RAMADAN IN THE WEST AND EAST

Different civilizations have different ways to cater Ramadan some do it according to their cast some according to their culture and some according to their own personal will. But Ramadan is catered well but in many different ways. People in the west do it by all means of social work; in the east they do it by celebration. If u has an overview on both the west and the east side they are contrary to each other. Not only for Ramadan but for every little thing. That‘s what makes Ramadan more different from the West to the East.

In the West the entire ambiance of charity and welfare has been build for many years which then affects the moral character of a being and inspires him to do something beneficial in terms of his race cast culture or creed. West was once known as the Wild Wild West……. They had simply nothing else to do than hunting Red Indians and making merry. But then later the west made such a move that the world heads down made space for them. Know that we talk about the Holy month of Ramadan it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the influential Muslims living in the West do a lot more charity to help build their society and especially in month of Ramadan which is done by the Muslims living there. People in the west form education to food and clothing are concerned about them and not only that but also make sure the donation makes Allah happy for they work for his people. Yes it would not be wrong to state that the Ramadan is to do pious deeds which the west proudly does.

Talk about the eastern side it’s now coming up like China and Dubai. The East is not anywhere far in putting up charity work in the Holy month of Ramadan. But still there some places in the east where this culture is not fully implemented. Places where feudal lord’s reign and where human are treated worse than animals. The month of Ramadan in every posh area is celebrated with great love and energy in the East but when it comes to the rural areas no one even gives it a look. Either they have food for Sehri or Iftar or the children playing on the roads and lanes their eyes shines for something new in front of their parents. These are a Big question to be answered, whether what way do we follow the command of Ramadan and can we help them….

Outcome of Ramadan

The Holy month of Ramadan is more like a blessing not only to a Muslim but also to non-Muslim. People do realize that a man who is fasting is more of a serious kind of a person and does good and not evil. Ramadan brings out the best from a man and the worse. This is what makes it so essential for every Muslim to fast and pray. People while traveling keep praying listen to HOLY PROPHETS saying and keep rejoicing in Allah and his spirit. A man becomes more pious and closer to Allah and his commandments too.

The outcome of Ramadan is that people tend to learn patience and perseverance. Patience is said to be the mother of virtue and perseverance comes from patience only. The exercise of Ramadan is helpful for every Muslim to stay in one with all his Muslim brother and sisters and portray and living example of Fraternity and Unity. The idea of all Muslims fasting together in itself is a master plan by Allah for his beings to fell unified and equal because in the eyes of Allah all human beings are equal and no one is above or beneath.

Non-Muslims also know consider this month as a month of peace and tranquility among the world and very soon it would be a mark of global peace too. In one’s day to day dealing and transactions we do realize that the month of Ramadan brings a hold in one’s life and one would want to start and execute his or her work in a proper manner for as he or she is more conscience of the Holy month of Ramadan. This know brings a great peace and hope things getting better as we all know that the world is coming to an end and nothing can get more better but would get worse but the way we fast and keep the commandment of Ramadan we can definitely execute what we have started according to Allah’s will and manner.

The forth Pillar of Islam - Ramadan

In Islam the fourth is Ramadan (fasting). This is one of the most important pillars of Islam. People do think and take care of the rest of the pillars and follow them enthusiastically but this is the only pillar which brings a lover Allah closer to his servant and not only that but it also makes him pious enough to worship and live a Godly life.

Ramadan is like a difficult task to achieve in order to pray and abstain from food. This condition makes man more weak as his worldly desires of eating and ,making merry has to be put up aside and he is to focus on the love of Allah and his divine care for us. It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that it is a tedious thing to achieve; mostly people do keep with it but the inner soul work matters which are found rarely in these days.

The HOLY PROPHET (P.B.U.H) had also coated that fasting would be a cleansing of mind and soul and it is an offering to God for his love for us. It is believed by many that due during the Holy month of Ramadan if you ask Allah to bestow your blessings on him he would surely do which is one more reason or a benefit to fast. It makes one very much strong in his ‘Ibadat” praise to Allah and not only that he or she also come really close to God.

Ramadan is know treated more like a festival and less like the way it should be treated. There are certain lines we as being Muslims are suppose to draw the line between Actual and Fictitious. By actual it means what are the real benefits to it? or What are the basics to the holy month of Ramadan? The fictitious means all kinds of fun and entertainment which takes us no where but leads to a path of disguise and a sinful nature which is prohibited in Quran.

It is know on us what do we choose and where do we Land.

Ramadan and Other Religions

Ramadan is most common in most of the religions but it is given in different names. In Hinduism the culture strictly ask to fast for the forgiveness of sins, so does Christianity and so does Sikhism. All these and many more religion do ask to fast as for fasting does a biological benefit to a person. By fasting one can have good diaphragm breathing and would also have a glowing face which is noticeably there in the holy month of Ramadan.

There having been conflicting and contradictory issues that have been raised by terminologies and the makers of it too but then again it resolves it all by having a peaceful environment and knowing that it is all about prasing The Holy One in this entire month.

