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| Hiii everyone! :) First of all, peace be upon you!
So, the month of Ramadan is finally here! Some of you might be wondering, "what's all the fuss?" And those of you who have experienced it are overjoyed that the time has finally come!
That is why I thought I'd put together a little something about Ramadan as well as about fasting during Ramadan which I hope everyone can benefit from!
Ramadan
In the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the 9th month of the year. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, (based on the cycle of the moon), its year is about 11 days shorter than that of the Gregorian calendar. That is why each year, Ramadan is earlier in the year than the year before.
The month of Ramadan is a special month, chosen by God for us to honor the revelation of the Noble Qur'aan. During this month, Muslims reconnect with the Qur'aan more so than any other time of the year, so that it can become a foundation for their lives. They are encouraged to reflect on its words and meanings so that their hearts can become soft.
Ramadan is also the month in which the night of "Qadr" falls (also known as "Layl-a-tul-Qadr.") This night is equal to a thousand months, which means that if a person stands to pray during this night, then it is as if they have prayed for 1,ooo months!
Every good deed a Muslim does is multiplied 7, 7o, 1oo, or 7oo or more times, as an incentive for us to step up and try to do as many good things as possible during this month.
The most important aspect of Ramadan is that Muslims are ordered to fast throughout the month from sunrise to sunset. Fasting during the month of Ramadan fulfills one of the five pillars of Islam.
Fasting
God says in the Qur'aan, "O you who believe! Observing fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious/God-conscious." (Al Baqarah 2:183)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) had stated that the purpose of his coming as a Messenger was only to perfect good character. Fasting is one of the major tools that a Muslim uses to help them perfect good qualities within themselves, not just during the month of Ramadan, but also throughout the year. As God states, the goal of fasting is for people to attain piety and consciousness of Him.
Fasting was also practiced by other Prophets before Muhammad (peace be upon him.) Muslims believe that the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) fasted for a period of 4o days (all day and night) as well as Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and the Prophet Muhammad. However, this kind of fast was not permitted for the followers of the Prophets simply because Prophets were given special sustenance by God which allowed them to fast for a long period of time. Muslims are asked to fast from sunrise to sunset for 29 or 3o days.
The way to attain good character this month is linked with fasting for a lot of reasons. One reason is that Muslims learn to gain control of their habits, such as watching their words, their behavior and what they eat. God tells us that He does not reward our absitenance from food and drink if we cannot abstain from bad words, lying, backbiting and gossip as well. Part of fasting is not only watching what goes into our bodies through our mouths but what comes out of us by way of our mouths, too.
The eating habits of the Prophet on a day of fasting were as such:
In the morning, (before dawn) the Prophet strongly encouraged everyone to have something to eat, even it if were just a drink of water. He, himself, used to eat something like olives, some bread or barley, and some water (something light), and when it was time to break the fast at sunset, he would break the fast with 3 dates and some water (again, something light.) He would then go for the night prayers and come back to have a very moderate meal.
The Prophet always encouraged for a person to not fill the stomach, because it leads to illnesses. Rather, he encouraged leaving 1/3 for food, 1/3 for drink and 1/3 empty, so that a person will never have eaten to their fill. Part of fasting is for a person to test themselves during these two times when they eat - in the morning and in the evening. They know they will not be able to eat the rest of the day, so it is a means of testing how much they can control their intake, so that they can learn to control other habits, too.
Different cultures and different countries practice the two meals in different ways. Everywhere around the world, Muslims get to enjoy a time of festivity, and togetherness with family and friends. Most nights of this month, families enjoy the company of others or they are themselves invited to break the fast with other families, which makes Ramadan a very joyous month to look forward to!
Lastly, a person should feel hunger whilst fasting. Part of feeling hungry is what reminds a person what it is like for those who go without food without choice. It helps a Muslim attain the characteristic of generosity. They learn to reach out and give to those who are constantly hungry and without food or drink on a regular basis. That is why on the celebration and holiday at the end of the month (known as Eid ul-Fitr,) Muslims must feed the needy and poor or provide them with the means to do so.
Eid ul-Fitr
'Eid ul-Fitr is one of the two holidays that Muslims celebrate. It is a wonderful celebration that is intented to last three days, and Muslims worldwide celebrate 'Eid in many different ways. They dress in their nicest clothes, attend a grand prayer, in which people from all over the city attend, they get to meet and greet one another and then they either spend the rest of the day with family or friends or going house to house enjoying the company of the members of their community.
One of the most important parts of this day is for the Muslims to also feed the poor, which is a part of really gaining something good out of Ramadan. If one learns and acquires the traits of a generous and sympathetic human being, who can be kind to others, and say kind things, and act in a humble and giving manner, then they have truly come out of Ramadan a better, and more pious person. A Muslim should feel the need to give to those who are not as fortunate, and remember to be grateful for the many blessings they have in their lives, as well!
All in all, Ramadan is a very exciting and wonderful time for Muslims worldwide. It is a time that enables them to grow spiritually and helps them gain strength physically as well. They learn to appreciate the blessings of their Creator, and learn to be kind to the Creation. Ramadan is a month in which God has promised many good things to come for those who strive to make themselves better, and it is a great incentive for Muslims to really better themselves for the rest of the year.
I know this was a long one, but I hope you gained at least one good thing out of it, and I really do wish everyone a really wonderful, and life-changing (for the better *wink*) Ramadan this year!! :)
Best wishes from the bottom of my heart,
Peace and ♥ | | |
| Girl says it's her right to wear hijab
OTTAWA -- Asmahan Mansour is an ordinary kid.
She enjoys hot chocolate every morning. She watches Lizzie McGuire
on TV.
