|
Post by Jaga on Sept 1, 2009 9:15:31 GMT -7
Happy Birthday Rabia!
How are you? Do you have already your new baby? Please let us know when you would have some time.
|
|
|
Post by Jaga on Sept 1, 2009 9:18:07 GMT -7
|
|
|
Post by RabiaMuweis on Sept 3, 2009 0:54:00 GMT -7
Dear Jaga Thank you from all my heart to these beautiful flowers and kindness that you to wish me happy birthday I'm still waiting for my new baby and there is nothing wrong in some delays so they told me.Because I have plenty of time may be til 23/9 We are now in the days of fasting (Ramadan)
|
|
|
Post by Jaga on Sept 3, 2009 3:43:42 GMT -7
Hi Rabia,
thank you for your update. I am glad that the time is coming. I remember hearing a couple of days ago that Ramadan started, but since you are expecting - do you also need to observe Ramadan strictly?
|
|
|
Post by pieter on Sept 3, 2009 13:56:12 GMT -7
What is Ramadan? An Explanation by Yusuf Islam
Ramadan
Ramadan (also written Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset. Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramaḍān is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God (Arabic: Allāh), and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramaḍān, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving forward about ten days each year as it is a moving festival depending on the moon. Ramadhan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were claimed to have been revealed[Qur'an 2:185] to the Prophet Muhammad.
The name "Ramaḍāma" had been the name of the ninth month in the Arab world long before the arrival of Islam; the word itself derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations. In the Qu'ran, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to the earliest hadith, this refers to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur.
Origins of Ramadan
Sometimes referred to as "the night of power", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year, as it is the night in which the Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe it to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramaḍān, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th (in Sunni thought) or the 19th, 21st or 23rd (in Shi'a thought). Ramaḍān ends with Eid ul-Fitr on the 1 of Shawwal, with much celebration and feasting. During the month following Ramaḍān, called Shawwal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days, known as as-Sitta al-Bīḍ, or "the white six." When fasting is over, Muslims go to Mosques in nice clothes to pray the first Eid prayer. They give out presents to the young ones and greet their friends and families. They then thank God for what God has given them.
Fasting
The most prominent event of this month is fasting. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat Sehri, the pre-dawn meal, then they perform the fajr prayer. They have to stop eating and drinking before the call for prayer starts until the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib. Muslims open their fast at Magrib (at suset) prayer time or Iftari. Muslims may continue to eat and drink after the sun has set until the next morning's fajr prayer call. Then the process starts all over.
Ramadan is a time of reflecting and worshipping Allah. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual thoughts and activities during fasting hours are also forbidden.[Qur'an 2:187] Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to God.
The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity(Zakat). However, a certain level of self-control can be lost by those who suffer from eating disorders.
The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed. While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood, many children endeavor to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[Qur'an 2:184] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 40 miles in a day as exempt. The elderly or those who suffer from a disability or disease and have no prospect of getting better in the future can pay the cost of Iftar for a person who cannot afford it, or else they can host him in their house and have him eat with them after sunset as a way of repaying for the days they could not fast. [Qur'an 2:184] A person who is observing Ramadan might break the fast accidentally, due to having forgotten it. In such an instance, one should spit out the food being eaten or cease the forbidden activity, immediately upon remembering the fast. This can usually happen in the first or early days of Ramadan because that person might have not yet been acclimated into fasting from dawn till dusk.
When Ramadan came to overshadow Ashura in importance, it took on some characteristics of the latter. According to a well-known hadith, the person who observes Ramadan properly will have all their past sins forgiven. According to another, "When Ramadan arrives, Heaven's gates are opened, Hell's gates are closed, and the Jinns are chained up" and who ever passes away will enter paradise.
There are exceptions in certain Muslim communities that deny practicing fasting in Ramadān such as Alevi people in Turkey.
Prayer and reading of the Qur'an
In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (juz, which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.
Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment, establishing a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involved the preparing of special foods and inviting people for the Iftar meal (the meal to open the fast).
In many Muslim and non Muslim countries with large Muslim populations, markets close down in the evening to enable people to perform prayers and consume the Iftar meal – these markets then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In some Muslim countries, failing to fast or openly flaunting such behavior during Ramadan is considered a crime and is prosecuted as such. For instance, in Algeria, in October 2008 the court of Biskra condemned six people to 4 years in prison and heavy fines.
A muslim should start fasting once reached the age of puberty, are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesess.
Eid ul-Fitr
The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast; a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (‘Zakat al-Fitr’), everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes, and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two rakaahs only, and it is optional (sunat) prayer as opposed to the compulsory five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank Allah (God)
Determining the start date
Hilal (The Crescent) is typically a day (or more) after the Astronomical New Moon (No Moon). So, since there is only one new moon a month, Muslims can safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.
More links:
President Obama's Ramadan Message (Ramadan Kareem)
|
|
|
Post by kaima on Sept 3, 2009 13:59:31 GMT -7
Although late, my wishes for a happy birthday!
|
|
|
Post by RabiaMuweis on Sept 4, 2009 3:23:24 GMT -7
thanx Kaima its nice of you :-) ther is Arabic words in the picture
|
|
|
Post by RabiaMuweis on Sept 4, 2009 3:41:06 GMT -7
Hi Jaga
I do not have to fast, and even in the days of lactation This month, we spend a lot of time with family ,End fast after two weeks .I think that there feast of the Christian community next week
|
|
|
Post by kaima on Sept 4, 2009 7:46:08 GMT -7
You are welcome, Rabia. I have seen several beautiful examples of Arabic calligraphy over the years and know it is a source of literate pride, so I guessed the balloons were in Arabic. Having it written in English at the bottom was assuring for me, however!
One of the most beautiful examples of handwriting in America I encountered was that of a Lebanese-American at 'Hi-Luncheonette' or 'Ralph's' in Cleveland, Ohio when I was a student. It was run by 3 generations of a Christian Lebanese family, with a black cook and a hillbilly waitress. The owner was recovering from a degenerative nerve disease and topics of discussion ran the gamut of human imagination, with food the only sacred topic. His regular customers included students, encouraged by a discount card making the excellent American food affordable, local radio personalities, professionals, the Episcopal bishop, and street walkers on occasion. That is where I obtained my liberal education while earning my engineering degree.
Thanks for leading me off to the digression and the pleasant memories!
Kai
|
|