Scholars urge Muslims to help weaker sections of society during holy month of Ramadan

Ramadan speeches by Indian Islamic scholars are attracting large crowds in different parts of the UAE.

Speakers at these annual Ramadan programmes are urging participants to follow the spirit of the holy month by helping the poor and weaker sections of society, including children, who are often subject to various forms of violence and exploitation.

Sheikh Hussain Salafi has been giving speeches in Sharjah and Kerala for the past nearly two decades. In his Ramadan Forum speech to a Malayalm speaking audience, he said torturing children or prisoners is against the spirit of Ramadan and that violence and terrorism is not a solution to the problems confronting the world.

He said Ramadan is an occasion to do charity and other good deeds like respecting one’s parents, old people, women and children and to protect the environment.

Referring to the recent case of Shafeeq, a five year old boy in Kerala who was tortured with an iron rod by his father and foster mother, he said: “This is against the spirit of Ramadan. The Holy Quran urges people not to harm children, not even the fetus through abortion. So torturing a five-year old boy is inhuman and against the spirit of Islam.

“You should respect your aged parents and parents should love their children. The number of old age homes is increasing, aged parents are being abandoned and some expatriate Indians are reluctant to speak to their parents over the phone. They speak for long with their wives, but when their parents take up the phone, they disconnect the line. Expatriate Indians should respect their parents and talk to them with love and compassion,” said Sheikh Hussain Salafi.

He said the Quran mentions about the need to save water and the environment, hundreds of years before the United Nations started World Environment Day. A true Muslim should take care of not only his family but also ensure that his neighbours have sufficient food.

He said the initiative by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide new clothes to one million poor children is an ideal gesture of generosity in the spirit of Ramadan. He advised community leader to follow suit and help needy people in their neighbourhood, work place or even in other countries.

Thousands of people from all emirates crowded the Zabeel Hall of the Dubai World Trade Centre and listened to the nearly two-hour speech by Sheikh Hussain Salafi that covered many aspects of modern life and the Holy Quran.

M M Akbar, another Indian Islamic scholar, said during a programme organised jointly by the Holy Quran Award Committee and the Indian Islahi Centre that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) followed all the rules of war and respected even the prisoners of war. He said the Prophet and his followers respected the human rights of even their enemies.

Islamic scholar Sheikh Kanthapuram Aboobaker urged people to obtain blessings in the holy month by doing the maximum possible charity. He said Islam is against begging and it is wrong to beg during Ramadan. Hajj and Umrah pilgrims should ensure that they do not have any communicable diseases and take vaccination, he said.

Speaking at the Abu Dhabhi Da Irathul Mia Masjid, Sheikh Kanthapuram said it is the duty of Muslims to give food to the hungry, irrespective of the recipients’ religion or nationality.

Sirajul islami Balussery moderated the session.

The Multaq Ramadan Forum is organised by the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).


 

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