Nine Muslims in Kano, Nigeria, were arrested by the northern state’s Islamic police for not observing the first day of this year’s Ramadan fast after they were spotted eating.
Per the BBC, the nine individuals, made up of seven males and two females, were arrested on Wednesday.
Following Nigeria’s return to democracy over 20 years ago, Kano and other predominantly Muslim states in the country’s north restored a harsh version of Sharia, which is an Islamic law that is primarily centered on the teachings of the Quran. Those states, however, simultaneously recognize and abide by Nigeria’s secular law.
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During the Ramadan fasting season each year, the Hisbah, who are Nigeria’s Islamic police, patrol cafes, restaurants and markets to round up Muslims who may be eating during the time of fast. However, some facilities in Kano that offer services of such nature can operate if they’re situated in areas with a large Christian population.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is compulsory for all Muslims, except those who are underage, ill, travelling, elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic or menstruating.
Muslims who fast during Ramadan abstain from eating, drinking and sex from dawn to dusk for the entire month. Before the daily fast, Muslims have a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and also come together at dusk to break the fast with the meal called iftar.
READ ALSO: Nigeria: 11 Muslims arrested for eating during Ramadan fast
Mujahid Aminudeen, who is the Hisbah’s deputy commander general, told the BBC that the nine individuals who were detained claimed they were unaware that the Ramadan season had commenced.
“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,” said Mujahid.
At the time of this report, it could not be established when the Hisbah would release the detained individuals. But in previous cases of such nature, officers contact the detainees’ families in an effort to ensure that a close eye is kept on them to observe Ramadan after they’re released.
Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, right after the month of Shaban, which is believed to be the time when the doors of hell are firmly sealed, and the doors to heaven are wide open.
According to the holy book of Muslims, the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan.
The lunar month lasts between 29 and 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon.
READ ALSO: Sharia law: Nigeria’s religious police destroy 4 million bottles of beer seized