She's a tomboy, a girl wedged between an older and younger brother.
She loves playing sports. In the summer when she wakes up, the first
thing she does is go outside to shoot some hoops or juggle a soccer
ball.
Soccer is the passion of this vibrant, happy-go-lucky girl and the
past week has seen her in the spotlight for doing what she loves
most -- playing the game.
Asmahan was ejected from an indoor soccer tournament last weekend in
Quebec, because she refused to remove her religious head scarf,
known as a hijab.
The referee deemed her hijab to a be a safety concern and the issue
went all the way to the world's soccer regulator, FIFA. Officials
ruled on Saturday that rules for on-field equipment are adequate and
a hijab can't be worn.
"As parents, we do not put our children in unsafe circumstances, "
said Maria Mansour, Asmahan's mom. "I would not put my daughter in a
situation where she could be in danger."
MEDIA FRENZY
Asmahan wants the spotlight turned off and the media frenzy to end.
Maria, 38, an Italian-Canadian who converted to Islam 17 years ago,
was speaking on her daughter's behalf.
A week before Asmahan's ninth birthday, she approached her parents
and said she wanted to wear the hijab. Her parents explained that it
was a big decision and wanted her to be sure that it was what she
truly wanted.
"She's very mature in her thinking and knows and understands this
all," Maria said.
It's about being closer to God. It's about showing humility and
Asmahan said she would never take it off, "not even for $1 million."
"It's what makes her her," Maria said.
Asmahan matches her hijab to her soccer uniform and it's either red
or white. She has yellow scarfs, pink scarfs, but mostly wears blue,
her favourite colour, to match her blue eyes.
To ask her to remove her hijab, Maria said, would be violating and
no different than asking a girl to take her top off.
This week has left Asmahan exhausted, but not defeated, her mother
said.
She hopes to one day be a voice for Muslim women who want to compete
in sports. Until then, she'll only play soccer in places where she
knows she'll be accepted.
"She's a strong girl at 11 years old and one day wants to make a
difference for other girls," Maria said. | | |
| As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am
stuck in traffic,
miss an elevator,
turn back to answer a ringing telephone...
all the little things that annoy me.
I think to myself,
this is exactly where
God wants me to be
at this very moment..
Next time your morning seems to be
going wrong,
the children are slow getting dressed,
you can't seem to find the car keys,
you hit every traffic light,
don't get mad or frustrated;
God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you
with all those annoying little things
and may you remember their possible purpose.
Pass this on to someone else, if you'd like.
There is NO LUCK attached.
If you don't pass it on, it's okay:
God's Love Is Not Dependent On Our E-mailing Capacity !!!
(that's the cool part)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. | | |
| Assalaam 'alaykum Everyone! :) Hope you all had an amazing 'Eid and a lovely winter break, insha'allah! :) When I checked my mail this morning, I almost overlooked this e-mail - now I'm saying a DOUBLE Alhamdulillah that I not only openend it, but read through the whole thing. It's a great reminder, and a troubling reality. Read on, believing brethren, read on! :) A Jolt Into Reality...
Imagine yourself sitting with the men of your family-your father,
brother, husband, son-at a restaurant. Suddenly a lady walks in with a
special gait, passes by your table eyeing your men, smiling at them,
giving them meaningful looks, then she slips her dupatta off her
shoulder to look more alluring…..(let's not imagine any more!)….
What
would you feel like doing???
To say the least, you'll take your family and walk out of that
restaurant never to return again! You would be thinking 'Of course I
would knock some sense into that lewd lady! Who could be stupid enough
to let her husband around such a lady?' Right?
But unfortunately some of us are actually that stupid. We don't expose
our men to such women in restaurants, but in our lounges in front of
the TV set. We watch movies in which women are singing, dancing,
scantily dressed, moving seductively. We, together with our brothers,
husbands and sons enjoy it! We fuel their imagination and desires and
then cry when we hear of our son going to ------- or our husbands
having extra marital affairs.
In movies we sympathize with the girl who is running away with her
lover, praying that she runs away safely without being noticed. Can
you imagine your own daughter doing the same? Will you pray for her
too? Why the paradox then? Do the same for her…But No!
So on one hand we are injecting the poison by propagating lewdness and
on the other hand we are desperately running for a cure. Why inject in
the first place? Why do we allow our children to watch such vulgarity
only to get more ideas? Cut the root!
We are being subliminally infused with this Fahishah, now all this
doesn't even seem indecent. We have become so immune to it all. Love
affairs, extra marital affairs, rape, adultery, drinking, and
pornography are on the rise. Why??? They say it's because of poverty,
low literacy, population influx etc etc. Agreed! But the why do we see
these crimes soaring in developed countries where there is literacy,
population is being monitored and poverty is low? What they fail to
tell us is the basic reason….spreading of these Fuhsh (lewd) movies,
magazines, billboards, websites (just to name a few). Today (almost)
no home is safe from this Fitnah.
For the safe of Allah, for the sake of our Deen stop watching these
lewd movies, programs, magazines, novels and websites. Don't even let
them in your home. If you have any, throw them out because Allah says
in Surat An-Nur: Ayat 19
"Verily, those who like that Fahishah should be propagated among those
who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the
Hereafter…"
| | |
| Assalaam 'alaykum! Alhamdulilah - we're half way through Ramadan - it's been SO beautiful! :) Wanna see what Muslims are REEEALLYYY about? :) Check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_p9dU5s3vg And then spread the word if you believe it's the right way to portray the Muslim community! :) Take care! (: Assalaam 'alaykum wa Rahmatullah! | | |
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*NiGHTSoFWoRSHiP*