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Ramadan is here!

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loyal
Peace be upon you all.

(Apologies if this is a duplicate thread. Search isn't working at the moment, and i can't find a ramadan thread with a quick manual look).

For non-Muslims, The Islamic month of Ramadan is here. Muslims fast from drink and food, and abstain from sexual relations, from dawn to sunset.
http://shiaonline.wordpress.com/ramadan-the-blessed-month/ wrote:

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and the holiest of the four holy months. It begins with the sighting of the new moon after which all physically mature and healthy Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing, any kind of tobacco use, and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and sunset. However, that is merely the physical component of the fast; the spiritual aspects of the fast include refraining from gossiping, lying, slandering and all traits of bad character. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of thought and action is paramount. Ordained in the Quran, the fast is an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of God-consciousness. The act of fasting redirects the hearts away from worldly activities, towards The Divine.

The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. The fasting is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity. It also reminds them of the suffering of the poor, who may rarely get to eat well. It is common to have one meal (known as the Suhoor), just before sunrise and another (known as the Iftar), directly after sunset. This meal will commonly consist of dates, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him. Because Ramadan is a time to spend with friends and family, the fast will often be broken by different Muslim families coming together to share in an evening meal.

Ramadan derives from the Arabic root: ramida or ar-ramad, meaning scorching heat or dryness. Since Muslims are commanded to fast during the month of Ramadan, it is believed that the month’s name may refer to the heat of thirst and hunger, or because fasting burns away one’s past sins. Muslims believe that God began revealing the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan (in the year 610 C.E.). The Qur’an commands: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint…Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…” (Chapter 2, verses 183 and 185). Fasting during Ramadan did not become an obligation for Muslims until 624 C.E., at which point it became the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. The others are faith (Shahadah); prayer (Salah); charitable giving (Zakah); and the pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj).


Ramadan articles and links for Muslims
http://www.islamonline.net/English/Ramadan/1430/index.shtml (many articles and links)
www.haqislam.org/articles/ramadan (currently the bandwidth of the site is exceeded)
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=287&CATE=6 (an article)
miacps
Yeah, I found out yesterday when I offered my friend some gum. I didn't know Ramadan was going on when I offered it but was equally surprised that gum counts.
loyal
miacps wrote:
Yeah, I found out yesterday when I offered my friend some gum. I didn't know Ramadan was going on when I offered it but was equally surprised that gum counts.


Yeah it's because it's like food. The only difference is you don't swallow it. You get sugar from the gum which gives you energy, when the point is you're supposed to be fasting.

Peace.
deanhills
Ramadan Kareem!

As loyal said, abstinence of food and pleasures from dawn to dusk. Around 6:00 p.m. , after prayers, people usually start with a light snack called "Ifthar" as well as fruit juices and water. Then as evening progresses and generally after the second prayers, people will eat heavier foods. Some carry on right through to 4:00 a.m. when they have a very big meal before the early morning prayers and start of another day of fasting. Working hours in the Middle East may be completely different. Some businesses and Government Departments may start much later, as late as 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. And then have a proper rest before evening prayers and Ifthar. Women work very hard as there is so much food to prepare all the time. In some of the countries expats are not allowed to smoke, eat or drink water in public from dawn to dusk. Restaurants and bars are all closed during day time except in Hotels, where the restaurants are "closed off" for expats only. Expats usually have their water and foods behind closed doors. Some restaurants are allowed to prepare food parcels, that have to be properly wrapped. All super markets are open however. Shopping hours are different. Some shops are open until 2:00 a.m. Restaurants may be open until 4:00 a.m. Most shops are closed from after lunch until after Ifthar, around 7:00 pm. Not such a good time to travel in the Middle East, although accommodation could be at a discounted price until Eid, which is the period of feasting after the end of Ramadan, which is expected to be towards the end of September this year. Prices of accommodation may then sky rocket, but there are usually fantastic bargains to be found shopping wise. Ramadan is considered a time for peace and no confrontation, so possibly it is not a good time for trying to push business deals. This is the time for showing goodwill, offering and sharing Ifthar. Business can be pushed again after Eid at the end of September.
ThePolemistis
loyal wrote:
Peace be upon you all.

(Apologies if this is a duplicate thread. Search isn't working at the moment, and i can't find a ramadan thread with a quick manual look).

For non-Muslims, The Islamic month of Ramadan is here. Muslims fast from drink and food, and abstain from sexual relations, from dawn to sunset.
http://shiaonline.wordpress.com/ramadan-the-blessed-month/ wrote:

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and the holiest of the four holy months. It begins with the sighting of the new moon after which all physically mature and healthy Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing, any kind of tobacco use, and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and sunset. However, that is merely the physical component of the fast; the spiritual aspects of the fast include refraining from gossiping, lying, slandering and all traits of bad character. All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of thought and action is paramount. Ordained in the Quran, the fast is an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of God-consciousness. The act of fasting redirects the hearts away from worldly activities, towards The Divine.

The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. The fasting is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity. It also reminds them of the suffering of the poor, who may rarely get to eat well. It is common to have one meal (known as the Suhoor), just before sunrise and another (known as the Iftar), directly after sunset. This meal will commonly consist of dates, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him. Because Ramadan is a time to spend with friends and family, the fast will often be broken by different Muslim families coming together to share in an evening meal.

