Authority Is a Test
Ramadan Reflection Day 12 begins with a truth often ignored:
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
Power is not privilege.
It is examination.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
Responsibility is inseparable from authority.
Ramadan intensifies this reality.
A leader who fasts carries double awareness — physical restraint and moral scrutiny.
The Discipline of Restraint
Fasting weakens the body. That weakness is intentional.
It reminds the powerful that strength is temporary.
In Nigeria’s public sphere, influence can distort perception. Authority can blur boundaries. Privilege can mute conscience.
Ramadan interrupts that illusion.
When hunger arrives, it equalises.
When thirst sets in, it humbles.
If fasting does not soften arrogance, it has not reached the heart.
Fear of God as Governance Standard
The Qur’an repeatedly links leadership with accountability before Allah.
In Surah An-Nisa (4:58):
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.”
Ramadan is not symbolic. It is corrective.
It asks:
Are decisions fair?
Is influence abused?
Are resources protected?
Authority exercised without conscience decays.
Authority tempered by Taqwa stabilises.
Public Office and Private Character
Ramadan Reflection Day 12 sharpens the mirror:
The fast is private. Power is public.
If private discipline does not affect public behaviour, then fasting has remained ritualistic.
Accountability is not seasonal.
Transparency is not optional.
Justice is not ceremonial.
Ramadan teaches delayed gratification. Leadership requires the same.
The ability to refuse immediate advantage for long-term good.
The Weight of Leadership
Influence affects millions.
Policies shape futures.
Decisions create consequences.
Neglect multiplies harm.
Ramadan intensifies moral awareness.
The fasting leader must ask:
Am I conscious of God in this decision?
Am I mindful of impact beyond myself?
Power unexamined becomes excess.
Power disciplined becomes service.
The Final Reflection
As Day 12 unfolds, the reflection deepens:
Does fasting reach authority?
If appetite can be restrained, so can ego.
If hunger can be endured, so can humility.
Ramadan Reflection Day 12 reminds us:
Leadership is not control.
It is accountability before God and people.
And the strongest leader is not the most feared —
but the most responsible.