepted. May this holy month be a time of peace, unity, and harmony in Nigeria and for all humanity.
“Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims in Nigeria and across the world,” he added.
Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his Ramadan message, reminded Muslims of sacrifice and devotion in worship to God, which he said were tenets of the holy month.
He lamented that this year’s Ramadan period came at a time when the country was at a crossroads, “and as a people, we are at a point of despondency and confusion.”
He, however, expressed delight that “the month of Ramadan has come to us as a blessing from the Almighty with an opportunity for us to wash away our worries, doubts, and hopelessness.”
“It is quite clear that the essential principles of this holy month are what is needed to heal our wounds, both as individuals and as a country. First is the importance of sacrifice not just to our families and the people around us but to the cause of peace.”
