ADDIS ABABA – The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is the time the Muslim community exercise patience, control emotions and understand hunger that will increase compassion and empathy to the needy whose lives are affected by coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), a renowned Muslim scholar said.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald in connection with the 1441th Ramadan, Ustaz Abubakar Ahmed said that the month has a special place in Islam and Muslims should strive to connect to Allah, shun materialism and joint efforts in supporting the needy whose lives are impacted by the pandemic.
The scholar stated that the faithful need to show kindness and genuine love during the fasting period. Remembering victims of drought and floods and supporting them is also essential.
He stressed that the good deeds that have been exercised during Ramadan need to be eternalized in to Muslims’ personality and in their day to day lives.
The religion orders the faithful to uphold the support and empathy they have shown for the needy during Ramadan, which also would have a role in strengthening the much-cherished Ethiopian culture of sharing with the disfavored. “Prophet Muhammad made Zakat al-Fitr (charity given to the poor at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan) on every faithful to enable the needy to celebrate the holiday along with the rest of Muslims.”
The head of the household may pay the required amount for their dependencies and go into the community in order to find those who deserve such charity. In this regard, Zakat al-Fitr plays a very important role in the development of the bonds of community through ordering the rich to come in direct contact with the poor, and the poor with the extremely poor.
Ustaz Abubaker noted that this contact between various levels of society helps to build real bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood within the Islamic community and enables Muslims to play active role in the ongoing efforts to tackle coronavirus pandemic.
The Ethiopian Herald April 28/2020
BY BILAL DERSO
