Editor’s note: This article examines the wonder and
uniqueness of the special month of Ramadan and how everyone including
non Muslims are eager to relate and associate with it.
READ ALSO: Ramadan’s Boundless Opportunities To Turn A New Leaf
It might surprise some individuals that why Obama? The simple reason is that everybody wants to be a part of Ramadan even if he or she is not a Muslim. This is the spirit of Ramadan which is about humility. This is why the month is the most cherished all over the world.
Obama made an important speech the day he hosted the dinner. He enlightened the world that people should be more tolerant towards the Muslims. According to the USA Today News he said: “Here in America, many people personally don’t know someone who is a Muslim. They mostly hear about Muslims in the news — and that can obviously lead to a very distorted impression.” He further advised people not to accept “those who seek to divide us by religion or race or sect.” He told a short story about a Mosque in Arizona where their leaders welcomed a group of protesters to the evening prayers (Maghrib and Isha’i).
The president said: “One demonstrator, who accepted the invitation later described how the experience changed him; how he finally saw the Muslim American community for what it is — peaceful and welcoming.” He added that, “that’s what can happen when we stop yelling and start listening.” The Washington Post also captioned the event when it said that the president also mentioned the story of Samantha Elauf, who went to the Supreme Court to defend the right to wear a hijab without sacrificing her job opportunities at Abercrombie & Fitch, where she won the case!
It should be noted that the two previous presidents before Obama (Bill Clinton & George Walker Bush) did hosted Muslims for iftaar dinners despite their different religion orientation.
The message from the current US president’s invitation for iftaar is that everybody wants to associate with the best, which is Ramadan. Interestingly, during the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and some other non Muslims Nigerian former presidents, they fasted and hosted Muslims for iftaar dinner. This is because they knew the importance of being a part of the month.
Allah loves mankind. He emphasises piety among them. He does not want human beings to separate themselves based on colour, language, race, caste, tribe, religion or whatever divides humanity. This was what Obama demonstrated to show the world that human beings are one and from one father. Allah said in chapter 49 verse 13 in the Glorious Qur’an that: “O mankind, indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you diverse people and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” The most righteous human being is the one with piety. Therefore, people should know that associating themselves based on compassion, but not distinction, is what Ramadan brings to mankind.
In a hadith in Tirmidhi, Allah Messenger(peace be upon his soul) said, according to Muadh bun Jabal (Allah be pleased with him): “Fear Allah wheresoever you may be; follow up an evil deed by a good one which will wipe the former out and behave good naturedly to people.”
Conclusively, associating with Ramadan is being warm and receptive to people in which Obama showed and this is one of the reasons everyone celebrates Ramadan when it comes annually.
This
article expresses the opinion of Oladele Hakeem. The views and opinions
expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com.
When
President Barack Hussein Obama of the USA hosted Muslims and other
guests to the Annual White House Dinner on Monday 22 June, 2015, it
might come to some people as a surprise, while it is not new to others.
This is because he has hosted at least five Ramadan iftaar dinner since
he became the president. What does this White House iftaar dinner
signifies? It means that the number one citizen of the world’s super
power knows the value of associating with Ramadan. Though, Obama is a
christian, he however recognises the fact that the spirit of one
brotherhood and living with one another is very important regardless of
socioeconomic status, which is what Ramadan brings to the table.READ ALSO: Ramadan’s Boundless Opportunities To Turn A New Leaf
It might surprise some individuals that why Obama? The simple reason is that everybody wants to be a part of Ramadan even if he or she is not a Muslim. This is the spirit of Ramadan which is about humility. This is why the month is the most cherished all over the world.
Obama made an important speech the day he hosted the dinner. He enlightened the world that people should be more tolerant towards the Muslims. According to the USA Today News he said: “Here in America, many people personally don’t know someone who is a Muslim. They mostly hear about Muslims in the news — and that can obviously lead to a very distorted impression.” He further advised people not to accept “those who seek to divide us by religion or race or sect.” He told a short story about a Mosque in Arizona where their leaders welcomed a group of protesters to the evening prayers (Maghrib and Isha’i).
The president said: “One demonstrator, who accepted the invitation later described how the experience changed him; how he finally saw the Muslim American community for what it is — peaceful and welcoming.” He added that, “that’s what can happen when we stop yelling and start listening.” The Washington Post also captioned the event when it said that the president also mentioned the story of Samantha Elauf, who went to the Supreme Court to defend the right to wear a hijab without sacrificing her job opportunities at Abercrombie & Fitch, where she won the case!
It should be noted that the two previous presidents before Obama (Bill Clinton & George Walker Bush) did hosted Muslims for iftaar dinners despite their different religion orientation.
The message from the current US president’s invitation for iftaar is that everybody wants to associate with the best, which is Ramadan. Interestingly, during the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and some other non Muslims Nigerian former presidents, they fasted and hosted Muslims for iftaar dinner. This is because they knew the importance of being a part of the month.
Allah loves mankind. He emphasises piety among them. He does not want human beings to separate themselves based on colour, language, race, caste, tribe, religion or whatever divides humanity. This was what Obama demonstrated to show the world that human beings are one and from one father. Allah said in chapter 49 verse 13 in the Glorious Qur’an that: “O mankind, indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you diverse people and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” The most righteous human being is the one with piety. Therefore, people should know that associating themselves based on compassion, but not distinction, is what Ramadan brings to mankind.
In a hadith in Tirmidhi, Allah Messenger(peace be upon his soul) said, according to Muadh bun Jabal (Allah be pleased with him): “Fear Allah wheresoever you may be; follow up an evil deed by a good one which will wipe the former out and behave good naturedly to people.”
Conclusively, associating with Ramadan is being warm and receptive to people in which Obama showed and this is one of the reasons everyone celebrates Ramadan when it comes annually.