Armed Forces Chief Imam urges Moslems to eschew violence

Major Yusif Mesah Shamsudiin, Chief Imam, Ghana Armed forces (GAF) on Saturday urged Muslims especially the youth to avoid any violent acts and maintain the peaceful coexistence; of which every Ghanaian is proud off.

He advised them to utilize the lessons learnt in the month of Ramadan, such as patience, tolerance, self-control, self-discipline and self-denial to promote religious tolerance.

“Let us not permit Satan to erode the gains and virtues we have obtained in the month of Ramadan 2015,” Major Shamsudiin advised in his 2015 Eid-Al-Fitr sermon, at the Al-Aziz Central Mosque, Burma Camp, Accra; on the theme “Tranquility and Cooperation, a Prerequisite for Development.”

He said tranquility is vital and essential for every individual, family, community, district, region, country and the entire world; stating that “tranquility and cooperation can surely pave the way for development”.

“Let us all cooperate in our homes, marital life, work places, campaigns, rallies, worship places or even on our sick beds,” he added.

Vice Admiral Matthew Quashie, the Chief of Defence Staff, GAF, in a statement read on his behalf, exhorted Muslims to adhere to the values of resilience, tenacity and patience, that are part of the range of values the Ghana Armed Forces seeks to inculcate in all serving officers, men, women and civilian employees.

“It is only by demonstrating love and understanding for one another and the nation that you would have allowed your spiritual angle to impact on your mundane life, as you persevere through this all important religious observance,” he stated.

Muslims practice sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan, which is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam. As with other Islamic duties, all able Muslims take part in sawm from about age twelve.

During Ramadan Muslim families get up early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises, after the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as iftar.

Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost.

In Islam fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind and in this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers.

Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, literally meaning the "Festival of Breaking the Fast.

Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (the other, Eid ul Adha, occurs after the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca).

At Eid al-Fitr, people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family.

A sense of generosity and gratitude colours these festivities, although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan.