Tamale, Aug. 31, GNA - Muslims on Wednesday gathered at various parts of the Tamale Metropolis to give thanks and praise to Allah for seeing them through the fasting and prayer in the month long Ramadan. Addressing a gathering at the Tamale Jubilee Park to mark the occasion, Mr San Naasamu Asabigi, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, appealed to Muslim leaders to use their privileged positions to inspire their followers to be hard working.

Eid-Ul Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fitr means "charity". The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the twenty nine or thirty days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

Mr Asabigi appealed to Muslim leaders to preach peace at all times and exercise control over the youth who are often used by politicians to cause mayhem. "Let us see ourselves as brothers and sisters belonging to different political parties and therefore no need to harm each other," he said.

He called for unity and understanding among the Muslim Community in order to bring about development and social cohesion adding that "unity is a cardinal tool which could champion the cause of the Muslim world." Alhaji Abdul-Salaam Adam, Chief Imam of the Tamale Central Mosque, advised the youth against indulging in some social vices such as alcoholism and drug-abuse.