Invite your Christian brothers and sisters to your Iftar programmes – Imam Hassan Nombre

The Greater Accra Bissa Chief Imam Hassan Uthman Nombre has charged Muslims in the Bissa fraternity to extend invitations to their Christian brothers and sisters to their special iftar banquets, saying it’s offers one of the “finest opportunity to strengthen ‘Zekula'”.

He said the Bissa fraternity can take advantage of the Ramadan to bridge the religious gaps between families, urging the Bissa Christian kinsmen to equally accept such invites when they come.

Iftar, simply means a meal to break one’s fast at sunset.

While others may choose to break their fast privately with their nuclear family, open Iftar is gaining prominence among some Muslim communities in the country.

And some Bissa Muslims have already announced their intentions to hold the special the dinner banquet on this year’s Ramadan.

However, the Imam believes it is in such moments the Muslim majority can show compassion to their Christian kinsmen and women as Islam demands.

“Our brothers and sisters in Christianity may not be fasting with us in the month of Ramadan, but they are not oblivious of those refreshing moments when one breaks his fast,” he said.

“As a fraternity we have a mission to live in Zekula, and we can extend invitation to our brothers to fete with us in this refreshing moments.

‘Ramadan is a time for introspection and deep reflection for every Muslim, a period of reconciling hearts and people.

“Inviting our bothers and sisters to Iftar can serve as one the finest opportunity to achieve a formidable Zekula and it will be nice for such invitations to be honoured as well.”

In an interview with Bissanewsonline on Friday, 8th April, Imam Hassan Nombre spoke extensively on the benefits of Ramadan and linked it with the unity agenda of the Bissas.

With the admission that religious difference is one of the challenges to the fraternity, Imam Nombre believes with love and understanding, stronger ties can be established among Bissas.

He said there is nothing wrong for Muslims and Christians to have a dinner together even when the purpose is to break one’s fast in Ramadan.

“We all belongs to different angles and beliefs of which tolerance is needed to move us forward,” he said.

“At the religious level, we are united beyond ethnicity but in the Bissa fraternity we need to be united beyond religion.

“The task to unite as a family is  awesome, hence both Bissa Muslims and Christians have the duty to be bridge-builders and peacemakers.

“To do this effectively, we should be closing our ranks with deep understanding, love, compassion, courage, patience, tolerance and respect.”

Significance of Iftar to the Zekula campaign

Iftar, the meal to break one’s fast at the close of the day, comes as a more refreshing moment of satiating thirst and hunger pangs, with the belief of earning Allah’s blessings.

But open Iftar is becoming more of an Islamic World-trend of social activity besides it’s religious affair as individuals and institutions try to hold it at least once in the month of Ramadan.

Many muslims see iftar banquet as a good time to bring people together besides the feasting.

According to Imam Hassan Nombre, the simple act of sharing food has a huge significance of strengthening bonds and uniting communities.

“As we deal with hunger and thirst from sunrise to sunset in this month, we are equally reminded of those who deal with hunger and poverty  every day,” he said.

“For some of us, when we fast, our minds tend to wander to what delicious food may await us at sunset when will be  breaking our fast. Families unite together and prepare traditional feasts to sit together and eat for Iftar.

“However,  Ramadan also reminds us of the many millions of people out there in the world who don’t even know when or where their next meal would be coming from.

“As we reflect on our spiritual responsibilities, we must also recall our obligation to support those people in times of need and that is what Islam is about.

“So imagine having a traditional Bissa delicacy served as iftar with both the Muslims and Christians around one table.”

He said to consolidate the unity among Bissas, both Muslim and Christian kinsmen can find a common reason to protect their similarities while tolerating  their differences.

“Our interdependent existence must be at the back of our minds, at all time in this Zekula campaign,” Imam Hassan Nombre said.

“If we are to study carefully, we will realise every Bissa Muslim will have a Christian family member or neighbour within the same fraternity.

“Hence the need to take advantage of situations to educate ourselves on the proprieties of co-existence and the embracing of difference is a top priority now.

“We must protect our similarities as Bissas while we tolerate and respect our differences.

“But perhaps the biggest challenge for all Bissa Muslims and Christians in this Zekula agenda is to change some basic attitudes so that they reflect the complex world in which we live,” he added.

Majority of the Ghanaian Muslims are on their 7th Day of the Ramadan  as at 9th April 2022.

Ramadan marks the month when the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad and Fasting in it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam as normal day to day routine is replaced with prayer, seeking forgiveness from Allah  and remembering those less fortunate in society.

It is a month of purification, reflection, modesty, patience, discipline and most of all, generosity.

It is believed that during Ramadan, the reward for good deeds is multiplied by 70.