President of the Pan-African Parliament Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira . Image courtesy of PAP Media

As Muslims across Africa and its diaspora welcome the holy month of Ramadan, the President of the Pan-African Parliament Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira has sent his best wishes to the Muslim communities.

In his message, the PAP President who identifies as Christian says he joins the Muslim members of Parliament in celebrating the start of Ramadan, expressing hope that it would bring them spiritual renewal. He also emphasized the promotion of peace and unity during the holy month.

On this sacred occasion, I, Honourable Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament, convey my best wishes to all Muslim Members of the PAP for an excellent and transformative month of Ramadhan. I pray to God to accept your fasting and prayers and further petition God to make this holy month an opportunity for advancing peace, security and stability on our Continent and strengthening the bonds of solidarity between our African peoples.

Ramadhan Mubarak to all.

About Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth holiday of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer reflection, and community.

Thursday 23rd March 2023, marks the start of a month-long religious fasting ritual this year. Muslims practice fasting during the day and end each day with the evening iftar for this period. This is believed to bring the faithful closer to Allah and to remind them of the suffering of the less fortunate. In some places, Muslims work shorter hours during Ramadan.

It is a commemoration of the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad of the first verses of the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book. It is one of the Muslims’ foundations inscribed in the Qur’an.

Muslims in Africa

Islam is present in 57 African states and is a major religion in the north of the continent. Countries like Mauritania, Tunisia, Somalia, Western Sahara, Algeria, and Morocco, have at least 99% of the population identified as Muslim according to 2023 statistics. In 13 African nations, the majority of the population is Muslim.

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