Ramadan: Muslims warned against online immorality, neglect of zakat

Muslim scholars in Kwara State have urged believers to embrace self-purification and shun vices as the holy month of Ramadan approaches. The call was made at the Annual Pre-Ramadan Seminar jointly organised by seven Islamic organisations, including The Muslim Congress, Standard Bearers Islamic Organisation, Al Muminaat Organisation, Organisation of Thadhamunul Muslimeem, Al Khawaatul Muslimaat and […]

Muslim scholars in Kwara State have urged believers to embrace self-purification and shun vices as the holy month of Ramadan approaches.

The call was made at the Annual Pre-Ramadan Seminar jointly organised by seven Islamic organisations, including The Muslim Congress, Standard Bearers Islamic Organisation, Al Muminaat Organisation, Organisation of Thadhamunul Muslimeem, Al Khawaatul Muslimaat and The Achiever Ambassadors Islamic Foundation.

The seminar, themed “Ramadan, Self-Purification and Detachment from Vices,” was designed to prepare Muslims spiritually and socially for the fasting period.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Associate Professor Hamza AbdulRaheem of Al-Hikmah University described Ramadan as a sacred season for discipline, patience and devotion.

Quoting Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he said anyone who fasts with sincere faith and intention will have their sins forgiven.

He stressed that Ramadan is meant to purify believers and draw them closer to Allah, but warned that the misuse of social media could undermine its spiritual benefits.

“Social media can be used for both permissible and forbidden purposes,” he said, noting that while it offers access to Qur’anic recitations and beneficial lectures, it also exposes users to immoral content.

He cautioned that engaging in sinful online activities while fasting could erode the rewards of Ramadan, urging Muslims to avoid platforms and content that contradict the spirit of the holy month. Instead, he encouraged engagement with faith-building materials that positively influence individuals and families.

In his remarks, Engr. Ariyo Bashir Olalekan, State Coordinator of the Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation, emphasised the importance of Zakat and Waqf, particularly during Ramadan.

He described Zakat as a divinely ordained right of the poor and one of Islam’s five pillars.

For 2026, he said the Nisab (minimum threshold) is estimated at about N12.5 million based on gold and N1.7 million based on silver, with eligible Muslims required to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth.

Olalekan added that Ramadan offers multiplied rewards for acts of worship and urged Muslims to embrace Zakat and Waqf as instruments of social justice and compassion.