Muslims Advised To Pray For War Victims This Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and this week Muslims worldwide begin to fast; it is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam.
The Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan and Muslims are enjoined to read it most during the season and ask Allah for forgiveness.
“During Ramadan, we not only fast or pray, but visit the less fortunate, do charity, share food with others and spend time praying for peace and unity especially for those in war zones,” the Vice Chairman Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly (UMYA),
Imam Kasozi, said. In that light, a German-based relief and solidarity organisation known as Hasene with their local partners the Humanitarian Efforts And Relief Uganda (HEAR Uganda) have donated 700 food packages worth Shs 70m to poor Muslims in the country for breaking their fast.
Amputee Bashiri Muse Farah, 51, is among hundreds of poor Muslims who received the food packages at Kampala High School over the weekend.
A Somali refugee, Farah’s leg was cut off in 2011 following an al-Shabaab attack in Somalia.
“[Many people died in the attack, but] I survived by luck because they shot the leg. The bullet got stuck in the bone and I took long to be rescued hence the leg developed infection. By the time they rescued me, there was no option but to amputate it since the infection was spreading so fast and I almost died,” he said.
Farah told The Observer last week he came to Uganda in 2011, and has lost contact with his family and prays to reunite with them one day.
“Although I am moving with one leg, it doesn’t stop me from fasting and praising Allah, who is still keeping me alive. I thank HEAR Uganda and Hasene for remembering the poor during Ramadan,” he said.
Uganda’s vice chairman Ahmad Sentamu said the other beneficiaries of these packages include widows, orphans, old people, the sick, people with disabilities and women with children.
“We are donating this food because people are poor and can’t afford to buy food during Ramadan. It is also a command from God to share the little one you have in Ramadan,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Mariam Nakabuye, said her family will fast peacefully since their fitar has been sorted.
“I was worried of how I would complete this month without food and yet I have children who also fast, but thank God; you have really saved us the widows,” she said after receiving her package.
Nakabuye pledged to use her food carefully so that it stretches to Idd day. Sentamu said they use village imams to select beneficiaries in their areas before they distribute packages.
They register them in advance and give them cards for proper identification as they receive goods and also to avoid corruption.
Hasene’s representative Mustafu Javuz said they donate food to share with others and are guided by the Qur’an.
“God says in the Qur’an, you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God (2:183),” he said.
Javuz said Prophet Muhammad said whoever helps a fasting person break his/her fast gets a reward.
He said fasting is observed as an act of obedience to God, and according to Prophet Muhammad, whoever fasts and prays during Ramadan with pure intentions will have their past sins forgiven.
The items donated include rice, posho, cooking oil, wheat, copies of the Qur’an and some fruit plantlets to encourage people to plant trees for food, shelter and protection of our environment. Javuz said Hasene donates food in 80 countries of Africa, Asia and Central America.

Source: The Observer