Monrovia – The Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) has donated 200 bags of rice to seven mosques to including; the Benson Street Mosque, the Newport Street, and the Fish Market Mosque amongst others all in Montserrado County.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
The donation according to Lawrence George Director of the Bank Cooperate Social Responsibility is the bank way of identifying with Muslims as they concluded their fasting and a way of giving back to Muslims who are also clients of the bank.
“We are aware that they have fasted for the nation and its people, praying for security and peace in Liberia.”
“Today donation is a way of giving back to Muslims who are also our customers. And today we have earmarked seven Mosques who will receive this donation,” George said.
Making the donation George also informed Muslims about the LBDI new system of Islamic banking a system he said, doesn’t include profiteering.
We believe that as a bank we should give back to our members who celebrate in any form, ship, and manner and so on behalf of the bank we say thank you for your prayers for the nation. We are with you in everything that you do.
Musa Balloh spokesman of the National Imam Council in response to the gesture from the bank expressed how overwhelmed they were and recorded other assistance the bank has to render the nation as a local bank.
“We have been with you and we are proud of you among all the Banks in Liberia LBDI is hundred percent Liberian own and we are proud of your investment.”
“You were not forced to do this but out of your good mind you have done this we appreciate it.
Balloh in further comments cautions Liberians especially religious leaders to seek the intervention of God as the Nation go through this election period. He made it clear that currently, religious leaders haven’t favored a particular candidate in the elections.
“We are Muslims you are Christians we must co-exist show the beauty of our religion not only on our faces,” Balloh said.
Ramadan comes to a close marking the end of the holiest month of the Islamic calendar and a period of fasting for many of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims.
Ramadan ends this week, with Eid al-Fitr celebrated on either Sunday, June 25 or Monday, June 26, depending on when the moon is sighted.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period and is a public holiday in many Muslim countries (but not the UK).
Many Muslims will purchase new clothes for Eid, and will join together for prayers, celebrations, and feasts.
Ramadan is a time of thoughtful prayer, religious study, and contemplation for the 1.6 billion Muslims living around the world.
It is considered to be the holiest month of the Islamic year and is an important and solemn part of the Islamic faith.
The Prophet Mohammed explained: “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.”
Muslims believe that God revealed the Quran to the Prophet Mohammed on the 27th day of Ramadan (Laylat Al Qadr, or the Night of Power).
Fasting (sawm in Arabic) is one of the five key pillars of Islam, along with prayer (salat), charity (zakat), faith (shahadah) and making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
All adult Muslims are required to fast, with exemptions for pregnant women, nursing mothers, women who are menstruating and the sick and elderly.
Young, prepubescent children are not expected to fast, however, some will choose to do so for half a day to train their bodies.
Those who are fasting will abstain from food, liquids, and sex, from dawn until dusk.
Muslims will wake early to eat and pray before sunrise and will break the fast after sunset with a communal meal (Iftar).