Islamic Nyamirambo and Eid al-Fitr that was

On a chilly Sunday morning, Muslim faithful turned up in droves at Nyamirambo stadium. By 5:30am, the place is filled to capacity.Welcome to Eid-al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of Ramadan, a holy month on the calendar of Islam during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset.Although it is a time of deprivation, Muslims consider Ramadan to be a joyful season.The football field, pavilion, open stands and the esplanade of the stadium were literally all donned white. On such important occasions Muslims put on white.Islam as a faith entails strict observance of the Quran and sayings of Prophet Mohammad. As a matter of fact, the word “Islam” is an Arabic word meaning “submission to the will of God.”The faithful of Islam believe the most important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for the Almighty God, thus all human beings should submit to Him.When the Shawal (the month that follows Ramadan) prayers began, I noticed that the Muslim faithful assembly was more organized than any other religious congregation I have attended before. The congregation acted in unison; I picked interest as to why they faced the same direction – in this case, the east.I was told the believers are facing in the direction of the Kaaba, where the first mosque ever, was built by patriarch Abraham and his son Ismail at the site which long later became the city of Mecca in current day Saudi Arabia.In unison, “Allah Akbar” meaning God is Great’ reverberated -everyone practically turning their back to the entire universe and addressing God.At the entrance I noticed most people murmuring; I was told that many Muslims recite the takbir, a declaration of faith, on the way to the prayer ground, where they perform special congregational prayers known as Salaat al-Eid.The month of Ramadan is considered the most sacred, for Muslims believe it was a night in this month that the Quran (the religion’s Holy book) was revealed to Prophet Muhammad by angel Gabriel. The night is called Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Decree.When the man of God took to the podium to deliver Khatuba (sermon) he, among other things, cautioned the Muslim youths against engaging in excesses like drug abuse, alcoholism and promiscuity, saying the vices were ungodly and can endanger their health.Ironically, besides its ascendancy to Islam, Nyamirambo is notorious for drugs and the ladies of the night.As one moves around Nyamirambo one could easily notice that apart from being part of cosmopolitan Kigali, the suburb’s Islamic culture is dominant. A senior civil servant Muslim friend told me “this is an Islamic setting in a predominantly Christian Rwanda.” “It reflects the notion of unity in diversity,” he added.A common greeting during this festive season in Nyamirambo was Eid Mubarak, which means, “Have a blessed Eid!”The words Eid and Allah were taking turns in most of the conversations in the taxis and restaurants, but as I moved out of Nyamirambo the Eid mood was burgeoning. Young and old were beaming, every face wearing smiles. Nadia Mukashyaka, in her mid 50s, told this newspaper: “I fasted and came here very early morning to worship my God. The God I adore much.”To the Islamic faith, Eid al-Fitr is a day of great merriment and thanksgiving. Believers celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing delicious meals, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes.But this time around, this merriment was not bound to happen to greater heights as the majority of the faithful cried of less purchasing power and as matter of fact, most business outlets visited by The New Times, attendants were in slumber signaling low sales.Some sellers were attributing the development to the fact the Muslim community is not all that big and the timing of the event, before the end of the month when people get their pay cheques. Others said there was low purchasing power, generally.

National

Islamic Nyamirambo and Eid al-Fitr that was