Many of the religions do even contribute towards Ramadan by adding up their positive views to it and by knowing the worth of this major religious event. There is an enormous space given by most of the religions to Ramadan by helping them in fasting and being productive by having a good feed back to them so that it may remain as a mark of cordial relation among them.

Ramadan comes from the religion of peace which then is a peaceful religion itself so never has a conscience to harm someone or provoke someone to an illegitimate act around the globe which in itself is a great honor for the rest of the religions because it promotes peace and tranquility to the entire world to assure humanity is an important essence of Islam which is promoted through Ramadan.

Having an overview of all the religions Ramadan is the key to success because through fasting perseverance comes which is required the most for today’s world. All the religions believe in fasting (RAMADAN) which is then again a common ground for all of them and help promotes this cause which brings man more closer to God and makes him more pious.

A Pakistani Ramadan

Ramadan is one of the most awaited events in Pakistan. Its importance can be justified by rules and regulations governed in the state or example; all the offices in the country or in fact majority close down on a half day basis and special incentives are also given to the employees during the holy month of Ramadan.

One of the most important things about Ramadan is that it is used for the cleansing for the mind, heart and soul of the body which is needed for every Muslim around. It also has a good biological effect to be intestine and stomach system; it cleanses the entire system and makes a person healthy enough which helps in his old age.

The whole nation after ‘Iftar’ is in a state of fellowship among their loved one’s and meet and greet people. They go out for get together and are always looking forward for fun as for the entire day goes in serving the offices and keeping up the commitment to fast as for his command to us. There are many sorts of deals and schemes which come out during this holy month of Ramadan in terms of shopping, food and entertainment.

Ramadan kinds of gets a little difficult for the people here in Pakistan as know Pakistan is a cosmopolitan state having all kinds of sects and culture which dwell in pretty well. But for the one’s fasting it gets a little difficult due to being tempted by seeing others having food and not wanting to have it but still the craving to food is always there.

It closes with a lot of celebration but the sad thing to notice is that every event has its own huge anticipation but as the event arrives the excitement goes low. Same happens with Eid here in Pakistan people mostly celebrate it sitting back at home and enjoy a nice family time. But it pays off for all the fun and praises given to Holy One is this Holy month of Ramadan.
 

A Brief History of Ramadan

We all know that the prayers that Muslim recite daily were not five but originally were fifty originally, but later came down to just five times after a series of tough discussions with our Prophet (peace be upon him) at the end of his journey, which was to the seventh heaven Sidratul Muntaha, the essential seat of the heavenly itself?

The tale of Ramadan is of no less importance. It was during Ramadan, that Allah informed the Holy Prophet of his prophet hood, and it was during Ramadan, the Holy book, the Quran which is the main source of law in Islam was revealed to the Prophet. It was during Ramadan, the first armed forces quarrel that took place between the pagans of Mecca and the Muslims in Medina. Only in Ramadan you will find the most powerful night of the Islamic year, as it is known as a night of Power, a night more significant than a thousand other nights. All of this is attractive to the average Muslim to understand the historical expansion of this important month in Islam.

Ramadan is derived from the Arabic origin word Ar-Ramadi, which means the intense heat or drought. The word of the desire to drink water or eat is prohibited in all the years. This is said to be the physical level. But the religious level, the incineration of such sins by hunger and thirst for the love of God, or observe fasting in this month with an absolute faith and intentions contaminated offer delivery of all the past sins of the faithful people. Fasting is also done to distract sin, and it is also done according to some prophetic tradition, a powerful tool in overcoming the schemes of Satan believers.

Ramadan, was officially recognized as one of the pillars of Islam in the Quran, in the second year of the Hegira means that all other forms of fasting was a choice before. And like all life forms and changing laws in the Quran about Ramadan is a series of steps before it is absolutely bounded on all Muslims healthy adults. Most physicians of Islam agree that the three days of fasting by the Prophet and his companions during the Meccan era and the first years of the Medina, was the introductory period of Ramadan for Muslims.

It may seem strange today, but the fact is that during the early days of Ramadan, fasting was done every day, right after the last evening prayer, the prayer of Asha. That does not mean that people were eating less than three hours lost their energy completely the day, most Muslims went to bed soon.

All doctors agree that Islam is a sign of the infinite mercy of God upon this Ummah would be to complex lifestyle difficult to change or cancel, do it slowly and gradually, on the vast majority of the faithful used to it is to change We are ready, and that's what happened in the history of Islam in Ramadan.

What is Ramadan

As we know that Ramadan comes in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and it is considered as one of the holiest month of the year. The Qur'an (2:185), said that it was in the month of Ramadan that it was revealed. The Holy Prophet Muhammad has told us that messages were revealed to him by God which then became the holy book Quran in 610 AD.

The main thing is that Ramadan reminds us that the Quran was sent down as assistance for civilization and also a way that would help us distinguish between good and evil. Another verse from the Quran (97:1) says that it was discovered on the evening of determination that Muslims detect during the night of 26 to 27 Ramadan.

