Jelili A. Opadijo
Doha
Qatar Charity hosted Ramadan iftar for more than 300 members of the Nigerian community in Qatar at one of its centres in New Salata area on Monday.
The event, facilitated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Qatar (NIDO-Qatar), is part of Qatar Charity’s ‘Iftar for Expatriate Communities’ programme aimed at promoting the values of solidarity and cooperation among the community members and consolidate cultural interaction among them.
The Iftar programme featured a special lecture titled ‘Sustaining the good deeds beyond Ramadan’ delivered by Ustadh AbdurRaafii Imam.
In his lecture, Ustadh AbdurRaafii urged the community members to remain committed in their religious duties and continue engaging in righteous deeds, charitable and humanitarian activities after the Holy Month of Ramadan.
He advised the attendees to see the Holy Month of Ramadan as a training period for believers to remain steadfast throughout the remaining part of the year, stressing that the devotion people display during the fasting season should be sustained round the year, particularly observing the five daily prayers regularly on time, assisting the needy and maintaining their spiritual uprightness.
Speaking about the importance of Zakatul-Fitr, the scholar described it as a Sunnah of the Prophet that is mandatory on every individual – male or female, old or young – to be given to the less privilege before the Eid prayer.
He implored the faithful to give their Zakatul-Fitr to the needy to enable them celebrate the Eid in a joyous mood.
Commenting on the programme, President of the Nigerian Muslim Community in Qatar Abdur-Rahman Olukade thanked Qatar Charity and the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Qatar for the collaboration to host the well-organised Iftar for the community.
He commended the members of the Nigerian Muslim Community in Qatar and the Nigerians in Qatar in general for the commitment for the welfare of one another.
He urged them to continue to look out for one another, especially those who might be going through some trying times.
Another scholar in the community Ustadh Musa Adeniyi advised the participants to sustain the level of God consciousness the exhibited during the fasting period after the Holy Month of Ramadan.
On his part, NIDO-Qatar President Lateef Ajibade thanked Qatar Charity for its cooperation and continuous support to the organisation.
He expressed appreciations to the NIDO-Qatar executive members for facilitating the Iftar and thanked the community members for honouring the invitation despite the short notice.
