Kano State’s Hisbah, the Islamic police, clashes with devout Muslims for eating and drinking openly during Ramadan, the month of fasting. They arrest other individuals who attempt to sell food during serving hours, too. Mujahid Aminudeen, deputy commander of Hisbah, has confirmed 20 people not fasting and five selling food were arrested. He said operations would last throughout Ramadan, which began on Saturday, the 1st of March.
Aminudeen said, “We don’t concern ourselves with non-Muslims,” expounding their focus only on Muslims disrespecting the holiness of Ramadan. Sadly, adults are seen eating and drinking in broad daylight in what is supposed to be a month set aside for fasting. We won’t take this sitting down, hence the arrest,” he said.
All 25 arrested have been charged in a Sharia court, and they will face punishment. According to Aminudeen, Hisbah typically acts on information from the people about persons consuming food during the daytime of Ramadan, which is against Sharia law. “By the time we get the information, we act quickly by getting to the spot for quick arrests,” he said. Other offenses reportedly committed by hisbah include improper hairstyles, wearing of shorts above the knee, and mixing of male and female passengers by tricycle drivers. Last year, those found not fasting were released after promising that they would, with their kin or wards ensuring they did keep the fast. This time around, the offenders will have to face legal consequences in court. Sharia- Islamic law was introduced in 12 northern Nigerian states about two decades ago. Sharia operates alongside civil law. They are majority Muslim states, and the law does not apply to the Christian minorities inhabiting them.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and one of the most important in Islam, as it is believed to be the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Certain expressions of worship during Ramadan are included in the Five Pillars of Islam. Fasting from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours is, therefore, an expression of worship and self-discipline. The month of Ramadan is going to last this year for 29 or 30 days and will, therefore, culminate on Sunday, 30 March. All these exhibit the desire of Kano to adopt and strictly enforce religious observance in this period of sacredness, which is emblematic of the values attached to culture and religion in the area.