The holy month begins with the observation of the crescent, the night after the new moon and lasts for 29 or 30 days depending on the lunar cycle. As the Quran has mentioned, Muslims should see the new moon with the naked eye before the start fasting. Practices have proved that two witnesses must confirm before the Qadi, if satisfied, announces the news to the mufti who lets all the Muslims start fasting. It has become customary for the Arab Middle East to accept, with doubts, the decision of Cairo. If the New Moon is invisible, then after calculating 30 days from the month of Sha'ban, the fast begins the day after the last day of that month. Ramadan all over the world is a month of fasting in the Muslim world. The month of fasting ends with the same procedure. Fasting provides Muslims a guideline that teaches them how to discipline and control themselves from hunger and thirst which is told by Prophet Muhammad. So, fasting is a form of devotion and a time of empowerment.

While from sunrise to sunset, Muslims give up food, drink and all physical pleasures. It does not mean that no food is taken. Every day two meals are taken in the month of Ramadan. The souhoor begins every day before dawn and iftar breaks the fast after sunset. When the sun sets every day the fast is opened with dates and water. The main meal can be anything. There are no restrictions, cheeses, mutton, beef, or chicken anything that is simple. Every family has traditional food, to enjoy. Sweet dishes or desserts are an important part of the diet. Usually women at home prepare the meals and special dishes for Ramadan dinner.

Ramadan in USA, the month of patience

Islam is the second largest religion in the world. After the 9/11 Islam is the most widespread religion in Europe and America. The ninth month which is the most valuable in the Islamic calendar is the month of Ramadan.
The month of Ramadan started from the Holy City Mecca to Miami. The Islamic world celebrates this month with all due respect, dignity and commitment by staying away from sin throughout the month while praying  and fasting during the day.

The Muslim community in most parts of the world celebrates Ramadan, including the United States. According to the teachings of Islam and its last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Ramadan is a month to practice to stay away from sin, feel the pain of hunger on behalf those who have nothing to eat. Spend money and buy products in the form of Zakat for the poor.

Ramadan brings significance of peace, fortitude, obligation and remembering the Almighty Allah. Muslims celebrate Ramadan by fasting all day and offer all the prayers throughout the day, giving Zakat and trying to keep themselves away from the sins of the world.

The month of Ramadan not only brings the message to the Muslims, the teachings of God through the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) practice, but also a message to the non-Muslims, to spread Islam. Islam is a religion of peace and teaches patience and always patient, rest and the best example is the month of Ramadan.

Islam and the Muslims all over the world are facing problems for the last 10 years after the attacks on the World Trade Center, but the group of anti-Muslim still is not able to learn something from them. There are people or groups of people, who portrait Islam in a wrong way tamper with it, but the true Islam is the most peaceful religion in the world and the book of Islam is the Holy Quran which is an excellent guideline to lead a good Muslim life.

Ramadan Objectives

On a sweltering hot day your throat has become parched. You are in the privacy of your home and the refreshingly cool water is within hand’s reach. You desire to drink it, but you do not. Why? Simply because you are fasting and while fasting you cannot eat and drink. If somebody prompts you to nevertheless drink it and says: “Nobody is watching,” you will immediately rebuke him with the words: “But Allah is watching”

ALLAH IS WATCHING!
Allah is watching. Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing, He is Omnipresent. He sees and knows when we cheat while fasting, thus we resist all temptations of food, drink and lawful conjugal relations from dawn to dusk. We have learnt the lesson of Taqwa. We have learnt that lesson which the fasting was meant to teach us. Allah is watching! Yes, Allah is watching! Every time there is an urge to eat or drink while fasting, the voice from within cries out: “Allah is watching!” Dozens of times daily for an entire month this reality is reaffirmed. Allah is watching. So deeply is it embedded in the heart that by the time Ramadan is over, a person becomes conscious of Allah to such an extent that he is now guided by an inner force that propels him in the direction of righteousness and turns him away from sin?

TAQWA
The fasts of Ramadan were prescribed for the purpose and object of attaining Taqwa. This is clearly declared in the Qur’an-al-Kareem. Taqwa simply is to obey the commands of Allah and refrain from all sin, the increased rewards for lbaadah (worship) in Ramadan and all the blessings of this great month should be considered as the bonus. The object is Taqwa. If one performs an abundance of Salaah, completes the recitation of the Qur’an thirty times and engages in many other acts of lbaadah, but fails to give up sins – one has failed to achieve the object and purpose of Ramadan. One has failed to firmly embed the reality of Taqwa in the heart, the Taqwa that cries out “Allah Is watches” whenever one contemplates committing any transgression.

TEMPTATION
The dictates of Taqwa are not restricted to abstaining from drinking, gambling, adultery, transacting in interest and other such vices. Indeed Taqwa demands that while abstaining from the entire above vices one also observes Taqwa in one’s business. When the temptation to cheat the customer beckons, or when one is tempted to buy stolen goods or to indulge in fraud, at that time also the heart should cry out “Allah is watching” and it should restrain one from the sin.

