Source: graphic.com.gh

The Head and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, has urged all Muslims in the county to join in the effort to salvage the image of Islam.

Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Mr Asiedu Nketia, the General Secretary of the NDC, and Alhaji Baba Kamara, Presidential Security Adviser, joined in the prayers as Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam, prayed for the nation. Pictures: EBOW HANSON

He said the image of Islam had been bruised and sullied by some ill-informed and misguided Muslims in recent times. However, in salvaging the image, he said, there was the need for every Muslim to be careful of their actions and their utterances since that would go a long way in shaping the image of the religion.

“We must all resolve to ensure that this sullied image is salvaged, and that we, as Muslims, stay together in unity without giving vent to our sectarian diversity,” he said.

Maulvi Salih made the call when hundreds of Ahmadiyya faithful gathered at the Bustan-e-Ahmad at Ashongman in Accra last Saturday to pray for the country to mark the celebration of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

About the Eid-ul-Fitr

The celebration follows the observation of a 30-day month of Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, during which Muslims abstain from food or drinks from dusk to dawn.

The purpose of the period, among others, is for Muslims to get closer to Allah through a spiritual act of worship.

Maulvi Salih said it was only after uniting that “we Muslims in Ghana can bring our positive influence to bear on the development of this country of ours, for ourselves, and for posterity”.

Lessons of Ramadan

On Ramadan, he said, the period had the primary objective of laying a solid foundation not only for moral uprightness and spiritual development but was also to unite people with the underprivileged in society.

He added that an important condition of fasting was avoidance of falsehood, foul and indecent language, violent behaviour and infringing on the rights of others.

“The act of fasting is, therefore, meant to correct this unfortunate situation by stimulating man’s spirituality. It is also to remind us that man is not made of flesh, bones and blood but also the spirit of Allah which He breathed into all created human beings, ” he said.

Therefore, Maulvi Salih said as individuals, Muslims had a lot to learn from fasting when it came to the values of responsible citizenship, tolerance, civility and mutual respect.

“Let this Eid, therefore, be a reminder to us as a nation, and particularly as Muslims to cling firmly to these lofty ideals, even after Ramadan. This way, we can achieve good neighbourliness as well as smooth and harmonious nation building”, he said.

Peaceful coexistence commendable

In his address, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, urged all Muslims to continue to allow Allah to guide them throughout the month of Ramadan to continue to direct their speech, behaviour and conduct as politicians, religious leaders, …read more at graphic.com.gh