Muslim holy month ends with feast

By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 16 May 2021, 6:00PM

Muslims in Samoa will conclude their holy month of Ramadan with a Sunday prayer and feast in Vaitele Fou.

About 60 people are expected to attend the prayer gathering and celebration that will be hosted at the Vaitele Fou home of Ishmael Adubofour, a Muslim Missionary and native of Ghana, Africa.

“It is a normal Muslim prayer and in praise of Allah (God) and thanking Him for the blessing of the Ramadan Fasting. There shall also be a feast of eating signifying the end of the Ramadan Fasting,” Mr. Adubofour told the Samoa Observer.  

“It is the members of my community that are coming for the prayer. But they are also encouraged to invite their friends and families. So we are expecting about 60 people or a little more.”

The religious celebration is called the Eid Al-Fitr which marks the end of the Ramadan Fasting, to thank God Almighty and appreciate the blessing of the month of Ramadan.

He drew a Scripture from the Holy Quran to explain the importance of fasting for Muslims. 

“This is a religious celebration observed on the day following the last day of fasting. It is a day of much rejoicing and happiness especially by those fortunate persons who observed the fasts and reaped the spiritual fruits of this holy exercise in accordance with the directions of God in the Holy Quran,” Mr. Adubofour said.

“The purpose of Fasting in Islam according to the Holy Quran is to make us righteous. "O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous. (2:184)”

Mr. Adubofour, who grew up in a Christian and Muslim home, also quoted The Holy Bible.

“The Bible also tells us that Prophet David declared ‘I humbled my soul with fasting’ (Psalms 35:13),” he said.

“On this day of Eid-ul-Fitr, much pleasure is derived from wearing new clothes, meeting friends and relatives and eating specially prepared food. These are all ways of celebrating the occasion.”

The main event is the religious service when one offers prayers and listens to the inspirational address of the Imam on relevant matters concerning the significance of the occasion, said Mr. Adubofour. 

“As the main purpose of fasting is to develop righteousness and self-purification, the most attractive garment one should be wearing is the one mentioned by God in the Holy Quran: The raiment of righteousness – that is the best. (7:27),” he said.

“The real food one should be enjoying is the spiritual nourishment acquired during the month of fasting. On this day, the Imam reminds the congregation of the righteous benefits they have achieved through the fasting, and task them to put whatever they have achieved into practice. Particularly, after experiencing the pangs of hunger, the Imam reminds them it was their duty to show kindness to the poor and hungry.”

The celebration starts at 10 am.

By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 16 May 2021, 6:00PM
Samoa Observer

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