ABSTAIN FROM SIN
This then is the object of Ramadan. This will only be achieved if we conduct ourselves in this great month with Taqwa. Or else the object of Ramadan will be defeated. Hence Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “He who does not forsake lying and other futile actions, Allah has no need for him to give up his food and drink.” Thus together with fasting, performing Salaah, reading the Qur’an, serving the cause of Deen, etc,, one must totally abstain from every sin in the month of Ramadan and adorn oneself with Taqwa. Insha-Allah this will then carry one along for the rest of the eleven months to abstain from all sins.

May Allah enable us to make this Ramadan a month where we will truly attain Taqwa. Aameen.

Ramadan is a holy month for muslims

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. According to the Islamic calendar Ramadan comes in the ninth month every year. It is a time of fasting from dawn to dusk daily. During this holy month Muslims give up food and drink during the daytime. It is a month where each one devotes themselves to praise, worship and honor God. This is normally done by saying your prayers five times a day or going to the mosque. During Ramadan we should be devoted to God by praying and visiting the mosque. In Ramadan we read the Quran more often as we know that the gates of heaven are opened and hell is closed. There are a lot of beliefs attached to this month that is a great festival for all Muslims. Ramadan is the holiest month of all as it was during this month that the Holy Quran was bestowed to our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) from heaven. Ramadan according to Islam is also of great importance as it is one of the five pillars of Islam; the pillars are a set standard for all Muslims which are compulsory to follow. It is an obligation that all Muslims should fast during this entire month.

Following are the five pillars of Islam.
1)    Recitation of the Apostles' Creed (Shahada) twice – that ‘There is no God except Allah "and" the Prophet Mohammed is his prophet.

2)    Prayer (Salat) is said five times a day facing towards the Holy city of Mecca.

3)    Charity (Zakat) – is a donation which is compulsory and an obligation for every Muslim as it is the giving of arms to the poor and needy.

4)    Fasting (Saum) – Is obligatory in the Holy month of Ramadan.

5)    Pilgrimage (Hajj) – Has to be done once in your life time. It is the visit to the Holy city in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Important during Hajj:
Muslims performing Hajj it is important that you should walk around the Kaaba seven times, kiss and touch the black stone as it is affiliated to a religious significance before Muhammad was born. In this one point Muhammad used this as a practice and it became one of the five pillars of Islam.

Those who are the followers of Islam are expected to refrain from eating and drinking during Ramadan. Under some circumstances Muslims are exempted from fasting they are as follows. Including:

• Children below the age of 12
• Children that are physically and mentally disabled
• Muslims that are aged
• Muslims that are traveling long distances
• Nursing mothers
• Pregnant women
• Women getting their periods

Ramadan in Pakistan

The excitement begins when people see the Ramadan moon. There is a buzz in the streets late into the night and people begin to prepare for the month of fasting by the storing the things needed to start the fast. The men head into the mosque for Taraweeh prayers, while the women start sehri (pre-dawn) preparation.

In order to wake every one for sehri a man strolls in the vicinity before dawn. The sound is loud enough to wake up all those who are sleeping. The box is a cheap replacement for traditional drums.

Donations and prayers
In Ramadan Allah showers many blessings and even the smallest of good deeds can reap great fruits. During Ramadan, we remember the people who live hand to mouth, never knowing whether they can get enough food for the next meal. Therefore Ramadan is considered as a month of showing love for the poor.

During the day, people recite Quran and pray extra. The normal working hours should be altered so that people work earlier than usual to go home for Iftar. Students love it because classes end at 12.30 in Ramadan, while they can rest the entire day.

Many Pakoras
The preparations for the Iftar meal begin at noon. Each house has numerous varieties of Pakoras (fried vegetable fritters) that are fried to open the fast - Iftar, in fact, would be incomplete without it! The people also enjoy fruit chaat (fruit salad with herbs) Dhai bharhey (seasoned yogurt dumplings) and samosas are very popular with everyone.

Restaurants have special menus for Iftar and Sehri, so many people eat out during Ramadan. After the Iftar meal, prayers are offered and the men go for Taraweeh prayers in the mosque, while the women get together in a local house gather to pray. Everyone goes home every day with tea.

Night of the Moon
The last day of Ramadan is a transition, and with them comes its blessings. The last night of Ramadan, when the new moon is in the sky, it is said to be  'Chaand Raat' (Night of the Moon) and promotes Eid. Eid ul-Fitr is also known as Meetha Eid (Eid Sweet) because it has more sweets than the Eid ul-Adha.

Decorated with colorful lights, the shops are open all night, because everyone buys new clothes and shoes for Eid. The atmosphere is excited and happy. Girls buy bangles and bracelets according to their outfits. That night women and girls paint their hands with henna (Mehndi) with different patterns before going to bed.

Ramadan and Virtues

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate. All acclaim is to Allah, Whom we acknowledge and seek for His advice and forgiveness.We seek ambush in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the accountability of our angry deeds.

