Behold The Ramadan

Islam's holy month of Ramadan enters its tenth day today. Religious obligations of the status of the Ramadan fasting are periods of trials for the faithful: they test the endurance and faith levels of the faithful as it is being done now.

Fasting indeed is not limited to the abstinence from food and bodily pleasures from dawn to dusk as demanded of Muslims at this time. It goes beyond that, entailing moments of reflection and appreciation of what hunger and deprivation are.

With adequate appreciation of hunger and abstinence in general, the faithful is able to gauge better the state of the world's poor and to imbibe the spirit of stretching helping hands to the needy: the challenges of poverty and hunger around the globe are real and the earlier humanity in areas of plentiful appreciate this reality and therefore devise means of tackling it the better. What better period than during fasting to understand what hunger is and to empathise with those in that situation.

The spirit of charity, which fasting as prescribed to Muslims teaches us, when continued – even after the period under review – will go a long way in ensuring a dignified life for the poor.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barak Obama, in their annual Ramadan messages to their peoples, saluted the faithful undertaking the spiritual exercise, as they pointed out the importance of the lessons of fasting.

David Cameron's recall of how Islam in Britain is the largest source of charity in this year's Ramadan message is instructive and worthy of consideration by Muslims in Ghana.

In a country with a large Muslim followership, applying the spirit of charity as done by their counterparts in Britain and elsewhere and as demanded by their faith can make critical differences in the lives of the downtrodden and poor.

President Obama talked about the reflection about life, its challenges, especially justice, in his speech which for us, is apt in a society which is riddled with iniquities and injustice, especially among elites and the political leadership.

If only Muslims, especially those in Ghana, would appreciate better the importance of the Ramadan fasting and apply the lessons thereof, the true picture of Islam would be painted for the ignorant to see and appreciate.

It is regrettable that a disciplined religion such as Islam – regarded as a complete way of life – would harbour miscreants in the nation's slums – some of who are ready to misconduct themselves even in this holy month.

There are those who abstain from food and water but would be denied the blessings that go with this holy month because of the breaches they perpetuate.

As Barack Obama and David Cameron pointed out, we must reflect deeply about our communities.

In Ghana there are a lot to contemplate about. Bad governance, corruption and electoral thieveries should be avoided if we want to be blessed by our Maker.

Perhaps the intractable challenges we are encountering in the economy and nation in general are attributable to these iniquities.

Ramadan Kareem