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.

Ramadan Anywhere

The following was received through email, it is an example of what Ramadan is like for people around the world. It suggested we start a facebook page which I will try to do in a couple of days. If anyone has something to share feel free to email it to us.

Every year Ramzan brings  a new excitement. One year I shared it with some colleagues in Montreal, Canada. The previous year I was in Singapore. Two years ago I was closer home, in Mumbai, India. A year before that I spent the whole of the month in Hyderabad, India.

 

This year I think I may be home in Chennai.

 

Every place offered me something new. Every seher was different, every Iftaar was splendid. Wish I could have taken fotos in all the places. Could have shared them with you.

 

And every year I look at Ramadan Kareem for all the interesting posts. Can't I link up thru Facebook?

 

I hope to share some experiences this year too.

 

Ramzan Mubarak to all my fellow brethren.

So, it's this time of year again.

Guest Post By Fasting But Not Furious.

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 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???

Ramadan Gift - Mecca Time

This Ramadan there is another reason to celebrate. Saudi Arabia The birth place of Islam is hoping to set a new time standard for the muslim world as a giant clock in the Muslim holy city of Mecca start to tick Wednesday on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Royal Clock, designed by German Premiere Composite Technologies company, is sitting atop a skyscraper just 50 meters of the Grand Mosque in the city. The clock was designed to be the world's largest - six times larger than London's Big Ben.


The 577-meter Mecca Clock Royal Tower will also feature a lunar observation center and an Islamic museum as well as a luxurious 76- storey hotel.

With the giant clock, Saudi Arabia is trying the present an ideal alternate time standard to the Greenwich meridian; the Mecca time.

Muslim scholars at a conference in Doha in 2008 presented scientific arguments that Mecca time could serve as a true global meridian, given that Mecca is actually the center of the world.

"Putting Mecca time in the face of Greenwich Mean Time, this is the goal," Mohammed al-Arkubi, general manager of Royal Mecca Tower Hotel, was quoted by the local paper as saying. 

Ramadan - First Sehri

Just had my first sehri of this Ramadan. The weather has been better the last few days cloudy all day, but there is slight humidity so the day should pass ok. Sehri is supposed to be one of two meals during the day and it should be enough to last you till sundown in Pakistan that's about 14 hours these days. In Pakistan people usually have Eggs, kababs, parathas, yougurt, Aloo Bhujia etc. Lots of water and milk too. Wish you all a happy 1st day of Ramadan.

Pakistan Ramadan Moon Sighted

Ramadan moon has been sighted in Pakistan and Ramadan will start tomorrow. We wish all the best and a very happy Ramadan to All our viewers in Pakistan.

Ramadan The month of Blessing and Charity

Ramadan is the month in which we all come closer to God, it is a time to be thankful to God for all the blessings he has bestowed upon us. It is also a month to look out towards others less fortunate than us and open our hearts to their problems. As Muslims we are duty bound to help anyone in need to the best of our ability, especially in Ramadan people all around the world step up and help others as much as they can.

This is an Appeal of help from Ramadan Blog  for those in Pakistan suffering from the worst natural disaster in history. What was till today described as the worst floods in Pakistan’s history has now been termed as the biggest disaster ever to strike the country.  Worse than the Earthquake in the subcontinent as well as worse than the tsunami that hit the region a couple years back. The floods that have submerged most of Pakistan have been the cause of over 1600 deaths, as well as the displacement of 18 million people who have lost almost everything.

Please Donate to this cause this Ramadan and help these poor people who have lost everything, following is a list of some reliable charities you can donate to.

Besides sending cash through the organizations listed below, you can support by providing following commodities (please do not donate old/expired stuff. Make sure edible items are hygienic and properly packed):
* Clothing: Clothes of various sizes, Bedding, Shoes
* Utensils: Jerricans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids), Crockery, Buckets
* Toiletries: Tissues, Soaps, Dettol (antibacterial cleaners), Towels
* Food: Rice, Sugar, Flour (Atta), Onions, Potatoes, Cooking oil, Tea, Milk (tetra packs or powder), Safe drinking water, Cooked Food
Medicines:
1. Water purification tablets.
2. Life saving drugs.
3. Vaccines for malaria, cholera, typhoid, influenza.
4. Pain killers including strong ones like morphine derivatives, tremadol, pethadine, kinz .
5. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.
6. IV cannulas
7. IV Drip sets
8. IV drips: normal saline, ringerlactate
9. Local anesthetics (injections)
10. Cotton bandages, cotton.
11. Surgical instruments: e.g needle holders, forceps, tweezers.
12. Suturing materials, Skin staples.