Whomsoever He guides, will never be misled, and whomsoever He misguides, will never acquisition enlightenment. I affirm that there is none aces of adoration except Allah, and that Mohammad is His bondservant and Messenger. Allah said, what translated means, “O you who believe! Abhorrence Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a accompaniment of Islam” [3:102],

Also, “Mankind! Be binding to your Lord, Who created you from a distinct being (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created abounding men and women and abhorrence Allah through whom you appeal your alternate (rights), and (do not cut the relations) of the wombs (kinship)! Surely, Allah is Ever an All- Watcher over you.” [4:1]

And, “O you who believe! Keep your assignment to Allah and abhorrence Him, and allege (always) the Truth.” [33:70].

The best of accent is the Book of Allah, and the best of advice is the advice beatific with Muhammad - accord be aloft him. The affliction of affairs is Bid’ahs (innovations in the religion), every Bid’ah is a Dhalalah [misguidance], and every Dhalalah is in the Hellfire.

• A. The Magnificent Month
• B. Blessings of Ramadan
• C. Virtues of Fasting in Quran and Sunnah
• D. Ramadan and the Quran

A. The Magnificent Month

Salman Al-Farisi (may Allah be admiring with him) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) addressed us on the aftermost day of Sha’ban and said: “People, a abundant adored ages has appear aloft you, a ages absolute Laylat al-Qadr which is bigger than a thousand months. Allah has fabricated abnegation during it an obligation, and deeply celebratory its nights in adoration a autonomous act. Whoever undertakes an act of accordance to Allah during this ages with a angelic deed, it is as if he has performed an binding act at added times; and whoever performs an binding act during it is as one who performed seventy obligations at added times.

B.        Blessings of Ramadan

Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters! We are hosting anon inshaa’a Allah a unique, a acceptable and an atonement guest; a bedfellow that visits us already a year and brings with it all sorts of advantage and happiness; a bedfellow that brings with it the advanced Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah; a bedfellow that brings with it a aroma of Paradise; a bedfellow that makes the accepter afterpiece to Allah and His Paradise and abroad from Shaytan and Hell Fire. It is Ramadhan, the ages of the Qur’an, the ages of Mercy, the ages of Forgiveness, the ages of adoration at night and Suhoor, the ages of adherence and alternate help, the ages of all blessings.

C.        Virtues of Abnegation as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah

The accolade for abnegation is immense, as mentioned in the afterward Hadeeth: “Every activity of the son of Adam is accustomed assorted reward, anniversary acceptable accomplishment accepting ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will accord amends for it, he leaves off his desires and his aliment for Me.’ for the abnegation being there are two times of joy; a time back he break his fast and a time of joy back he meets his Lord, and the aroma advancing from the aperture of the abnegation being is bigger with Allah than the aroma of musk.” [al-Bukhaaree]

D.        Ramadan and the Quran

This is based on an abstract from Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali’s “Lataif al-Ma’arif” (pp. 179-182), quoted by Fahd bin Sulaiman in “Kay nastafeed min Ramadan” (pp. 48-50)

“The ages of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was beatific bottomward ... so whoever amidst you assemblage this month, let him fast it...” [Note: in the tafsir of this verse, it is mentioned that the chat ‘so’ (fa) in this ballad gives the afterward digest of one aspect of the acceptation of the ayah:

Ramadan - Benefits

Praise be to Allah.

Ramadan is a month of fasting and prayer for Muslims. Fasting is total abstinence from food and drinking from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan. However, there are more important things for young people that abstinence-only food and drink. The real purpose of fasting during Ramadan is to inculcate in man the spirit of abstaining from sins and the cultivation of virtue

First it should be noted that one of the names of Allah is al-Hakim (the wisest). The word Hakeem is originated from the same source hukm (wisdom) and Hikma (wisdom). Allah is the only one who issues a decision, and crises are most wise and perfect.

Second: God does not require a decision, but there is wisdom that we can try to understand, or our minds may be led us to understand. We know some of them, but many are hidden from us.

Fasting is a means of accomplishing taqwa (piety, being aware of Allah), and taqwa means doing what God has appointed and avoiding what He forbids. Fasting is one of the most important means to help a person to fill the orders of Islam.

The scholars (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned some of the reasons why fasting is recommended, all of which are characteristics of piety. Among the reasons for fasting:

1)    Fasting is a way that allows us to appreciate and give thanks for the pleasures that Allah has bestowed upon us. Since food and water, are among the greatest pleasures. Giving them up for a short time make us appreciate their value. Blessings of Allah are recognized when they are away from us, which motivates us to be grateful for them.

2)    Fasting enables us to control our desires, because when a person is filled with desires to grow, but if you are hungry, then his desire becomes weak.

3)    Fasting makes us feel compassionate and have sympathy for the poor, because while fasting we consider the pain of hunger for a moment, remembering those in this situation all the time.

4)    Fasting weakens Satan; it weakens the effects of his whispering to us and reduces sins. Fasting reduces the attempts of Satan, his influence becomes less on us.

