By Zurah Nakabugo
People attend communal Taraweeh prayers daily during Ramadan because they praise Allah and it keeps their bodies fit and healthy as they exercise during prayers. It’s unhealthy to eat much food as you break your fast and after sitting in one place without moving to help food digest fast,” the deputy Supreme Mufti Sheikh Ibrahim Ntanda Muzanganda said.
He said, although the country is not so tight on Covid-19 rules, he advised people to come to mosques with their own mats during prayers, and those who have flue and cough are advised to wear masks to avoid the spread of any airborne disease.
Ntanda told the Homeland that since Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar and it’s a long period of worship and devotion to Allah, Muslims should use it as an opportunity to repent and ask Allah to solve the economic crisis which the country is currently facing and social practices like homosexuality.
“Ramadan commemorates the Qur’an being first revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Muslims should use Ramadan and ask for forgiveness from Allah to solve the problems which the country is facing at the moment such as soaring of commodities prices, poverty and social practices,” Ntanda said this recently.
Hajji Ashiraf Zziwa, the Spokes Person Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) advised Muslims to continue paying sadaq during this month of Ramadan and support the poor and needy.
Sheikh Haidari Kizza, the Vice Chairman Hear Uganda, a humanitarian organization requested all Muslims to pray for the country during this Ramadan and be saved from homosexuality issues since they are against Islamic teachings.
He said, they are donating 3, 800 food packages worth (Shs 380m) this year to different people within the country to give them hope to break their fast during Ramadan.
He says, the food packages have been mainly targeted to the poor, needy, widow and other people who don’t have food due to the economic crisis in the country.
“As we go in villages to distribute Ramadan packages, we don’t segregate people due to their religions, tribes or gender. We give everybody since many people have been affected by the COVID-19, don’t have food and yet the scourge is still going on,” he says.
“Don’t wait for your neighbours to die and then give them (Sadaq) food. This is the time to repent and get rewards from Allah by helping the needy, poor and the widow,” Kizza adds.
Sheikh Yasir Kulumba, the Secretary for Religious Affairs, Kibuli Mosque advised women to avoid demanding things which their husbands can’t provide since commodity prices have hiked and this might cause domestic violence which spoils their Ramadan.
Night of Power (Al-Qadr)
Kulumba advised Muslims to use the 27th day of Ramadan, which is the night of Al-Qadr, and pray the whole night asking God for rewards, forgiveness of their sins, and asking Him to help us solve the problems of homosexuality and Lesbianism in the country since they against Islamic culture.
“On the day of Al- Qadr, let’s all of us play and ask Allah to save the entire globe from the effects of financial crisis, loss of jobs , homosexuality and others,” he said.
“Let’s pray for ourselves and the deceased during Ramadan since Allah opens the gates of paradise and closes the gates of hell, and also chains up the devils,” Kulumba said.
This year’s 29 or 30-day fasting period will end with Eid al Fitr on or about April 21 or 22 depending on the sighting of the moon.
Email:homelandnewspaper@gmail.com