In Pakistan:

• Edhi Foundation: Donate here

• Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation
  Title of Account: Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation
  Account #: 0030445261000455
  Name of Bank: MCB Bank (1028), Super Market, Islamabad-Pakistan
  Swift Code: MUCBPKKAMCC
  Tax Exemption: 6043/ATD/2008-09

• SUNGI: Donate here

• Pakistan Red Crescent Society (offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Muzaffarabad.

• Pakistani Youth (facebook group)

• Rescue & Relief Work ( Flood Survival)An independent group of students (facebook group)

• The Volunteers/ Voice of the Civil Society: VOTCS – a registered (No. DSW 3369-K) welfare organization in Pakistan, operating as a Non-Profit, Public Charity in the North America, Inc. – 501(C)(3) Organization(Tax Exempted). Sending provisions to affectees with the help of Pakistan Army. For more info call: Hadia khan @ +92-3018245999 Sadia Haroon @ +92-3218251122 Irum Farooque @ +92-3002332142. (For donations: HABIB BANK LIMITED ACCOUNT NO: 1549-79001393-03)

• RONAQ-E-QAINAAT – Young doctors are in the process of arranging a series of free medical camps in the flood affected areas. First Camp is at Nowshera. Please Contact Ms. Alina Akhyar at alinaakhyar@yahoo.com, to email you the Trust’s past activities, bank account details and other queries. They have reportedly done some pretty impressive work. (Account number: 00400101065364, account title: Khadija Nadeem; Askari Bank Chaklala Scheme 3 branch Rawalpindi). Khadija is the founding member, handling all donations.

International Charity Organizations:

• UNHCR: Donate here. You can also mail your donations to UNHCR:
• UNHCR  - UNHCR Canada
• UNICEF USA- Donate here
• United Nation’s World Food Programme: Donations are tax deductible for number of countries. Donate here
• Plan International ( Pakistan specific) donate here
• International Medical Corps
• IRC (The International Rescue Committee): donate here: http://www.theirc.org/news/irc-team-responds-devastating-floods-pakistan

Start of Ramadan 2010

Ramadan is a festive period in Islam, one of the holiest and most sacred month for Muslims all over the world. Ramadan is one of the most important months in the Islamic calender which is based on the sighting of the moon. This year Saudi Arabia, and most of the middle east countries will start celebrating Ramadan on Wednesday, August 11th 2010. The rest of the countries will probably start Ramadan on Thursday depending on the sighting of the moon in the respective countries. I wish all the Muslims around the world a very blessed month ahead. May all your prayers be answered in this holy month and may you have all the blessing. A very blessed Ramadan to everyone from all of us here at Ramadan Blog.

Ramadan Savories - Hot Brinjal Pickle

Do try this recipe, its something i have been making for years.

1 Kg Eggplant
20 Cloves Garlic
1 Tsp Pepper
25 Gms Ginger
1 1/2 Cups Vinegar
1 Tsp Tumeric
4 Level Tbsp Mustard seeds
2 1/2 Cups Mustard oil (heated and cooled)
4 Level Tbsp Salt
3 Tbsp Kashmiri Red Chillie powder - freshly ground



METHOD: Dice the eggplant into 1 inch cubes, rub with salt and set aside for 12 hours, in the sun. Take ginger, garlic, cumin seeds and mustard seeds and grind them together, then add vinegar and mix well.
Squeeze out all the salt water from the eggplants, and gently rub the chillie powder, pepper, tumeric and then add the vinegar mixture.
Then put in a glass jar and pour mustard oil on top of it, then cover and put in the sun every day
for 15 days, but remember to shake and stir the pickle everyday with a wooden spoon. The pickle will be ready to eat after 15 days.