The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has urged Muslims to use the Ramadan period to pray for Nigeria as the country tackles the COVID-19 scourge.
In his Ramadan message to Muslims yesterday in Abuja, Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, stated that prayer was necessary at this period when the Covid-19 pandemic has demoralised the world, with a lockdown that is hindering people from performing their legitimate duties to earn their livelihood.
Hassan urged Nigerians to adhere strictly to directives of the Presidential Committee on COVID-19 on social distancing and personal hygiene in order to stave off the spread of the virus. He further Muslims to always respect constituted authorities, saying it is a key principle of Islam.
The NAHCON chair stated: “As a Muslim, I cannot think of a better idea than to call on the Muslim Ummah to use this occasion to pray conscientiously to the Almighty Allah to protect us from this calamity and terminate the pandemic, for the world to return to its normal activities.
“Similarly, the sublime month of Ramadan is a period of retreat; retreat from worldly treats to spiritual sobriety; a retreat from selfishness to sharing and caring.
“Ramadan is a time of showing appreciation to the Almighty and to fellow humans who must have impacted in one’s life one way or the other. Although we do this every other day, however, the special occasion inspires us to do more.”