EID-EL-FITR: CLERIC CAUTIONS AGAINST VIOLENCE

Reporter : UGONNA AGU

The Chief Imam of Imo State, Sheik Suleiman Njoku, has called on Nigerians regardless of tribe or religion to shun violence and embrace love and peace as commanded by Allah.

Sheik Njoku made the call while speaking with Radio Nigeria in Owerri on the 2021 Eid-el-l Fitri celebration.

He explained that Eid-el Fitri is a special celebration marking the end of the 30 days fasting, in the month of Ramadan.

The Chief Imam noted that Ramadan is not just denial of food and drink, but a time of self purification and show of empathy to the poor and needy in the society.

“After the Ramadan, the next thing is to celebrate the Eid-el-fitr. That fitr there means before you come to the mosque to observe the prayer, you must have given out the charity to the needy, the less privilege.

“That one is mandatory because it purofies. It is a step which you will take so that your fasting will be accepted by Allah,” he said.

Sheik Njoku noted that Ramadan dated from the time of Adam and the prophets, teaches humans to constantly fear God and keep his commandments.

“The Quran stated that ‘oh you who believe, we have prescribed a fasting for you. The way it was prescribed to the previous nations, generations, prophets,” the Sheik said.

According to the Chief Imam, Ramadan, also known as the Month of Mercy in Islam, is a time in the Islamic calender which starts by the sighting of the crescent moon and also ends when a crescent moon is sighted.