This year’s Ramadan more spiritual than ever – Sheikh Aremeyaw
A Moslem cleric, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, says this year’s Ramadan will be more spiritual than ever.
According to him, the scourge of coronavirus pandemic across the globe had made it crucial for all Moslems to commit to this year’s spiritual journey by going into a solemn mood.
Speaking in an interview on Starr FM, monitored by theghanareport.com, Sheikh Aremeyaw said the Islamic faithful must seek the face of God to understand why COVID-19 has befallen the world.
“Ramadan this year is our Cave of Hira. We’re all going to enter into it, and get into a state of meditation and reflection, especially trying to understand God’s purpose in bringing us into this state of the COVID-19, and what it means to us, bringing the whole world into a state of standstill. There’s a lesson and message divine for us to learn,” he said in the interview.
The Cave of Hira near Mecca was the venue from where the first words of divine revelation were said to have descended upon Prophet Muhammad to light up the universe. At a height of 634 meters in the Jabal Al-Nour, the Cave of Hira is four kilometres away from the Kaaba in Mecca.
The month-long fasting period starts on April 23 and ends on May 23. During the period, the faithful fast during the daylight hours. They can eat before sunrise and break their fast after dusk each day.
This year’s spiritual journey will be different from previous years due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Ghana which has led to the closure of all mosques across the country.
The government banned on all forms of public gatherings including religious activities which required persons to come together in large numbers.
Globally, Ramadan will be affected by the outbreak of coronavirus. Islamic holy sites, including Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia and Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, will be empty during Ramadan after authorities advised worshipers to pray at home.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem — Islam’s third holiest place — will also remain closed during Ramadan, the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Council said Thursday.