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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Questions about Ramadan |
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| Caraj |
| 09/09/03 at 02:10:12 |
| Can someone tell me when it starts this year? How it is observed? It's purpose? How did it get started? Where in the Quran may I read about it? Thank you |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| WhiteSomali |
| 09/09/03 at 02:42:06 |
| [slm] ;D Ramadan starts around the end of October this year. Of course it's the best month of the year anyone tell ya that ;D During Ramadan, from sunrise until sunset, Muslims are to refrain from eating, drinking, sexual relations, backbiting, gossiping, and swearing. It's still permisseable to bathe or splash water for the purpose of keeping cool. Ramadan is the month that the Quran was sent down to mankind. During the last ten days of Ramadan, during the odd-numbered days, is a night called Laylat ul-Qadr. This night is better than a thousand months. Any good deeds a Muslim does on this night, it's like that Muslim did it every night for one thousand months. That means mad good deeds ;D Muslims weren't told which exact night Laylat ul-Qadr is, so during the last ten nights during the odd-numbered nights, we should do many many good deeds in each of them. Laylat ul-Qadr means, I think, "Night of Power." The only reference I could find in the Quran is in Surat al-Baqarah, 2:185. But at the moment I only have access to a cheap translation of the Quran, I don't like this one ::) So there may be more. I hope that helps ;D Please forgive any mistakes I made in this, and please correct me if I have made mistakes ;D [slm] |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| Nisa |
| 09/09/03 at 18:14:15 |
| [slm] MashaAllah somali bro...;D The Qur'anic ayah on fasting are few....as bro somali said specific reference to fasting in Ramadhan can be found here >> 2:185. Here is the verse along with the ayah preceding it which are relevant: 002.183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,- 002.184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew. 002.185 Ramadhan 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, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful. Pray this helps inshaAllah. [wlm] :-) |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| Abu_Hamza |
| 09/10/03 at 00:35:46 |
| [slm] Short answers: [quote author=azizah link=board=madrasa;num=1063084212;start=0#0 date=09/09/03 at 02:10:12]Can someone tell me when it starts this year?[/quote] Oct. 26th or 27th for the United States, depending on whether or not the crescent is sighted on the night of the 25th of October. [quote]How it is observed?[/quote] By keeping away from food, drink, and conjugal relations from sunrise until sunset. By exerting an extra effort to guard one's eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet from engaging in acts that are unlawful or excessive. By striving to engage more in the variuos acts of worship - salaah, remembrance, supplications, recitation of the Qur'an, seclusion, giving charity, practicing random acts of kindness, etc. All good deeds are multiplied greatly in this month for believers. [quote]It's purpose?[/quote] To attain God-consciousness, piety and righteousness. Also to inculcate self-control and suppress desires. [quote]How did it get started?[/quote] It was ordained by Allah (swt) to Prophet Muhammad (saw) through the Qur'an. [quote]Where in the Quran may I read about it?[/quote] As the others said, in Surah 2. [quote]Thank you[/quote] You're welcome :) Abu Hamza |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| se7en |
| 09/11/03 at 02:16:34 |
| as salaamu alaykum / peace, I found this really nice book in my masjid library entitled [url=http://islamicbookstore.com/b2396.html]'Ramadan - Motivating Believers to Action -- an Interfaith Perspective'[/url]. It's a collection of articles on the meaning and significance of the month of Ramadan and fasting. Here is a short article from it that I found interesting.. I hope it is beneficial :) [color=black] Why do Muslims Fast? [i]Seyyed Hossen Nasr[/i] Certain truths are by nature evident and need not be discussed in normal circumstances. But, in a day and age when the most evident truths are shrouded by the clouds of doubt and questioned, one is forced to discuss even the most obvious of them. One such truth is the necessity of an ascetic element in human life. Without an element of self-denial and asceticism no religion and therefore no human culture is possible. One must withdraw occasionally from the full life of the senses even in order to be able to enjoy the fruit of sensual perception. As the Taoist affirms, it is the empty space of the wheel which makes the wheel. It is only a certain degree of restraint from the material objects of the senses that makes even the life of the senses balanced, not to speak of making possible an opening in the human soul for the spiritual life. One such practice is fasting, promulgated in Islam as obligatory for the month of Ramadan and recommended for other periods of the year. As the Holy Quran asserts, it is a practice which existed in older religions and in Islam it was revived and institutionalized in the form of the [i]sawm[/i] of Ramadan. Fasting during this month possesses, of course, many social and external benefits and features which have been discussed often and in fact even somewhat overemphasized in certain quarters, where the chief virtue of fasting is reduced to charity towards the poor. This element of charity is, of course, there but like all true charity it becomes spiritually significant only when it is directed towards God. And in fasting it is the obeying of the Divine will which has as its fruit charity towards the poor and the needy and an an actual participation in their hunger and thirst. But the most difficult aspect of the fast is the edge of the sword of abstention directed towards the carnal soul, the [i]nafs al-ammarah[/i] of the Holy Quran. In fasting, the rebellious tendencies of the carnal soul are gradually dampened and pacified through a systematic submission of these tendencies to the Divine will, for at every moment of hunger the soul of the Muslim is reminded that it is in order to obey a Divine command that the passions of the carnal soul go unheeded. That is also why the fast does not include only food but also abstention from every form of lust and carnal passion. As a result of this systematic restraint, the human soul becomes aware that it is independent of its immediate natural environment and conscious that it is in this world but not of it. A person who fasts with complete faith becomes aware very rapidly that he is a pilgrim in this world and that he is created as a creature destined for a goal beyond this material existence. The world about him loses somewhat its materiality and gains an aspect of 'vacuity' and transparency which in the case of the contemplative Muslim leads directly to a contemplation of God in His creation. The ephemeral and 'empty' nature of things is, moreover, compensated by the appearance of those very things as Divine gifts. Food and drink which are taken for granted throughout the year reveal themselves during the period of fasting more than ever as gifts of heaven ([i]ni'mah[/i]) and gain a spiritual significance of a sacramental nature. To fast is also to wear the armor of purity against the passions of the world. It is to incorporate even 'physically' in one's body the purity of death whch is of course coupled with spiritual birth. In fasting, man is reminded that he has chosen the side of God over the world of passions. That is why the Holy Prophet loved fasting so much. It was a basic element of that 'Muhammadan spiritual poverty' ([i]faqr[/i]) about which he said, "[i]al faqr fakhri[/i]" (spiritual poverty is my glory.) This death of the passions cleanses the human soul and empties it of the putrid water of its negative psychological residues. The individual and through him the Islamic community is renovated through this rite and reminded of its moral and spiritual obligations and goals. That is why the arrival of the blessed month is greeted with joy. For in it the doors of heaven are opened further for the faithful and Divine compassion descends upon those who seek it. To have completed the fast of Ramadan is to have undergone a rejuvenation and rebirth which prepares each Muslim to face another year with determination to live and act according to the Divine will. The fast also bestows a spiritual perfume upon the human soul whose fragrance can be perceived long after the period of abstinence comes to an end. It provides for the soul a source of energy upon which it feeds itself throughout the blessed year. The holy month has therefore been called 'the blessed', [i]mubarak[/i], one in which the grace or [i]barakah[/i] of God flows upon the Islamic community and rejuvenates its deepest sources of life and action. ---*--- [/color] |
| 09/11/03 at 02:29:22 |
| se7en |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| Caraj |
| 09/11/03 at 12:54:17 |
