Dr Fati Suleiman, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, has urged Muslims to embrace Ramadan as a period of self-discipline, accountability and spiritual transformation.
She said although Muslims observed Ramadan annually, the expected transformation in character and conduct was often lacking.
“Ramadan is not new to us. We fast every year and attend lectures every year, but as human beings we are fallible and forgetful and therefore required constant reminders of the true purpose of worship,” Dr Suleiman said at the annual Ramadan lecture series organised by the Hijra Club in Accra.
She explained that in Islam, Ibadah (worship) encompassed every conscious act done for the pleasure of Allah, and fasting was prescribed to cultivate God-consciousness and piety, just as it was prescribed for earlier communities.
Dr Suleiman said Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, was dedicated to fasting, prayer, reflection and community life, adding that its essence went beyond abstaining from food and drink.
“Fasting is a deep spiritual exercise designed to purify the soul, cultivate self-discipline, and foster empathy and compassion for the less fortunate,” she said.
Dr Suleiman outlined three categories of fasting: ordinary, special and extra-special.
Ordinary fasting involved abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations, while special fasting required guarding all body organs from sin.
“Special fasting means your eyes, ears, tongue, hands, feet, and heart are all fasting,” she said, noting that modern challenges such as social media exposure made this discipline more difficult but necessary.
Dr Suleiman said that extra-special fasting involved detaching the heart from unworthy concerns and focusing solely on Allah and the Hereafter.
She cautioned that excessive focus on food preparation and indulgence at breaking the fast defeated its purpose.
On ethical accountability, Dr Suleiman said: “Islam questions how genuine the money is that we use to feed ourselves. Ill-gotten wealth nullifies the spirit of fasting, and so as Muslims we must reflect on daily practices such as dishonest trade, gambling, and other unethical activities.”
She noted that overeating weakened spiritual energy and affected worship, calling for moderation in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Dr Suleiman said fasting inculcated values of patience, humility, gratitude, sincerity and mindfulness of Allah; it helped believers to control desires and respond positively to hardship.
“Fasting reminds us that spiritual health and emotional health are interconnected. When the spirit is disciplined, the mind and emotions also find balance,” she said.
Dr Suleiman emphasised that accountability in Islam was both personal and collective, stressing that while individuals would be accountable for the sincerity of their fasting, the Muslim community also had a duty to encourage good and discourage wrongdoing.
She said acts of charity, communal prayers, shared meals and social support during Ramadan strengthened social bonds and resilience.
“Ramadan did not demand perfection but sincere intention, self-reflection, service to others, and a renewed commitment to virtuous living.
“The transformative power of fasting lies beyond physical abstinence. It is a holistic spiritual exercise that nurtures the soul, strengthens faith, and promotes a purposeful and meaningful life,” she said.
Alhaji Tanko Mohammed, Executive Member of the Hijra Club, highlighted the club’s contribution to the Muslim community through education, charity and advocacy.
He said the club, made up of professionals, intellectuals and business leaders, had supported religious education, charitable works, scholarships and community development initiatives, including nearly 400 tertiary scholarships since 2022.
Alhaji Mohammed reaffirmed the club’s commitment to improving the social, religious and educational welfare of the Muslim community in Ghana.
