As we prepare to miss Ramadan again

Ramadan is again set to bid us another farewell. By sunset today, Muslims in Nigeria would have fasted for twenty-five days. Allahu Akbar! Only Allah (SWT) knows those who would be alive leave to witness this holy season next year. As we read the last piece during this year’s Ramadan on this 25th day of […]

Ramadan is again set to bid us another farewell. By sunset today, Muslims in Nigeria would have fasted for twenty-five days. Allahu Akbar! Only Allah (SWT) knows those who would be alive leave to witness this holy season next year. As we read the last piece during this year’s Ramadan on this 25th day of Ramadan, some of us are already missing the holy month as the Tafsir sessions, the midnight Tahajjud prayer, the preaching programmes on television channels including Sahur Live on NTAi; would soon stop in few days’ time.

The end of Ramadan fast should not be an end to all the good deeds by which we stood in the past few weeks. Let us resolve to continue beyond Ramadan with all the acts of worship we upheld throughout Ramadan. Let us also vow to continue to eschew all unrighteous acts we avoided during Ramadan. Eidul-Fitr, which is by the corner, is not an occasion for us to go back to our old sinful life of envy, mischief, betrayal, telling lies, backbiting, cheating, forgery, etc. Resuming this kind of unholy life only makes us hypocrites. 

Nonetheless, our conversation in this last lap of Ramadan will touch on Zakatul-Fitr and other responsibilities that usually come up at the close of Ramadan fast. Although Zakatul-Fitr, like the daily obligatory prayer is a familiar topic, a reminder is always not out of place; at least, to refresh our memories and to ensure that we are doing the right thing. Anas bn Malik (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “The Ramadan fast of believing servants of Allah (SWT) would hang between the heavens and the earth until the Zakatul-Fitr is paid. When it is given out, Allah (SWT) would grant it two wings to fly to the seventh sky where it would remain until the owner comes for it.” 

Zakatul-Fitr is a Sunnah that is compulsory on every Muslim, big and small, male and female, free-born as well as slave. The Zakatul-Fitr of every Muslim is to be given out by the person responsible for his/her sustenance and upkeep. A man would give the Zakatul-Fitr of his wives, children, and every other person under his care. Zakatul-Fitr is to be given out of the staple food item in one’s community. In northern Nigeria for example, it could be rice, maize, millet, wheat, or similar grains or cereals. It could also be beans or groundnut where such is the staple food of the people. 

The quantity to be given out as Zakatul-Fitr per head is four measures of the food item (in grains or cereals) using the Sa’a (cubic measure) of the Prophet (SAW). The two palms of a man put together and filled with grains or cereals would be equivalent to a full measure of the Prophetic Sa’a where the latter is not practically available. It is Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) to pay Zakatul-Fitr after daybreak of the day of Eidul-Fitr; before going for the Eid prayers. Imam Malik (RA) relates that the people of knowledge used to pay the Zakatul-Fitr after dawn had broken on the day of the Eidul-Fitr before they went out for the Eid prayer. 

However, there’s no harm if it is paid a day or even two days before the day of Eidul-fitr. It is reported that Abdullahi bn Umar (RA) used to pay the Zakatul-Fitr two or three days before the day of Eidul-Fitr. If a Muslim could not pay the Zakatul-Fitr before leaving his house for the Eid prayer due to indigence, it would still be paid when resources for paying it are available. Zakatul-Fitr has no waiver or substitute. It is obligatory on all Muslims. 

Apart from paying the Zakatul-Fitr before going for the Eid prayers, every Muslim is enjoined to break his fast in the morning of the Eid day. The sighting of the crescent of Shawwal (tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar) marks the end of Ramadan. Therefore, it is expected that every Muslim who fasted during Ramadan should break the fast by eating or drinking in the morning before leaving the house or the mosque (in the case of those in I’tikaf) for the Eid praying ground. Refusing to eat or drink after daybreak on the Eidul-Fitr day does not make one more pious than others. Rather, it’s a contradiction of the provisions of Shari’ah for a Muslim to refuse to break his fast after the crescent of Shawwal had been sighted.

Refusing to eat before going for the Eid prayer is tantamount to an extension of Ramadan beyond and against Allah’s will. Getting the news that confirms the sighting of the Shawwal crescent through the radio, television, mobile phone, e-mail, and similar means of communication from genuine and reliable sources brings the Ramadan fast to an end. Yet, our eating, drinking and celebrations during the Eid period should be moderate and not outrageous as to make us ungrateful to Allah. 

Given the country’s poor economic situation that has refused to improve in favour of the masses, we appeal to custodians of our home-fronts to understand if what comes to them from their husbands falls short of their usual expectations on Sallah dresses or meals. Our wives (and even our daughters) should come to terms with the realities of time. Let us not allow the hard-economic conditions to preclude us from enjoying the pleasant moments of the Eid period. 

The Eid is a time for celebrating Allah’s favours. Let us show gratitude to Allah (SWT) even if it were pap without a bean cake (akara) or groundnut cake (kulikuli) that would make our breakfast on the Eidul-Fitr day. May Allah accept our Ramadan fast, forgive our mistakes, grant us mercy, guide our leaders, and intervene for us in all the challenges confronting us as a developing democratic nation, Amin.

Ramadan Kareem. Happy Eidul-Fitr in advance!