- By Yetunde Yekini-Oropo
Muslims fasting during this month of Ramadan have found it hard to afford the cost of fruits for breaking of fast.
Muslims across the glove believe that it is the tradition to break their fast at dusk by consuming fruits of all kinds especially as available and common in their geographical area.
In Nigeria, it has been found that most Muslims break their fast with oranges, apple, pineapple, dates, pawpaw, and others available.
Though it has been quoted that Prophet Mohammed recommended that fast should be broken with date and water and it is only when dates are not availabe that other fruits come in.
Some analysts have however reasoned that date was more commonly grown in the Arabian penniusular at the time and argued that other fruits that are common to other areas of the world would fit for breaking fast.
“When one of you breaks his fast, let him break it with dates, for they are a blessing; and if he cannot find dates, then with water, for it is pure.”Prophet Mohammed is quoted to have said in his recommendation.
However, NPO Reports that for Nigerian Muslims this year, the prohibitive costs of food items have hit the fruit sector with a huge cost to the pockets of those who wish to keep the injunctions to break fasts with fruits.
A survey of the fruits markets in Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja reveal that fruits that most likely fall on the dinner tables of Muslims during iftar (as the Muslims’ breaking of fast is called) have trippled in costs with many unable to afford them.
A bunch of Banana priced at the Ogba Retail Market, Lagos showed that a bunch which comprises about 10 strands goes for as much as N2,000 in some cases.
Apples are now sold for N500 and N600 while pears are sold for as much as N700 per one.
A pack of grapes which used to sell for about N1,300 now goes for about N4000.
A fairly big pawpaw goes for about N2,000 in some cases while pineapple is sold for between N1,000 and N2000.
Dates : 100, 200
A big water melon is sold between N3,500 and N4,000.
While tangerine is sold for 500, 4 organges are sold for N500 and in some cases N600.
Coconut is sold at the rate of N600, N700 or N900 depending on the size while Agbalumo (African star apple) is sold for N100.
For consumers of orange, dates, apple, grape and pineapples which are mostly demanded for during ramadan, it has dug holes in their pockets.
Many have equally limited themselves to using ordinary water to break fast in the face of the prohibitive costs of fruits.
Musa Dan Auyo, one of the fruits vendors at the Ogba retail market admitted that prices have skyrocketed explaining that the rising cost of living since the removal of fuel subsidy has taken its toll on the business of fruits sales.
“Those who bring the fruits from outside Lagos would tell you that the pay more than double what they paid before to transport their fruits to Lagos. And even when we retailers also go to Ketu to buy, the cost of transportation has more than doubled,” Dan Auyo said
He said many Muslims are crying that they can’t break fast with fruits.
“I even have a customer that used to buy fruit in baskets. But this time around, she has reduced her orders, complaining of the high prices,” he told the NPO Reports.
Imam AbdulGaniy Elias who spoke with the NPO Reports said Islam is very compassionate when it comes tradition. He said with the prohibitive cost of fruits, it is not compulsory for Muslims to stress themselves if they are unable to afford the fruits.
“Allah makes things easy for us as Muslims and so, even ordinary water is enough to break your fast. The recommendations on fruits is more of healthy reason that faith. After hours of fasting, it is believed that the body system is overstrecthed and so, fruit is believed to have the capacity to supply the nutrients needed to restore your body to normalcy before the real meal is taken,” Elias said