By: Lamid Azeez
Over the past two decades, as a devout Muslim observing Ramadan, I had never encountered such a deeply challenging dilemma as the one I face now.
Ramadan stands as a fundamental pillar of Islam, guiding Muslims to reflect on the sanctity of our faith and cleanse themselves from worldly vices.
However, the inculcation of this practice often leads to complaints from me, as it creates bitter consequences that restrict my access to food and water, leaving me thirsty. But then, I never knew that such complaints and its performance under the friendly weather of Lagos were a flimsy excuse that was akin to nothing but an “ indolent.”
As a result, my arrival in Sokoto has opened my eyes to the languid notion of mine in observance of the rite, and to its end, it was a “child play” Why? The Sokoto state’s atmospherical conditions over the degree of the sun are shocking. The sun would start shining from 8 am regularly, this, of course, is an invitation of heat and dryness of the body.
My first attempt which was the first day of this 2024 fasting in Sokoto was a doom and I doubted the performance of the subsequent ones. This is because I was weak and weird, and my response as a being challenged my mental capacity. In addition to this, I came to realize that Ramadan has a general meaning to the world but places and performances of this divine order are different. Therefore, fasting in Sokoto is different.
However, many students are also victims of first-time experiences. None of us have experienced the stereotype of the sun before. During this period, most of the students flooded the library as a safe place to enjoy the air- conditioners; some would pour water over their bodies with the clothes on them just to cool the dryness; while some part would stay in the mosque in protection against the sun and also supplication to Allah.
But what surprises me is why people in these serious conditions never stopped fasting. I began to question myself on the validity of their submission to the sanctity of the teaching of the religion during this state of pain coupled with marathon lectures of “almighty attendance.” I realized that whatever happened, this practice has become a culture that would never cease to perform, and its strict observance is a divine
Meanwhile, fasting in Sokoto is rigorous, requiring strength to endure. If I survive it till the end, there is no place in the world where I cannot perform Ramadan.