Re: MONTH of fasting?

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Posted by Kenzi on December 09, 1999 at 22:32:54:

In Reply to: MONTH of fasting? posted by MyST on December 09, 1999 at 18:31:55:

What Elizabeth wrote is correct and pretty complete. I don't know if
I can add much to it.

I am fasting along with my husband. I just broke my fast...whew!
The first day is pretty easy....it's the 2nd and 3rd days that are
hard because it's then that you realize that it's going to be another
27 days of this! I sometimes dread ramadan (altho I choose to do it,
I don't have to),but my husband really looks forward to it like
christian kids anticipate christmas. I guess this is because it's a
time of family, and the evenings are fun and different because
everyone stays up late, has fun, does different things, there are
special foods.

The things that you cannot do during the fasting period are eating
and drinking (obviously) (but if you are pregnant, ill, menstruating
or travelling you are exempt), smoking, swearing, kissing, looking at
the other sex in a carnal way, having sex, ...I think there is more,
but I can't remember. Many muslims will have a meal early in the
morning before the morning prayer, which is before dawn. Then
nothing can be taken until after the evening prayer (al maghrib) or
when is it too dark to distinguish a white thread from a black
thread. This month is supposed to be a time when you focus on the
spiritual aspects of life and pray more often.

From my experience in Morocco, people usually break their fast with
dates (3 of 'em) because Mohamed used to break his fast with them.
They will also have a bowl of harira which is a lamb and lentil and
chickpea soup. Usually they will just have the dates and the soup,
and then later in the evening have an actual dinner. Imagine having
to cook all this up when you yourself are fasting!

From the 27th night of Ramadan until the end are the Lailat al Qadr,
the "Nights of Destiny" which is when your prayers are most likely to
be heard by God. Many muslims spend a lot of time in the mosque
praying. In the Quran it says that the 27th night of Ramadan is
when Mohamed rose to heaven along with the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) and
spoke to God. This night of destiny is one of the key parts of
Salman Rushdie's book "the Satanic Verses" which angered some muslims.

The end of Ramadan is when the new moon of the next month is viewed.
At this time there is a big feast. At this time, good muslims are
supposed to give a certain percentage of their income (I don't know
what percentage exactly) for the year to the poorl, and they should
give it a little in advance of the feast so that the poor can have
time to plan their own feast. Many muslims also give leftover food
from their feast to the poor.

I wish I had something henna related to bring this back to topic but
I don't, so this will just have to be background information.

Follow-ups:

Re: that henna related thing you were looking for jocelyne 23:40:15 12/09/99 (1)
- Re: that henna related thing you were looking for Kenzi 23:54:23 12/09/99 (0)
Re: MONTH of fasting? Kenzi 23:39:54 12/09/99 (0)

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: What Elizabeth wrote is correct and pretty complete. I don't know if : I can add much to it. : I am fasting along with my husband. I just broke my fast...whew! : The first day is pretty easy....it's the 2nd and 3rd days that are : hard because it's then that you realize that it's going to be another : 27 days of this! I sometimes dread ramadan (altho I choose to do it, : I don't have to),but my husband really looks forward to it like : christian kids anticipate christmas. I guess this is because it's a : time of family, and the evenings are fun and different because : everyone stays up late, has fun, does different things, there are : special foods. : The things that you cannot do during the fasting period are eating : and drinking (obviously) (but if you are pregnant, ill, menstruating : or travelling you are exempt), smoking, swearing, kissing, looking at : the other sex in a carnal way, having sex, ...I think there is more, : but I can't remember. Many muslims will have a meal early in the : morning before the morning prayer, which is before dawn. Then : nothing can be taken until after the evening prayer (al maghrib) or : when is it too dark to distinguish a white thread from a black : thread. This month is supposed to be a time when you focus on the : spiritual aspects of life and pray more often. : From my experience in Morocco, people usually break their fast with : dates (3 of 'em) because Mohamed used to break his fast with them. : They will also have a bowl of harira which is a lamb and lentil and : chickpea soup. Usually they will just have the dates and the soup, : and then later in the evening have an actual dinner. Imagine having : to cook all this up when you yourself are fasting! : From the 27th night of Ramadan until the end are the Lailat al Qadr, : the "Nights of Destiny" which is when your prayers are most likely to : be heard by God. Many muslims spend a lot of time in the mosque : praying. In the Quran it says that the 27th night of Ramadan is : when Mohamed rose to heaven along with the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) and : spoke to God. This night of destiny is one of the key parts of : Salman Rushdie's book "the Satanic Verses" which angered some muslims. : The end of Ramadan is when the new moon of the next month is viewed. : At this time there is a big feast. At this time, good muslims are : supposed to give a certain percentage of their income (I don't know : what percentage exactly) for the year to the poorl, and they should : give it a little in advance of the feast so that the poor can have : time to plan their own feast. Many muslims also give leftover food : from their feast to the poor. : I wish I had something henna related to bring this back to topic but : I don't, so this will just have to be background information.

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