Rotary Club of Kaduna has tasked Nigerians to imbibe peaceful coexistence as part of the teachings of the Ramadan fasting to end the banditry, kidnapping and insecurity ravaging parts of the country.
President Rotary Club of Kaduna, Joyceline Anagende, told a Peace Symposium /Iftar (breaking fast) jointly organised in Kaduna with Muslim Peace Network and Justice Development and Peace Communication, that “one of the seven areas of focus in Rotary is peace and conflict resolution.
“Which is why Rotary Club of Kaduna in partnership with Muslim Peace Network and JDPC organise the symposium to preach peace. There are crises, insecurity, kidnapping across the country, which is why we are here.”
The Executive Director, Muslim Peace Network, Malam Hussein Makanjuola said peace is key in every life, family and community. “Justice and equity have disappeared in our midst today, but if we bring them back, we would bring back peace.”
A guest lecturer, Imam AbdulSalam AbdulKadir, while delivering a lecture titled ‘Peace Building and Lessons of the Holy Month of Ramadan’, said God ordained fasting for Prophet Muhammed and other prophets to teach mankind peaceful coexistence, patience and perseverance. He said God ordained fasting for Zachariah and Mary as indication of accepting his prayer and to protect her respectively.
“Allah prescribes fasting for Muslims just as He prescribed it for all nations and generations before the Prophet. Ramadan fasting prepares Muslims for peace and how to act for the next 11 months. Zakariyau at age 102 years was asked to go for three days fasting and not to talk to anybody, as a sign that his wife will conceive the pregnancy of Yahaya.
“Allah ordained fasting for us to be at peace. Fasting is not just abstaining from food, water and your partner but to abstain from anything that can cause trouble in the society and to make you more pious. The month of Ramadan is also a month of patience. If you are fasting and you are fighting, stealing, lying, killing, causing trouble, insulting people, Allah says its better not to waste your time to fast.”