| WhiteSomali, Nisa, Abu_Hamza and Se7en, Thank you all for your responses. I use to fast occationally as Christians it is mentioned in the Bible. I so admire the modesty, daily prayers and fasting and so much more of Is;am, seems much more reverant of The Almighty. I have a desire in my heart to observe Ramadan this year in honor of Our Creator and to pray and to look at my life and be more obiediant to God. Maybe Muslims would think this silly a non Muslim doing it. But oh well, God knows my heart. :) I have more questions, what does the cresent moon have to do with this? As to the sign to begin? I an just so thankful this is not during the summer ;D Here in Washington State it is light 5 am to 10 pm during mid summer. :D Ok folks, tell me more about this? I hear the fast is broken each night, it there a prayer or way folks do this? What is the thing right after Ramadan? Hope you all don't think I am being silly. |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| WhiteSomali |
| 09/11/03 at 16:26:45 |
| Marhaban Azizah Muslims use the Hijri Calender for the dates of religious events such as Ramadan. Our Islamic calender is based on the moon, so the beginning of the month has to do with the moon being sited (really, not being sited). Because of this our calender is a few days shorter than the Gregorian calender (That's the name, right? ::)) That's why Ramadan and the two Eids are on different dates every year, and thats why we look to the moon to figure out if Ramadan has started. Don't worry about not being a Muslim. I fasted last Ramadan (November-December), and at this time I wasn't even thinking about becoming a Muslim. And I didn't believe in God. I just did it for fun ::) No one argued. Everyone was just like, "Aight Chris :D ::)" At least you have a reason ;D Anywayy what we do is wake up before sunrise every morning (which we should be doing anyway ;)) and eat up a nice breakfast (the irony) before the sun rises. That's the Sunnah of the Prophet [saw]. Then we break the fast preferably as soon as the sun's down. Better to do it with a meal, but if you wanna break your fast with a cookie, be my guest ;D After Ramadan is over, is EID ;D ;D Eid is AMAZING. There's lots of food and everyone's happy ;D The Eid after Ramadan is called Eid al-Fitr (I can't remember what that menas... Eid of Fast Breaking I think? Eid means feast) Alot of Muslims skip school on Eid, maybe for more than one day, because there's better stuff to do ;D Last Ramadan I celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with a friend of mine... even though I still wasn'ta Muslim ::) And I'm planning to do the same thing this Eid insha'Allah, because I can't see my family celebratin Eid ;D BTW, if I could just ask one thing about yourself. You're a non-Muslim am I right? I hope so else I'll look like a fool ::) How'd you end up with an Arabic name? |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| Caraj |
| 09/11/03 at 16:40:39 |
| Sure you can ask. I wrote a post about it a while back. I came close to saying the Shahadah but a bible verse came to mind over and over again about Jesus saying if you deny me he would deny knowing me to God. I am in a major inner struggle as I very much feel Muslim and I very much feel Christian. And after all were we not all the same (except for idol worshipers) until that thing with Abraham, Sara, Hagar, Issac and Ismael? There are many things I very much respect and admire about Islam that I see very much lacking in other beliefs. Prayer, reverence, modesty and more. As for the name, I was close to the Shahadah (within hours) my heart for some reason (for quite a while back actually) wanted an Arabic name (go figure ::) ) I went to a brother who has been a wonderful teacher, friend and like a blood brother to me whom I have great respect for and asked him what name he would give me. Azizah was the name he gave me. On the board he is Sal. Ok, I wonder how many are reading this and thinking ::) I have learned from experience to never question my heart when it leads me to do something. Hope this answers your questions. Am I Muslim??? Sometimes I feel deep inside very much so. I look forward to the day when titles are gone and we all bow down and worship the one and only God. (sigh) |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| Nabila |
| 09/11/03 at 17:10:23 |
| [slm] May Allaah guide you in everything you do, sis :) ma asalaamah and take care |
| Re: Questions about Ramadan |
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| eleanor |
| 09/13/03 at 07:32:05 |
| [quote author=azizah link=board=madrasa;num=1063084212;start=0#7 date=09/11/03 at 16:40:39]I came close to saying the Shahadah but a bible verse came to mind over and over again about Jesus saying if you deny me he would deny knowing me to God. [/quote] Just thought I'd throw in that I do not deny Jesus and yet I am a Muslim. I accept Jesus was a prophet of God who was sent to spread the Good News. Same thing - if you deny Muhammad then you are not Muslim. It is entirely plausible that this is what Jesus meant when he said that. |
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