5)    The fasting person is training himself to remember that God is always on the lookout, overlooking the things he wants, even if they are able to take them because he knows that God can see.

6)    It makes a Muslim used to do acts of worship, because the people who fast usually do more acts of worship and gets used to it.

Some of the reasons for fasting are enjoined. We ask Allah to help us achieve this and to worship Him properly during the holy month of Ramadan.

And Allah knows best

Fasting in Ramadan: A traditional “iftar” meal in Pakistan

Fasting in Ramadan sometimes gets akin to feasting in Ramadan as people approach the iftar time with anticipation of consuming good food after fasting all day. With changing times, the food preference of people has also changed and many western, Italian, Chinese and Arab dishes have become part of Pakistani cuisine. However, some traditions never change and people of Pakistan still look forward to their favorite iftar meals in Ramadan. Most of these items are prepared at home by women and great planning goes into the preparation of these savory iftar dishes.
DATES:
Dates of every hue, color, texture and price are consumed in abundance in Ramadan. They are highly nutritious and an ideal food item with which to break the fast. Dates can be eaten plain or they can be seeded and filled with almonds, pistachio, cream, butter etc for enhanced flavor. They can be rolled in desiccated coconut or sprinkled with rose essence for fragrance and aesthetics. Dates are also covered with edible silver foil called “warq” to make them more appealing and giving them a place of honor on the iftar dining table.
SAMOSAS:
No iftar in Pakistan is complete without this triangular, spicy and fried delicacy during ramadan. The wafting aroma that comes from fried samosas is enough to make one salivate and look forward to the iftar time. Samosas can be filled with mashed potatoes, onions, spicy mince meat, cheese, chicken or cooked vegetables. It is usually served with mint, coriander or tamarind chutney. Literally thousands of samosa stalls spring up during Ramadan in every nook and corner of the country where vendors start frying this savory iftar item well before the maghrib prayers to meet the demands of the fasting populace.
JALEBI:
Jalebi is a pretzel shaped sweet dish that is generally eaten with samosas to counter their salty and spicy taste. It is also made of fried batter that is poured in concentric circles and then soaked in sugar syrup. It is usually bright orange and yellow due to food coloring.
PAKORAS:
Another mouth watering iftar itemin Ramadan, pakoras are fried balls of gram flour. A variety of vegetables including onions, potatoes, spinach, corriander leaves, eggplant and green chilies can be cut into tiny pieces and mixed with spicy flour batter. They are then deep fried to make tasty fritters. Onion rings, potato wedges and cauliflower florets can also be coated with the batter and fried to make a heavenly dish. The more adventurous like to dip whole green chilies in the batter and fry them for a very hot iftar.
FRUIT CHAT:
For the health conscious, fruit chat is a preferred alternative to spicy pakoras and fried samosas during ramadan. A variety of seasonal fruits like mangoes, bananas, apples, guavas, apricots, grapes, pine apple etc. are cut in small cubes and served in juice. A few lemon drops are squeezed over the dish to keep it from changing color and a little salt, chat masala (spice mix)and pepper are sprinkled on the dish to give it a zesty flavor. It is extremely nourishing after a long day’s fast.
CHICKPEA CHAT:
Another delicious food item to grace the iftar table inramadan is the chickpea or “chana chat.” This dish is made of boiled chickpeas mixed with boiled and cubed potatoes, chopped tomatoes, onions, green chillies and served with dollops of spicy tamarind chutney. A fabulous dish to tantalize the taste buds, chickpea chat is also quite nutritious and healthy.
DRINKS FOR IFTAR:
Water is the best option for quenching thirst after a 15 hour long fast for most people. In Pakistan a variety of sherbets, sweet syrup-based drinks, are also available that are prepared for iftar. Cold milk mixed with sherbet or soda is also commonly served. Packaged or fresh juices, lemon squashes, carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks are also consumed. After iftar, drinking tea or ‘kehwa’ is also a common practice.
Many restaurants and cafes offer a large variety of traditional and international cuisine during Ramadan. However pizzas, burgers, spring rolls etc. still have not gained much popularity as iftar items. Since iftar is a time to eat and rejoice with family and friends, homemade items still hold sway over other foods. While iftar spread at every household tends to reflect the personal tastes and preferences of that family, the above mentioned items remain popular and ever appealing.

Taken From Cuisine Online

Ramadan Flight Offer

As the Holy month of Ramadan is the month of giving, this Ramadan working professionals living in the Middle East can still benefit from our ‘Ramadan Flight Offer’ until 30 September 2010.
This offer entitles students who want to pursue a postgraduate degree online to enrol now for the University of Liverpool’s 2010 intake dates and make their graduation dreams a reality.
The ‘Ramadan Flight Offer’* includes a free return flight for you, if you:

• Complete your enrolment now
• Start your studies on or before the 16 December 2010
• Graduate no later than December 2013

cousins..

