Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has appealed to the Nigerian Army, NA to postpone its scheduled training for new recruits due to the forthcoming Ramadan fast which imay begin on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.
The Nigerian Army is billed to commence the training of new recruits for two weeks beginning from Monday, April 12.
But MURIC, in a statement issued yesterday by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said that the postponement has become necessary so that the new Muslim recruits could “focus on the training mentally and spiritually with enough energy to face the rigours of the exercise.”
“Fasting in the month of Ramadan is mandatory upon adult Muslims as prescribed in the Glorious Qur’an, ‘Oh you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain piety’ (Qur’an 2:183).
“Fasting in this month is also one of the five pillars of Islam, none of which a Muslim can ignore.
“For this reason, Muslims take the exercise very serious and they will not wish to miss it for any reason except illness, pregnancy or when on a long journey” Akintola stressed.
The Muslim scholar said the appeal should not be misconstrued as sheer sentiment having aware of the security challenges facing the country which necessitates the recruitment of more men into the armed forces.
“We need spiritual warfare to weaken the insurgents and cause confusion within their rank and file. We need prayers to expose kidnappers. We need Allah’s divine intervention to soften the hearts of bandits and transform them into useful citizens.
“Ramadan season is the ideal period to seek divine intervention in Nigeria’s security challenges as well as other problems.
“It is a well-known fact that Muslims engage in deep spiritual exercises during Ramadan than at any other time of the year. The Nigerian Army should leverage on this.
“With prayers, Allah can give victory to Nigerian troops even where the insurgents outnumber them,” he further stated.
