Ramadan: Cleric, doctor on what should be done

The month of Ramadan is a holy one, during which Muslim faithful observe fast. NAJIB SANI looks at how faithful should conduct themselves, based on interactions with a medical doctor and Islamic cleric
Five pillars of Islam Ramadan fast which is one of the five pillars of Islam and religious obligations is characterized by total abstinence from eating, drinking and sex from dawn to dusk for 29 to 30 consecutive days by all healthy and matured Muslim faithful in the month the world over.
The month of Ramadan is the ninth in the Islamic calendar and commences only when the moon is sighted and announced by an Islamic leader. Although, hunger and thirst are being experienced during the fasting period, Muslims all over the world regard Ramadan as an exalted month that is bestowed with Allah’s blessings, mercy and forgiveness. As this year’s fasting commences, how are muslim faithful expected to behave and how can they get the best out of the holy month? Should they continue the way they have been during the previous months?
Islamic clerics have answers for these questions. In an exclusive chat with Blueprint, Malam Yahaya Maitauhidi, who is a popular Islamic Preacher in Bauchi said for muslims to get the best out of the Ramadan, they must exhibit high level of good conducts and behaviours and shun all immoralities such as telling lies, gossips, fights, betrayals, abusive utterances, fornication, drug abuse among others. Unruly behaviours He noted that if somebody who fasts does not desist from such unruly behaviours, his hunger and thirst are worthless for he may not get the expected reward from the almighty Allah.
According to Maitauhidi, muslims should imbibe all positive characters and devout themselves to the worshipping of the almighty Allah in Ramadan more than they have been doing in other times. He also called on all well to do people to assist the less privileged in the month with food and other basic needs pointing out that the fasting is aimed at making the rich in the society to feel the hunger experienced by the poor.
The Islamic cleric also appealed to traders not to increase the prices of their commodities as they used to do during Ramadans even as he quoted the prophet [SAW] as saying that anybody who feeds a person that is fasting, will get reward equivalent to what the faster will get.
Insecurity and crises The renowned Bauchi based preacher also called for consistent prayers from muslims for the numerous problems bedevilling the country such as insecurity and crises during the holy month as according to him prayers are the only solutions to the endemic challenges faced in the nation and Ramadan is the best period for prayers. He however explained that some categories of people such as the sick ones, travellers, pregnant women, minors and the aged who cannot fast are exempted from fasting.
`He said the pregnant women and sick people who cannot fast should defer it until when they regain their health, strength while people who are too old or have perpetual diseases that prevent them from fasting should feed the needy throughout the month of Ramadan instead of fasting. This is just as the Islamic preacher noted that travellers embarking on long journeys can also defer it till they settle at their destinations while children are totally exempted but might partake in the fasting in order to acquaint and prepare themselves for it adulthood. Apart from the expected rewards from the almighty Allah, does fasting have any other additional benefits to the humans?
Medical purposes Physicians answered in the affirmative while talking to Blueprint as they explained that it is used for several medical purposes. Dr Hassan Mohammed Garba, a medical Director at the Pahlycon Hospital, Bauchi, asserted that researches have shown that fasting reduces the risks of cancer, diabetes mellitus, blood pressure, stress and increases the life span of the faster among other health benefits. He added that fasting is also used for medical purpose like during surgery operation. “Patients undergoing surgery are being asked to fast for about 8 to 12 hours so as to have a successful operation.
The Physician said.
He however explained that those whose ulcer worsened cannot fast just as he noted that it does not cause the disease. Dr Garba, just like the Islamic clerics has proffered some medical advice to people on how to cope with the fasting period. “During the fasting period, people should eat balanced diets, vegetables and fruits because they are very important to health” he advised. But the doctor has warned people on taking excess food during ‘suhur’ or heavy food during fast break (Iftar) and other foods that may cause them diarrhea, adding that doing very hard jobs is not also recommended for somebody who fasts. It was gathered that whenever Ramadan comes, Muslims faithful do change their life styles completely in terms of characters, behaviours and food they eat because they believe that the month is unique, exalted and holy

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