Ramadan derives from the Arabic root: ramida or ar-ramad, meaning scorching heat or dryness. Since Muslims are commanded to fast during the month of Ramadan, it is believed that the month’s name may refer to the heat of thirst and hunger, or because fasting burns away one’s past sins. Muslims believe that God began revealing the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan (in the year 610 C.E.). The Qur’an commands: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint…Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…” (Chapter 2, verses 183 and 185). Fasting during Ramadan did not become an obligation for Muslims until 624 C.E., at which point it became the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. The others are faith (Shahadah); prayer (Salah); charitable giving (Zakah); and the pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj).


Ramadan articles and links for Muslims
http://www.islamonline.net/English/Ramadan/1430/index.shtml (many articles and links)
www.haqislam.org/articles/ramadan (currently the bandwidth of the site is exceeded)
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=287&CATE=6 (an article)


Jazakullah bro.. Ramadhan Kareem!!!



1 Month of less food really makes you want to give more, and also gets you closer to God.
peaceupnorth
That's really interesting. I think it is a good practise to observe.

I wish we had something like that in my North American culture, maybe not something strictly imposed by government, but a prescribed time of reducing our consumption. It seems like all our holidays involve eating too much food, especially sugar, and buying a bunch of tacky decorations and toys. I think growing up with something like Ramadan would help people learn simplicity, contentment, generosity and sharing.

I hear that sometimes Ramadan can degenerate into gluttony during the prescribed hours... that seems like it is missing the point.

Fasting, in my experience, is healthy for the body and the mind.
deanhills
peaceupnorth wrote:
Fasting, in my experience, is healthy for the body and the mind.
To go without water from sunup to sunset when the temperatures are in the forties degrees Celsius cannot be considered healthy. Something that I cannot understand. If you are cleansing your body during a "cleansing period", it needs water to flush the system as much as you are using water to clean your body. Going without water means that cleansing is limited to the outside and not the important insides of the body.

Withholding food, I can understand. But not water, as that to me is something of purification and not excess. Perhaps ThePolemists or Loyal could explain the significance of going without water. Smile
peaceupnorth
deanhills wrote:
Withholding food, I can understand. But not water, as that to me is something of purification and not excess. Perhaps ThePolemists or Loyal could explain the significance of going without water. Smile

Perhaps it is partly that without water, we are forced to take it easier, to be less active in the world, which directs our attention inwards more, towards God, higher principles, meditation etc.

It may also teach us to get over our fears about not drinking for so many hours, to surrender our sustenance to a Higher Power. The word "Muslim" means "one who submits to God," so I'm guessing that submitting one's food and water for a set period is training people to submit more and more to their Lord's will.

So these may be deeper reasons why fasting would be healthy for a practitioner of Islam, maybe not so healthy physically, but on the other hand, if such a large group of people practise Ramadan, and are not especially unhealthy for it, it might be surmised that a little water-fasting isn't such a terrible thing after-all.
deanhills
peaceupnorth wrote:
deanhills wrote:
Withholding food, I can understand. But not water, as that to me is something of purification and not excess. Perhaps ThePolemists or Loyal could explain the significance of going without water. Smile

Perhaps it is partly that without water, we are forced to take it easier, to be less active in the world, which directs our attention inwards more, towards God, higher principles, meditation etc.

It may also teach us to get over our fears about not drinking for so many hours, to surrender our sustenance to a Higher Power. The word "Muslim" means "one who submits to God," so I'm guessing that submitting one's food and water for a set period is training people to submit more and more to their Lord's will.

So these may be deeper reasons why fasting would be healthy for a practitioner of Islam, maybe not so healthy physically, but on the other hand, if such a large group of people practise Ramadan, and are not especially unhealthy for it, it might be surmised that a little water-fasting isn't such a terrible thing after-all.
This was a really nice posting, thanks peaceupnorth. I now have a better understanding why water is included during fasting. Ramadan Kareem!
loyal
deanhills wrote:
Withholding food, I can understand. But not water, as that to me is something of purification and not excess. Perhaps ThePolemists or Loyal could explain the significance of going without water. Smile


Fasting from water as well as food for less than 24 hours isn't too bad. The physical moral of the story? Drink more water before the fasting hours begin Razz Smile
On a more spiritual note, if we could drink water, our bodies wouldn't be as weakened as much, and so the desired spiritual effects would be lessened.

-----------

Ramadhaan is now over. The first day of Eid is sunday or monday or tuesday (depending on which scholar of jurisprudence you follow). It's a day of celebration and happiness.

Peace.
deanhills
loyal wrote:
Ramadhaan is now over. The first day of Eid is sunday or monday or tuesday (depending on which scholar of jurisprudence you follow). It's a day of celebration and happiness.

Peace.
Eid Mubarak! Hope you have a wonderful festive season where you are. Also thanks to you, Peaceupnorth and ThePolemistis for all the information.
menino
belated eid mubarak wishes to all muslims here.

hope you'll had a great eid. Laughing
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