Abuja, March 23, 2023 – Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, has advised Nigerian Muslims to emulate the exemplary life of humility, forgiveness and service to others of Prophet Muhammad.
He also advised them to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, self-discipline, goodwill, justice, tolerance, mercy, compassion and generosity that lie at the heart of Islam.
Tinubu, in a goodwill message on the occasion of Ramadan to Muslims in Abuja on Thursday, advised Muslims to imbibe the spirit and true meaning of Ramadan.
“As we begin this year’s Ramadan, I bring warm greetings and congratulations to all Muslims who have received the grace of Almighty Allah to witness this holy month.
“Ramadan is more than a month of fasting. We fast to strengthen our relationship and our appreciation of Allah.
“We fast to make ourselves better servants of both Allah and our fellow man. However, this month is more than abstention from food and drink from dawn to dusk.
“It must entail imbibing the spirit and true meaning behind the holy month. We must keep hold of the excellent and wonderful things the holy month of Ramadan signifies.
“As we embark on fasting and spiritual reflection, let us proceed, imbued with the spirit of sacrifice, self-discipline, goodwill, justice, tolerance, mercy, compassion and generosity that lie at the heart of Islam.
“Let us strive to emulate Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) example of humility, forgiveness, and service to others.
“Let us move in this way that we may make of ourselves a better people and nation in which all people, Muslim and non-Muslim, may live in trust, peace and justice as Allah would have it be.”
The President-elect also advised Muslims to engage in supplications to Allah for the country and leaders, stressing the nation’s diversity is for a purpose.
“We must join hands to bring progress in Nigeria by praying for unity and progress. The lessons of the holy month of Ramadan point to the success of unity, not the failure of division.
“May this Ramadan bring us all closer to Allah.
“May our fasting and prayers be accepted. May this holy month be a time of peace, unity and harmony in Nigeria and for all humanity.
“Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims in Nigeria and across the world!” (GBN)
