Starting from Thursday, 23rd March, 2023, Muslims across the globe commenced fasting after sighting the new moon marking the Holy Month of Ramadhan of the Islamic calendar.
Malawi Muslims also began fasting on the same day following the announcement by the National Moonsighting Committee (NMC) that the new moon of Ramadhan had been sighted Wednesday, evening.
Contrary to the previous years, this year, some Muslims are fasting while in the camps due to the effects caused by cyclone freddy that claimed lives and destroyed property in 14 districts in the southern region of Malawi.
Despite being in the camps, these Muslims are demanded to fast to fulfil a very important pillar of Islam. To them, fasting this year may be very different. Very unique and special.
It is important for Malawi Muslim authorities to have an exact number of Muslims residing in the camps to support them accordingly and effectively. But do we have an exact number of Muslims in the camps?
If yes, then, the authorities are doing a commendable job. If no, then we need to assign people to tabulate the statistics of the brothers and sisters who are staying in these camps. It is very important to have the exact number and where they are exactly residing amid the effects caused by a natural calamity.
These brothers and sisters in the camps need our support to fulfil their obligatory activity, fasting . For example, they need food for Iftar and Suhr. Have we tried to find out if they are having Iftar and Suhr to enjoy their fasting? We need to find out as a community.
These brothers and sisters also need to be observing all the five prayers in these camps plus Tarwehy. Do they have playing mat or better playing areas to make their prayers fruitful and acceptable ? Do they have Sheikhs to lead them in prayers ? It is us, the Muslims who are not in these camps to make sure that they are having these resources.
Our brothers and sisters in the camps also need to have clean clothes to purify themselves inorder for them to be eligible to pray. As Muslims, are we supplying washing and bathing soap to help them be clean always ? It is our role to make sure that our brothers and sisters are having these basic needs.
Then, we should also make sure that we have supplied copies of the Holy Qur’an in the camps to enable our brothers and sisters read the verses from Allah. It is very important that they should always be in touch with Allah during their stay in the camps.
Finally, we should always be visiting these brothers and sisters in the camps to motivate them spiritually. Have authorities assembled Muslim clerics (Sheikhs) or other people with vast knowledge of Islam to be visiting these brothers and sisters in the camps ?
It is very important because it will show them that the entire Muslim community in the country is sympathizing with them. The approach will motivate our brothers and sisters and make them feel and appreciate our love , care and support.
I am sure we would love to be treated the same if it were us in the same situation. Fasting amid the effects of tropical cyclone freddy : Do we have the exact number of Muslims in the camps ?
Feedback: malengabright@gmail.com.
