Imam Sarja Njie, the Imam of the Latrikunda Sabiji Arajananding has said that the importance of this holy month of Ramadan cannot be quantified.

Imam Sarja Njie was speaking in an exclusive interview with this reporter on Saturday 29 August 2009, at his residence.

“The importance of Ramadan cannot be over-emphasized,” he maintained.

According to him, Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, noting that it was during the month of Ramadan when the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammed.

He also said there is a particular night in the month of Ramadan, known as the ‘Night of power’, or Lailatu Kadri, which he said, is equivalent to or even more than one thousand months of worship.

“Wilfully breaking the fast even for a single day by eating, drinking or having sexual intercourse on such a day must be paid by fasting for sixty days consecutively,” he noted.

He added that throughout the month of Ramadan all the doors of heaven are opened, while those of hell are closed in respect of the importance of the month.

According to him, during the month of Ramadan God has recommended certain things such as reciting the Quran, helping the poor and needy, desisting from immoral behaviours.

He stressed that fasting is obligatory on all matured Muslims, while appealing to believers to obey the commands of Allah.