Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad, a businessman and a religious leader, is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Mosque, Abuja. In this interview by TAOFEEK LAWAL, he speaks on what should be after the 2024 Ramadan fast, as well as religion and ethnicity vis-a-vis the promotion of national unity and development.
With the holy month of Ramadan gone, what should be uppermost in the minds of Muslims?
We just passed through a special month – a very important month in which the Glorious Qur’an was revealed. It was a month of increased devotion to Allah. The Qur’an says that Ramadan fast is made obligatory on us so that we may have the chance to come closer to Allah, to keep our duty to Him, to have more taqwa (fear of Allah) and to have more faith in Him. It was a training period for us to do more good for our own benefit and to grow healthier because Ramadan has medical benefits. It was a month consecrated and dedicated to the reading and studying of the Qur’an. It was a month of giving.
The scholars say that the way you know whether your fasting and other acts of devotion have been accepted or whether you hit it Lailatul Qadr (Night of Majesty, which is found within the last 10 days of Ramadan) is that your life changes for the better after Ramadan. You will not go back to what your life used to be before Ramadan, spiritually, socially and otherwise.
We should not forget about all those things we did in the month of Ramadan: helping the needy, reading the Qur’an frequently and prayers and fasting. We should try to maintain the tempo of devotion and consciousness of Allah that we exhibited in Ramadan and this should be with us continuously.
What should be the roles of religious leaders when a country is going through what Nigeria is experiencing presently? What should they be telling their followers?
In difficult times such as this, religious leaders should speak to the leaders and the led. And I think the religious leaders are doing well. The scholars have dedicated a great part of their sermons and tafsir (lectures) to getting the people to return to Allah and seek forgiveness, because test comes whether in affluence or in tribulations. And after every test, there will be ease, and there will be affluence. If we are patient and we revert to Allah and do the right thing, the bad times will be changed to better ones. Better days are coming, insha Allah.
I must say the leaders have also tried because they listen to what the scholars have been telling them. They have done a lot to alleviate the suffering of the people, especially during Ramadan. Foodstuffs were distributed to the poor in many mosques. The president should be commended for doing this through the Office of his Chief of Staff. This was an outstanding innovation by the Bola Tinubu administration; contacting the people through the right channels, the religious establishments. They did that, and it was very effective. This is commendable and they should continue. And of course, they are conscious of the fact that it is not only Muslims that are in Nigeria, they are also doing the same thing with the Christians. Coming governments should learn from this template, improve upon it and continue. I think if you criticise, you should also praise somebody if they do the right thing. This government has tried to reach those people who need to be assisted, especially during Ramadan.
Religion and ethnicity have created so much division in Nigeria. How does the country come together to achieve growth and development and become the envy of others in the comity of nations?
It is all about education, tolerance and the orientation of the people. We should respect each other. No tribe is lower than another. When God created us, He said he made us into nations and tribes so that we may recognise one another, and not look down on one another. We are all the same. Allah says the differences in our languages and colours are part of His signs. We are all from the same source, same beginning.
To achieve national development, we must see ourselves as Nigerians and ignore any division, because when there is a problem, we are in it together. Those saddled with the responsibility to look after our affairs should be fair and just to all. Nigeria should be their immediate concern and not any other considerations.
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