Ramadan: Cleric urges Muslims to be prepared spiritually, steadfast in prayers
Malam Abdulmumin Apaokagi, the Chief Imam of Markaz Al Adaby Mosque in Ilorin has urged Muslims to be spiritually prepared for the forthcoming Ramadan fast by moving closer to Allah and be steadfast in prayers.
Apaokagi made the call in Ilorin on Friday while delivering lecture as the last Friday preceding the Holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the month which Muslims fast for 29 or 30 days as prescribed for them in the Holy Qur'an chapter 2 verse 183 as "O ye who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint.''
The cleric said Muslims should not only prepare for Ramadan by stocking their homes with foodstuff but by purifying their hearts to usher in the holy month.
He added that "in few days to come now, the Ramadan fast will start and as we know, some people will stock their houses with food which is not a bad idea. "But the essence of the fast is to make us closer to Allah, so our preparations should be toward getting our hearts ready for that.
"We have to prepare spiritually through supplications and reading the holy Qur'an when the month comes.'' Apaokagi said Ramadan was a time to work spiritually and not the time to lazy around due to tiredness.
"The month of Ramadan is a month of favour, where Muslims have the opportunity to ask and be granted by the grace of Allah. "So, it behoves on us to make optimum use of the opportunity for the benefits not to pass us by.
"We should try and seek for forgiveness more with the intention of not going back to sins after the month.'' He, however, urged Muslims to remember Nigeria in prayers for the country to overcome its present challenges. (NAN)
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum Kayode Ogunlowo Adeniyi Ojo Paul Odama Ahmed Bayero Federal Polytechnic Offa Usman Yunusa Abdulrasheed Akogun Emmanuel Bello Rafiu Ajakaye Towoju Mohammed Haruna Olatinwo Kwara Basketball Association Ridwan Agboola Idowu Laro Haruna Olawale Sulaiman CELF Oba-Solagberu Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency Clara Nwachukwu Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen Adeleke Ogungbe Harafat E. Mukadam CACOVID Adewuyi Funmilayo Segun Olawoyin Abdullateef Abdussalam Lithium Naira Redesign Lanre Badmas Offa Metropolitan Club Ali Ahmad Bolakale Saka Galadiman Ngeri Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu Oba Of Jebba Dan Iya Of Ilorin Age AbdulKareem Logun Alaiye Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP) Adesoye College Atiku Sulyman Abdulkareem Muhammad Toyin Sanusi Nigerian Medical Association TETFUND Kwara Polytechnic Ilorin General Hospital Omoniyi Abiodun Musa Aibinu Hajj Taofeeq Olateju Rabiu Kwankwaso Kawu Kwara Bello John Olanrewaju Ayo Salami Okiki Amos Bajeh Shehu Raheem Adaramaja Offa Grammer School Alapado Aliyu Sabi IESA Ibikunle Ogunleye 08001000100 Firdaos Amasa Oke-Ogun Benin Republic Dogara Apata Ajele Secondary School Hakeem Lawal Lola Ashiru Fareedah Dankaka Elesie Of Esie

