Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called on Muslims in the country to use the holy month of Ramadan to pray for national unity, peace and prosperity.
Muslims around the globe, including in Tanzania, began observing the holy month of Ramadan on March 11th with a customary dawn-to-dusk fasting, spiritual reflections and increased charity.
In a message marking the start of the Islamic holy month, Hassan wished all Muslims in Tanzania “a blessed start to the Holy Month of Ramadan.”
“I wish all Muslims a blessed start to the Holy Month of Ramadan, she said.
We thank the Almighty God, the Most Merciful, for blessing us to reach this important period in our faith once again.
She urged the Muslim faithful to seek guidance from God during the fasting month to perform good deeds, seek forgiveness, and care more for one another.
“May the Glorified One, the Powerful, the Most Compassionate…guide us all in worship, forgiveness, caring more for one another, and accept our fasting,” President Hassan stated.
The Tanzanian leader also made a special appeal for Muslims to use this Ramadan period to pray for the peace, unity, love, solidarity, tranquility, prosperity and justice in the East African nation.
“I call upon all of us to continue praying for our nation – for peace, unity, love, solidarity, tranquility, prosperity and justice,” her message read.
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide through daily fasting, spiritual reflections, acts of charity and increased prayer.
Her message comes at a time when Tanzania is seeking to boost its economic growth and development under Hassan’s leadership following the recent death of her predecessor John Magufuli.