based on the viewing statistics that youtube provides i can see that over 90 readers of this blog have viewed the first video attached to my post below.. i must say i was surprised that no one out of the 90+ commented.. :)

either way - tomorrow evening is the jewish new year and then ten days later we will be fasting for yom kippur.. as such it is a holy period for us all.. from this angle i would like to wish us a year full of new beginnings and peace.. a year during which we make room for feelings of trust and beliefs of hope and friendship so that our future generations can live in a worlds that is better than today's and blessed by our cooperation as we face inevitable challenges that none of us will be able to solve alone..

may this rosh hashana and yom kippur along with this ramadan bring us good times ahead..

peace..

mass jaffan yiftar..

what a shame.. seriously.. i could only stick around for a short while.. an hour and then i had to go to see a dr.. last time i came to the iftar at the arab & jewish community centre in yaffo was two years ago.. its invitation only.. this year i went along with a friend after being cordially invited.. i was flattered and excited.. a room full of hundreds of people.. many from NGOs or schools or community groups.. it was beautiful..

the food was plentiful and abulafia - a local historic baking institution - sponsored the event.. it was attended by the mayor of telaviv ron huldai and a member of knesset (israeli parliament) fouad.. both spoke fluidly about all sorts of big stuff like co-existance and peace and the impending negotiations between israel and the palestinian authority.. bla bla..

for the most part - the most awesome aspect - was just sitting together at tables with pepole who had never met each other before yet share the same community.. suddenly discovering close connections new and old.. smiling warmly and realising that we are a family.. we do share the space and we love that space..

it was just a meal.. and for me just a short meal.. but one of those cherished experiences that inspire you to believe that peace amongst people is possible and even more than that - peace is desirable.. its not a compromise.. its an elation..

ramadan kareem to all.. and shukran ramadan for the opportunity to draw hearts closer together..



for a full collection of photos and comments from the night you can go to a local article about it..

serene light..

ramadan is in full swing here in my town of yaffo (israel) as well.. the mosque near my house recently changed the guy that calls for prayer.. the new guy has a great voice and his melody is really beautiful.. i may not be muslim but i like how the call dances through the air each time.. you can tell this new guy is trying.. not as many ramadan lights are up as there were in past years - or at least it seems that way to me.. still last night walking past the mosque i appreciated the serenity radiating out of this solitary light.. the surrounds are being renovated by the council and so the streetscape is a bit hectic.. but the people kneeling inside seemed so calm..

as per previous years - i anticipate joining the massive yaffo iftar at the arab jewish community centre.. hopefully ill have some cool photos and videos..

wishing us all a nice day..

Ramadan Comedy

A nice video about Ramadan.

Obama Ramadan Adress 2010

President Barak Obama addressing an audience at a dinner hosted at the white house to celebrate Ramadan.

Obama's 2010 Ramadan Dinner

A great post about the Ramadan dinner hosted by American president Barak Obama this year, includes pictures from the now annual Ramadan event.

White House Ramadan Dinner.

A Non-Muslim Celebrating Ramadan

Our alarm played classical music at 4:02 this morning, and so we awoke for breakfast before dawn. Though we are not Muslim, this will be my fifth year fasting for the month of Ramadan, and Martin, my husband's, fourth. The morning sky was filled with stars and a few clouds when I went outside for the newspaper. There was no hint of daybreak.

We had a simple breakfast: blueberries and cottage cheese, toast with olive oil and za'atar (Palestinian grandmothers say it makes you smarter!). Most important: a big glass of juice, followed by a big glass of water, then (for me) a cup of tea. It is such a long summer day ahead, and the fast for Ramadan will mean no food and no water until 8:07 p.m. this evening.

When I first decided to fast for Ramadan, I asked advice of two friends who are Muslim. One told me that the decision to fast must be personal and private. He advised me not to write or talk much about it. I choose to set aside his advice now because I would like to share what I have learned and continue to learn through this experience, and use it as a lens in these turbulent times to describe the many ways I will connect with people of various faiths in the month ahead.

Muslim readers will undoubtedly find our Ramadan fasting incomplete. Non-Muslims may be curious. I hope both groups will use this space to post comments and respond thoughtfully to questions.

"Ramadan Kareem" is one of the greeting one offers to Muslims at this time of year. Kareem is an Arabic word with positive meanings: decent, generous, kind, noble, honorable, precious, good, gentle, valuable, respectable, good-hearted and open-handed. I hope to describe how my Ramadan experience has been all of these.

So it's this time of year again. (written 9/8/10)

Ramadan approaches, and muslims worldwide are preparing for their annual (lunar) month-long fast.

To many non-muslims this may mean grumpy corner-shop owners, not being able to get an evening taxi for love nor money, or the almighty shopping exodus towards Eid.
And the not being able to get a restaurant table for love nor money.
But to many muslims, it is a time of reflection, inspiration, sacrifice, focus, family, and of God.

And so it will be for me again, albeit not with the full dedication it takes to not eat or drink (or for some orthadox muslims, swallow their own parched saliva) during daylight hours for a whole month.
My fast will include abstaining from certain food stuffs and drink stuffs, doing a liquid fast once a week (where I will only have fluids during the day), and during the last 10 days of ramadan will be hopefully fasting on alternate days.
Why am I, a non-muslim, doing this? Well for me, it is a time of relfection, inspiration, sacrifice, focus, family, and of God.

