By Zainab Faruk
The Wife of the Bauchi State Governor, Aishatu Bala Mohammed, has hosted neighbours, domestic staff, and journalists covering activities at her office to a Ramadan iftar gathering, describing the occasion as an opportunity to strengthen unity, love, and forgiveness among members of the community.
Speaking during the breaking of fast held at her residence, Hajiya Aishatu Bala Mohammed thanked God for granting everyone the opportunity to witness the holy month of Ramadan and prayed for the acceptance of their acts of worship.
“My dear sisters and neighbours, we thank Allah for giving us the opportunity to meet in this blessed month of fasting. We pray that Allah accepts our acts of worship and makes us among those whose sins are forgiven,” she said.
She expressed deep appreciation to her neighbours for the respect and goodwill shown to her family, noting that peaceful coexistence remains the foundation of strong communities.
“We are sincerely grateful for the honour and respect you show us as neighbours. May Allah preserve our relationships, increase love among us, and grant us the ability to forgive one another for both known and unknown wrongs,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, an Islamic scholar in Bauchi, Aisha Abdullahi Abubakar, described the gathering as a reflection of core Islamic teachings, highlighting its spiritual and social significance.
She explained that three important acts were observed at the event: strengthening neighbourly ties, giving charity, and honouring the rights of neighbours.
“Islam places great value on good neighbourliness. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was instructed to begin outreach with relatives and neighbours. Neighbours have rights over one another, regardless of whether they are Muslims or not,” she stated.
According to her, inviting neighbours as the first guests to break the fast in the governor’s wife’s home was in line with Islamic principles, especially considering that neighbours are often the first point of support during times of difficulty.
She also noted that feeding those who are fasting carries immense spiritual reward, stressing that the gathering combined the rewards of charity and good neighbourliness.
“Feeding a fasting person is a great act of charity. In this case, the right people were invited, attracting double rewards — one for neighbourliness and another for feeding the fasting,” she said.
Malama Aisha Abdullahi Abubakar urged neighbours to continue upholding trust and mutual responsibility, warning that individuals will be held accountable for how they treat those living around them.
She commended Hajiya Aishatu Bala Mohammed for the initiative and prayed for Allah to grant her continued wisdom and inspiration to engage in similar acts of kindness.