Taoreed Abdullahi
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria has encouraged Muslim faithful nationwide to maintain their spiritual transformations through prayers and good deeds after Ramadan.
In his goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr, the Amir and National Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji Folorunso Azeez Alatoye prayed that Allah the Almighty make Eid-ul-Fitr a source of reformation and transformation for faithful, a beacon of solutions to the diverse challenges, and a harbinger of everlasting Divine grace, peace, security, and happiness for all of humanity.”
Alhaji Alatoye emphasized that prayer is a means of drawing closer to Allah as His friend, a bond cultivated during the month of Ramadan, expressing that if these practices continue after Ramadan, the positive transformations experienced during the holy month will continue to benefit mankind.
He extended heartfelt congratulations to the Muslim community in Nigeria for successfully completing the Ramadan fast and for the auspicious celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr in the year 1446 (2025).
He highlighted that this year’s Ramadan focus is on “Transformation through Prayers and Good Deeds” and reiterated the importance of adhering to the spiritual transformations achieved during Ramadan.
Alhaji Alatoye noted that many individuals tend to revert to their old habits after Ramadan, urging fellow Muslims to sustain the spirit of transformation through ongoing prayers and good deeds.
In His Friday Sermon on March 7, 2025, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, May Allah be His Helper, emphasized increased attention to prayer after Ramadan, the necessity of love for God in order for prayers to be accepted, the importance of becoming a friend of God, the need for patience in prayer, recognizing powerful signs of God’s existence, taking the right steps in pursuing God Almighty, and making an appeal for prayers. Alhaji Alatoye qoutes.
He remarked that the month of Ramadan naturally directs one’s focus toward prayers, as it is a time when prayers are particularly accepted. During this month, mosque attendance increases significantly compared to other times of the year. God states that during Ramadan, He closes the gates of Hell, chains up Satan, and opens the doors of Paradise. However, His Holiness cautioned against the misconception that prayers are only to be offered during Ramadan, as Allah draws our attention to prayers during this month to instill a lasting habit throughout the entire year.
Alhaji Alatoye said: The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that whoever supplicates during the nights of Ramadan with the intention of fulfilling the rights of their faith will have their previous sins forgiven. When individuals strive to incorporate these virtuous habits into their daily lives, their focus on prayer will naturally intensify during Ramadan and beyond.
He called on Muslim faithful to continue to engage in fervent prayers after Ramadan, as Allah accepts prayers all year round, not exclusively during Ramadan. By doing so, we will draw closer to Allah and receive His divine blessings.
Alatoye noted, “It is essential to love Allah for our prayers to be quickly accepted. While humans are prone to error, Allah the Almighty is gracious and merciful. Hence, He has given us the opportunity to renew our commitments during Ramadan, allowing us to act according to His commandments throughout the year.”
He explained that Ramadan serves as a time for gaining guidance, which is meant to be established permanently, not just for one month. Recognizing human forgetfulness, Allah has made Ramadan a recurring time each year to remind people of their duties and the rights owed to both God and His creation. When God refers to “My servants,” it signifies those who consider God their Beloved—not just for a month, but throughout the entire year.
“True lovers adhere to all that their beloved commands. While disappointment can be found in worldly love, loving God offers continuous benefits without disappointment. Thus, we should strive for closeness to God,” he added.
Alhaji Alatoye concluded, that faithful should not limit their prayers to seeking personal benefits; instead, they should also ask for nearness to God saying they should pray that He grants them His closeness, enables them to make supplications that are accepted, awards them a rank of His approval, and accepts their fasts, pointed out that when the faithful do this, they will be protected from making mistakes even after Ramadan and will be granted the ongoing ability to engage in virtuous deeds.