Ramadan: Hisbah Atrests Nine Persons for Failure to Fast

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the Islamic police in Kano State, known as the Hisbah has arrested nine Muslims who were seen eating food during Ramadan fast.

OTN News further reports as gathered that the Hisbah’s deputy commander general, Mujahid Aminudeen, who disclosed this said that the nine detained which includes seven males and two females, were ignorant that Ramadan had begun.

According to him “we have arrested them, and they are with us where we are going to be teaching them the importance of fasting, how to pray, read the Quran, and become better Muslims."

OTN News observes that Kano has a majority Muslim population, where an Islamic legal system, Sharia, operates alongside secular law.

OTN News further observes that the Islamic police, searches cafes, restaurants, and markets every year during Ramadan to ensure Muslims are adhering to the fasting hours. 

However, some establishments stay open in areas of Kano where many Christians live.

Furthermore, for Muslims, eating is prohibited between sunrise and sunset. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which lay the basis for how Muslims are required to live their lives.

OTN News further observes that it is not clear when the Hisbah plans to free them, but, in similar cases in the past, officers have got in touch with the families of those detained to make sure there is proper monitoring after their release, so that they get to the end of the month.

OTN News recalls that over two decades ago, Sharia was introduced to work alongside secular law in 12 of Nigeria’s northern states, all of whicha. have a majority Muslim population.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and has special significance in Islam.

It is during this month that Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Every year, Ramadan is expected to last between 29, or 30 days.

In Nigeria, fasting started on Wednesday, 18 February, and it is predicted to end on either 21 or 22 March.