…Soaked in sweat as though standing in the rain, the population of faithful; toe to toe, shoulder to shoulder stand submissive in supplication, reflected in Jumu’at prayers
…See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, vendetta rather than forgiveness remains for the corrosive, corrupt mind…
Adamu Muhammad Dodo
Although the heatwave, characterised by soaring temperatures, exacerbating discomfort that requires shielding under befitting shade will not be a barrier to worship.
The population of worshippers are far beyond the capacity the mosque buildings could get to accommodate; It’s a Friday, in the month of Ramadan, the faithful trooped to the Masjid for Jumuat prayers from 1pm; standing under the scorching sun to observe the two obligatory supplications.
Soaked in sweat as though standing in the rain, the population of faithful toe to toe, shoulder to shoulder stand submissive in supplication; the sun is not to be a barrier, like a cracked wall, between the creature and the Creator for Satan, already in chains, to cash in.
In spite of the observation by experts that the sun, especially at its heat peak, poses risks to human health, the fasting faithful would resolve that a few minutes’ supplication under the sun reminds one how unhealthy the hell could harmful be.
What this suggests is that the blessed month has fortified the faithful from being bewitching into being Satan stained to sinning; it is after all, scholars would sermonise, caged from the devilish deception.
Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him said :”When the month of Ramadan begins, the doors of mercy are opened up, the doors of Hell are locked and the devils are chained,” (Hadith; Reported by Abu Hurayrah, collected by Imam An-Nasa’I in Al-Kubara 2421)
Explaining the devils are chained, Imam in a Qutba related that it has two possible meanings; “The devils are actually shackled and confined to Hell. Therefore, their harm and whispers during Ramadhan aren’t like any other month. The gates of Paradise are open is the literal meaning”.
Some scholars say this is in the figurative sense. Hence it means Allah has opened up the doors of Jannah by opening up the actions that lead the faithful to Jannah.
“For instance, praying, fasting, and reading the Qur’an are actions that assist a person to enter Jannah.
“The road to Paradise during Ramadan is easier; since deeds practiced during this month are more likely to be accepted.
“The doors of Hell are locked… infers that the avenues to sin are shut down and for that reason, a person leaves off the actions that would land him in the Hell-fire.
“Allah doesn’t take a person to account for his bad deeds; and He saves him by blessing the servant with a month full of blessings; He exchanges the person’s bad deeds with good ones and pardons him for his previous sins. This is one interpretation for the meaning of the phrase; the doors of Hell are locked.
“The doors of Hell are locked… This shouldn’t be interpreted to mean that if a disbeliever dies in Ramadan that he won’t be punished during this period.
“The devils are chained… This implies that Allah protects the majority of the Muslims from committing acts of disobedience, giving ear to the whispers of Satan and his comrades”.
Most Muslims? Yes! The hard hearts have not taken to purity, to put away the sinning thoughts; it may not be soaring but there are pockets of crime, corruption, fraud and feud even though it’s a blessed month in which to see no evil, to speak no evil, to hear. A month of sympathy, empathy and generosity…
To be continued