SIXTH ARTICLE:
N
igeria
is a home of temptations. The agents of Satan are many and ubiquitous.
They are most active in the sacred month of Ramadan. You will meet them
in the neighbourhood, in offices, in commuter buses, in the markets and
on the roads. Like Satanic rainbow, they come in various colours
carrying with them all sorts of tempting arsenals. Some of them are men.
Most are women.
Their temptations come in different forms
and shapes. Some will make jest of you in a provocative way. Some will
deliberately bring food to your presence and start eating right in front
of you. Some will pretend not to be aware that you are fasting and,
therefore, offer you alcoholic drinks. Some women will tempt you with
the most sensitive contours of their bodies. The powders on their faces
and other cosmetic materials with which some of them are decorated alone
are enough to disarm you spiritually if you are not a formidable type.
Their antics are many. But your resistance to all these is the most
vital ingredient for the acceptance of your fast by Allah. This is a
situation in which Muslims are expected to close their eyes and their
minds at the same time. They should close their eyes to any eyesore and
close their minds to all spiritual irritants.
In no Islamic
society can such temptations be experienced. In any sane Muslim society,
it is a punishable offence to deliberately tempt or provoke fasting
Muslims in the month of Ramadan. As a matter of fact, all food vendors
and restaurants are statutorily prohibited from operating in the days of
Ramadan. They can only trade in the nights. And of course, there is
nothing like alcohol or nudism in such societies even outside the sacred
month.
Resistance to temptation in Ramadan is a function of
two things: high level of discipline and strong faith in Allah. Any
Muslim who lacks these two is surely bereft of the necessary armour
against temptation. Ramadan in the life of a Muslim is like a delicious
food given to a hungry man. If he handles it carelessly, it may end up
in the belly of a goat. Satan is always on standby to snatch any reward
accruing to pious Muslims from good deeds. To avoid becoming a victim of
satanic machination therefore, do not be careless with Allah’s bounties
for you in this sacred month.
Dr.Femi Abbas is a columinst at The Nation and can be reached via: E-mail: femabbas756@gmail.com Tel: 08115708536 (Text only)
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