Supporting the needy should be a culture worth everyone’s endorsement, Muslims said on April 10, at the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, representing the end of Ramadan during which they provided food relief to some economically disadvantaged Rwandans.

The festivity of Eid al-Fitr – which marks the end of Ramadan – a Muslim holy month of fasting – coincided with the 30^th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Eid prayer at the national level was held at Kigali Pelé Stadium.

To ensure the celebration of this important Islamic event does not interfere with Genocide remembrance, the management of the Rwanda Muslim Community reminded Muslims that the mourning period is a time of sorrow whereby Rwandans and friends dedicate special attention and enough time to commemorate activities and pay tribute to the victims of the Genocide, to ensure that it won’t happen again.

It further reminded Muslims that programmes or activities for having fun, entertainment, and ceremonies, are prohibited during the Genocide commemoration week.

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Apart from prayers during the month of Ramadan, Muslims participated in supporting the needy.

During the month of Ramadan, Rwanda Muslim Community, through collaboration with its various partners, provided food relief to 9,865 needy families to share with them, support them, and meet their food needs, according to the community’s message to Muslims on Eid al-Fitr, which Sheikh Salim Sibomana, Executive Secretary of Rwanda Muslim Community, read.

Also, the community collected Zakat ul Fitr – a charitable donation of food that must be given before the end of the month of Ramadan, for the love of Allah (God).

Through a mobile money code, Muslims donated Rwf27.2 million, Sibomana said.

He indicated that such money was used to purchase food for the needy to have meals on Eid al-Fitr – with more than 5,000 families, countrywide, receiving the support consisting of four kilogrammes of rice, each.

"Muslims are wholeheartedly thanked for participating in this charitable action,” Sibomana said while reading the message.

Underscoring the importance of prayer and good acts that Muslims did during Ramadan, the Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Salim Hitimana, said that they should continue for the benefit of all, encouraging them to be closer to God even after the holy Islamic month.

"I remind them [Muslims] that the good acts they were doing related to supporting people, having mercy, love, and is characterised by politeness, and self-control so that Ramadan is not impaired, we are also required to do them during all other periods of the year. They should not be stopped because Ramadan is over,” he said.

Hitimana underscored the need for concerted efforts among Rwandans, unity, and unity for the prevention of evils, including the Genocide and its ideology.

Idrissa Gasore, a Muslim, said that apart from Zakat ul Fitr which is generally offered during Ramadan to support economically vulnerable people, including Genocide survivors, Muslims can also provide further support to the needy depending on their means.

"We offer Zakat ul Fitr so that the needy can also get food and be happy with their families on Eid al-Fitr,” he said.