By Our Reporter with Additional Reports
The Islamic police also known as hishba in Kano state arrested nine Muslims on Wednesday for eating food and not participating during the first day of this Ramadan fast, reports BBC..
Kano is among states in the northern region that operate an Islamic legal system, Sharia, side by side with secular law.
According to the BBC, the hisbah, as part of efforts to ensure compliance with the holy month of fasting comb places like cafes, restaurants and markets every year to ensure Muslims are adhering to the fasting hours. Despite the practice, some establishments remain open in parts of the state where many Christians live.
For Muslims, eating is prohibited between sunrise and sunset. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which lay the basis for how Muslims are required to live their lives.
Concerning the arrest of nine persons, comprising seven males and two females ,Hisbah’s deputy commander general Mujahid Aminudeen said that the nine detained persons had pretended not to be aware that Ramadan had started.
“We have arrested them and they are with us where we are going to be teaching them the importance of fasting, how to pray, read the Quran and become better Muslims,” he told the BBC.
But their arrest has raised further concerns as it remains unclear when the Hisbah will set them free.
It also remains unclear if sick persons , those under medication and certain other categories of persons are excused from observing the fast.
The BBC investigation also confirmed that in similar cases in the past, Hisbah officers had gotten in touch with the families of those detained to make sure there is proper monitoring after their release so that they observed the fast to the end of the month.
Recall that for more than 20 years now, the Sharia law was introduced in parts of northern Nigeria to work alongside secular law , especially in states known to have majority Muslims.
Ramadan signifies the ninth month of the Islamic calendar with special recognition by observers.
Fasting had commenced on Wednesday 18 February and it is expected to end on either 21 or 22 March.
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