I hope to write about this, my struggle to resist that can of diet coke (cool, bubbly coke. Fresh, yummy coke...) , my search for meaning in my spirituality, my quest for a cleaner body and mind, and more focus.

Day 1 starts the day after tomorrow, so my first decision starts tonight at a meal out with friends... do I partake one last time, or get a good start on abstaining??

This time less than three years ago,...I also had the pleasure of being in Lahore, Pakistan just as Eid hit.

Staying in old Anarkali, with a room overlooking food street, I was nightly treated to the constant ebb and flow of people. Lahories love to eat. And talk. Men, families, arriving to eat at the tables set up in the street to meet, eat, and talk (I couldn't get that to rhyme). I roamed in the rush-hour safety of the Anarkali market, absorbed sights, sounds, smells, and sat in a confetti of flies during an afternoon watching families enjoying the Eid fair (to the concern of the hotel manager, Mr Anxious), shaking hands with shy young girls wearing a lot of make-up.
I watched Dawn news whilst escaping the pressing midday heat.
During my stay I experienced the overwhelming hospitalityof some of the locals, beautifully simple kebobs, oddly complex burgers, friendly locals, love-hungry yound men, and a wild west restaurant serving pasta. Was I confused? Yes, yes I was. (But being a bit of a perve, I was also very amused)
And as I explored that amazing city as much as a lone white girl can, perused Lahore fort and the museum, marvelled at shrines and red-brick buildings, dodged traffic, and met people. So with varied results and conflicting memories, I had to move on. But the memory of the Eid festivity on Anarkali and the life of Lahore has stayed with me.

Here are a couple of pictures, firstly one above of food street hazy with the smoke from taktaka pans and general heat.
And the next, one of my favourite ever. Local Muslims deep in prayer.

















Please do not use any of my pictures without my permission, they hold some very dear memories and I'd hate for that to be violated. Thx.

From Abskii.

The beginning of another test

Ramadhan - for many of us it is simply a month where we shy away from indulgences; for others it is a period of reflection; for many though it still remains a duty to be performed as a God-fearing muslim.

Whichever category we fall into, one thing is for sure - the very first day is always nervously approached.

A hundred questions come into our wavering minds. Will we keep the faith and make it through the month; will we be able to overcome the pangs of hunger, thirst and desires; Will we prove to ourselves and Allah that we are indeed worthy of a place in his jannat?

And on a more realistic note, we wonder if we will get up on time for the very first Seher; whether the soft mattress and duck-feather pillows can be given up for a token meal which is supposed to carry us through the day?

But all these fears are banished - because we hardly sleep thru the night. Those who are fortunate to attend the Taraweeh are already awake, and the others anticipate Seher with a trepidation.

The first Seher starts with a cup of tea, some wheatbreads, some fruit juice, and last night's biryani. And gallons and gallons of water.

And then the meal is over.

No, you cannot look longingly at the goodies in the fridge for the whole day. Temptation is Satan's first and most powerful card. And he can play it like a charm. Do not fall for it.

As the day goes by you forget that you are fasting as life pulls you into its usual whirlpool.

The first pangs of thirst pinches you after the sun has crossed overhead. The heat under your collar suggests to you that maybe you should quench the fire in your throat with some cool water. Ah ha! Stay cool my friend, the Lohar prayer shall guide you.

Then evening approaches. The smells of coffee next door, fried knick-knacks from the vendor across the street, and your office colleague busily munching away on his potato chips tease your senses. Asr prays with you and leads you away from all this.

At last, Iftaar arrives.

Strangely though, you don't feel as if you have deprived yourself of anything till now.

Contrary to all fears such as dropping like a stone on the way to work, fainting while sitting at your desk, panting with your tongue hanging half-way to your feet, wanting that innermost basal desire - none of all this has happened. You are calm and look forward to breaking the fast.

So comes the small supplication and then the sweet taste of your first drop of precious water since Seher, followed by the sweeter taste of rich dates. And other goodies - Fritters, fruits, Broth and of course more water.

The deed is done. Maghrib takes you beyond this and you thank Allah for giving you the patience, perseverance and piety for making it thru the first day of Ramadhan.

Insha Allah, the coming days shall be no different.

Flood victims desperately awaiting aid as Ramazan begins

Hundreds of thousands of flood victims are desperately awaiting relief as first day of this year’s holy month of Ramadan dawned across the country on Thursday.

The flood water, after inundating most of the Kutcha area in interior Sindh, is now making its way towards the cities while a heavy flood is being feared to pass from Chenab River at Head Khanki in the next few hours.

These people are homeless, have lost every thing and are sick, hungry and looking for help. Please help them in whatever way you can this Ramadan.

We had previously written a detailed post appealing for help for the flood victims of Pakistan you will find contact information for Organization which are there but could use your help. Open your Hearts this Ramadan and help these people in whatever way you can.