•Why Dr. GANIYAT TIJANI-ADENLE, LASU Snr. Lecturer
Dr. Ganiyat Tijani-Adenle is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Journalism at the Lagos State University. She is a caller to Islam. A few days back, she was one of the 2 Speakers who spoke at the 14th Ramadan Lecture organised by the LTV/Radio Lagos in remembrance of late Alhaji Kafaru Oluwole Tinubu. She spoke on the Societal impact of Cultural Imperialism on Moral decadence: the Islamic alternatives and Panacea. It was a very brilliant presentation as she held the audience at De Blue Roof Event Centre, inside LTV spell bound. Days after the lecture, City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE got her to talk about the significance of Ramadan.
Below are excerpts.
We are in the Holy month of Ramadan. What is holy expected of a good Muslim?
The month of Ramadan is a month of forgiveness, mercy and blessings from Allah. A Muslim shouldn’t witness Ramadan and not be able to earn Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and blessings in the month.
In fact, the Prophet SAW said Amin to a prayer made by Angel Jubril against any Muslim who witnesses Ramadan and refuses to take advantage of it.
The way to earn Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and blessings in the month of Ramadan is by doing lots of worship, giving to the poor and the needy, avoiding sins, upholding family ties and being merciful to others.
How can a good Muslim take advantage of the Holy Month of Ramadan?
A Muslim can take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan by ensuring that each day is better than the previous one. They are to try to give, no matter how little. Even water or helping people or smiling is charity. They are to observe tahajjud (the night prayer) even if it is just 2 rakaah. They should observe nawafil and not just the compulsory prayers.
They should read the Quran even if they are struggling and haven’t perfected it. There is double rewards for those who are in this category. Worse case scenario, they should read the English Quran if they can’t read Arabic at all.
They should forgive those who have wronged them and ask forgiveness from those that they have wronged.
They should give people their dues and do all the good actions to Allah …
Why do Muslims take the month of Ramadan seriously?
Muslims take the month of Ramadan so seriously because it is the best month. There is a grand bonanza or sale from God Almighty in this month. You get uncountable rewards for single deeds, you get forgiveness for all your previous sins, you have the opportunity of changing your destiny on the night of majesty and you get blessings and mercies that are ONLY available in this month.
Fasting is a key component of Ramadan.Why is that so?
There is no Ramadan without fasting, although Allah Has exempted some people like those who are old, sick, pregnant, mentally unstable etc.
He says in Quran 2 verse 183 that , “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness.”
Fasting cautions us, it restricts us from frivolities and also enables us to understand what the weak and the less privileged are going through.
It is also the customs of all Muslims and all the Prophets that God Almighty sent to this world from Prophet Adam (the first) and Muhammad SAW (the last).
You delivered a very inspiring Ramadan lecture recently at LTV premises.What was the thrust of your message?
The thrust of the message is that as parents, elders and leaders in the community, we castigate our youths as being unserious, following Western culture etc, but in reality, we are the ones at fault because we have failed these kids; we have failed to guide them and provide a good foundation that can help them withstand the pressures of globalisation and Western civilization.
So, we need to look inward and ask ourselves why we got it wrong and think of what to do to improve it, rather than passing the bulk to the youths
