As Muslims across Nigeria prepare to begin the holy month of Ramadan, the Chief Imam of Ar-Rahman Central Mosque, Ibadan, Imam Ridwan Sulaiman, has called on the faithful to approach the fast as a period of deep spiritual reflection and renewal.
Speaking ahead of the commencement of Ramadan, he says Ramadan is designed to instill God-consciousness and serve as “a period of annual training and retraining.”
“You’ve engaged in a lot of worldly affairs, so the one month of Ramadan is supposed to bring you back to your senses- to reflect and remind you of the essence of life and what you are expected to do,” he said.
The cleric cautioned Muslims not to reduce Ramadan to social activities and elaborate meals.
“It’s not just about the shopping, the iftar, the sahur, or the fanfare. It’s about bringing us back to reflection and reminding us about the fear of Allah,” he stressed.
Some Muslim faithful who spoke expressed similar sentiments, describing the month as an opportunity for discipline, growth, and answered prayers.
One of them is “praying for a deeper sense of discipline. I want to be consistent in my faith.”
The faithful added that preparation has been intentional: “I’m working to improve my prayers regularly, avoid distractions, and focus on personal goals and self-reflection.”
For another Muslim, his prayer is “That Allah would listen to my inner prayers and accept them.”
He also described the month as a time of personal reform and purpose.
“Ramadan is an opportunity to be better Muslims. I use it as a means of reforming myself and praying for knowledge and wisdom to better carry out my function on this earth and align it with the teachings of Islam.”
