The New Patriotic Party has extended its best wishes to Muslims throughout the country for a happy Ramadan, which begins on Saturday, June 28, 2014.
“It is the month in which Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with a simple word - iqra. It is, therefore, a time when Muslims reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith and the responsibility that people have to one another and to God,” a statement from the party and signed by Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, General Secretary, said.
According to the party, “like many people of different faiths who have known Ramadan through our communities and families, we know this to be a festive time; a time when families gather, friends host iftars and meals are shared. It is also a time of intense devotion and reflection; a time when Muslims fast during the day and perform Tarawih prayers at night, reciting and listening to the entire Koran over the course of the month.”
It said “these rituals reminded us of the principles we hold in common as Ghanaians and we in the NPP look forward to continually dialogue on the very important national issues with the Cleric, the Imams and the entire Muslim community to build a more tolerant, united and productive country.
Relatedly, two presidential hopefuls of the party, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, have also sent similar wishes to Muslims.
In seperate statements, the two wished Muslims good fortune, a happy Ramadan and extended fraternal greetings to all Muslims in Ghana and across the world.
Akufo-Addo
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, as Muslims prepared to start the fast of Ramadan, he restated that “Ramadan is a period of intense devotion and reflection - a time when Muslims fast during the day and perform prayers at night, reciting and listening to the entire Qur’an over the course of the month. This rigours activity undertaken by devout Muslims inspire respect for Islam among people of all faiths and this can bring hope of greater understanding for good will.”
“Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may ward off evil”, so states the Qur’an. It is,therefore, my prayer that Muslims will use this holy month of Ramadan to pray to Allah to ward off the evils that plague our society and draw us back – corruption,nepotism, ethnicity, hate politics, poverty, ignorance and disease.
Ramadan should unite us and instil in us fellow-feeling so that we can create a society where Allah is truly our anchor against the storms of life,” he said.
Alan Kyeremanten
Mr Kyeremanten said during this month Muslims were enjoined to fast and devote themselves totally to the will and submission of Allah.
“It is also a time for thoughtful reflection, righteousness, compassion, forgiveness and the show of love to one another.
“It is, therefore, binding on all Muslims to be mindful of these virtues that will draw them closer to Allah and also to help shape society”, he concluded.
Source: Daily Graphic
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