5 Things Everyone Should Know About Ramadan

I wish all the muslims a happy holly month and for those would like to know or be reminded about this special time of the year for the Muslim people, I got you this :

The holiest month in the Muslim faith began today. Here are the basic facts you should know about Ramadan.

Today marks the beginning of the holiest month in the Islamic faith. The month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is recognized and practiced all around the world for 28 to 30 days every year.

It is one of the five pillars of Islam and is known to be month of reflection and complete submission to Allah (God). Despite the number of historic events that took place in this holy month, here are five things everyone should know about Ramadan.

1. Ramadan is recognized to be the month in which the first verses of the holy Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Layalat Al-Qadir is said to be the anniversary of the actual day when the Quran was presented to Muhammad and in English it is known as the night of power. Layalat al-Qadir usually falls within the last 10 days of Ramadan. On this night, thousands of Muslims gather together usually in a mosque to pray, recite Quran and worship until sunrise. Recitation of the entire Quran is also important to achieve throughout this month.

2. Throughout this month, Muslims do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. Fasting in Arabic is called sawm, and in English that means refrain. Fasting is supposed to teach self-descipline, patience and spirituality. However, participating in Ramadan is much more than not eating and drinking. People are encouraged to restrain themselves from any type of haram (sin). That includes backbiting, gossip, looking at unlawful things and using obscene words.

3. When Muslims break their fast it is called (iftar)." But Muslims don't break their fast on just any food. Most take their first bite of the day from a fresh or dry date. This is preferred because the prophet Muhammad used to break his fast on these middle-eastern fruits. If dates cannot be found, water is a good second choice.

4. Family bonding time is cherished and looked forward to in the month of Ramadan. Everyone's busy schedules are put on hold as they get together around the dinner table to share the first and most important meal of the day. Typically, large amounts of food are prepared for iftar that include soup, salad, appetizers, a main course and dessert.

5. Eid Al-Fatur is the day that follows the last day of Ramadan. It is the Muslim holiday that is celebrated after a new moon is sighted. People celebrate the Eid beginning with Salat al-Eid, a specific prayer for the day and visit family and close friends. Similar to Christmas or other religious holidays, Muslims tend to decorate their homes with lights and banners and exchange gifts that are usually clothes or money.

Ramadan Mubarak (Have a blessed Ramadan)!

(by Mariam Dahoui-Charara)

Nana, thank you so much for posting this! :) you know...Although I'm Muslim but there are still few things that I haven't ever heard of, like the third thing...about Al Eftar! :) Actually I was too impatient today to fast :( I couldn't but I'm gonna fast later on :)

Ramadan Mubarak for you too Nan.

Ramadan karim to all of us :D

Did you fast, Abed? XD

Have a blessed Ramadan, muslim members.

Hey Nana! *hugs*

Ramadan Mubarak to all muslim members

"Shalom Ha Barucha"
My Brothers and Sisters
"Ramadan Mubarak"
as well .

Thanks all..

@ Nora, yes i did :D ...

Shalom Ha Barucha"

is that Hebrew?
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Ingridddd hugs backk** and thank you ! and thanks for everyone else :P XD
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Hellooonn helllloon okay no problem at all :) I'll do my best 2 explain

As the sun sets and the red line is no longer seen, Muslims are to break their fast until the very 1st period of time before sunrise...(fasting starts again at that time)
However breaking our fasting on a date or some water is just "favorable" like not a strict rule, they can start by their chicken if they won't lol won't be a huge deal, but usually some or a huge number of Muslims would prefer to eat a date and drink water before they start eating their meals treading the habit of our prophet. And on a side note after the sun sets, Muslims can eat whatever they wish, as much as they wish! [let me know if this is clear, if not I will explain it in a different way :) ]

As for the poetess, no all Muslims are supposed to fast starting from the very 1st day of this Month, to the end of it! Sick people, and those who need their medicines, or perhaps too old and cannot function the whole day without their food and water are to be excused, cause religion doesn't aim to torture. But as you know not all Muslims are religious, nor all Christians are bla bla so for me as an example, I don't think I would ever skip a prayer or a day of Ramadan unless it was urgent..sickness or something out of my control. In other words Nanno better have good excuses haha cause respecting our own religion is very important in my opinion, especially if we believe in it!

Let me know if you have other questions or if what I said was clear enough :)

Ramadan kareem
epic explanation there shine!
i tend to smoke a cigerete when i break my fasting!
:P

I'm also confused that The Poetess says she didn't fast on the first day so...it it a choice thing...to do or not to do?

^^
LOL no Hellon, I was impatient haha
but all muslims sjhould fast starting the first day as my Nana has said :)
and Nana, yes I have got an excuse! a very big one! I have baccalaureate the next year :P lol this has been my excuse for everything, yay! :P

thank you all, larry, edward and hellon! :)
Ramadan Kareem once again!

Ramandan Karim Rabea <3 much love!

And Nano you spoiled person! lol you better stop that or when you come to Lebanon I will make you regret :P

Ughhhh I can't wait until I see you there.....hmmm how do you look like? xD I look like a gypsy at the moment, with my hair blown up and eww...

I am fasting today though :P so no regret when I come

I look like that :

http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?imgurl=http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/pretty_sicko/MarilynMonroe.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forum.xcoollx.com/t51836.html&h=461&w=347&sz=26&tbnid=tf4IqWtDrm95eM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=68&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMarline%2BMonro%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=Marline+Monro&docid=gKABwOiEODhQ3M&sa=X&ei=vNU3TrbFD4SM-waJ2t2tAg&ved=0CCsQ9QEwAw&dur=262

hahahah :P

now leave this for Ramadan. sssssshhhhh.

Haha ok.....I'll shut up 5ala9 :P
but guess how I knew it wasn't you...because it was in black and white :P:P lol see? I'm smart!

Ah so not cause it looks 1000 freakin 00000 % like Marline Monro ? haha smart indeed :P hahaha

Yeah Nana... another reason was added :P

Hellon...
yes, Diabetics are excluded :)
and the travellers are excluded too...if I'm incorrect then Nana would say what is right :)

Diabetics yea, my uncle doesn't fast due to his diabetes...

And as for those who travel they have their own excuses, and they may continue their fasting but those who are traveling for a one day period of time, I do not know their rules but they usually go and ask a Sheik's Advice sheik is like a Father for a Church in christianity, and he would tell them what to do.. But to be less detailed and to the point, Muslims who have all the right conditions to fast, from being home, with a good health and good age MUST fast, and should!

Excused are those who have health issues, and those that might be effected by fasting, it gets that much flexible, trust me :).. The only people who have no excuses not to fast, are those who truly don't have excuses. { am talking in regard of my own knowledge to be clear }

Nana.....let me just disagree a little bit.
I know that in the Koran, there written travellers are excluded..I'm sure of this. :/ can't you remember? I can post the verse if you want..

Poetess..thanks for your reply..you just seem a little vague about your religion...you say you did not know about No 3 and you did not fast so...that's why I'm asking how flexible your religion actually is and how others, of the same religion would view your shortcomings?

^^^
I am vague about my religion??
and No 3 isn't something about religion..it is a habit of us the muslims..so no, I'm not that ignorant.
And yesterday I didn't fast because I had to study, I have a hard year so..I know it's not an excuse but in the end of the day, God forgives and knows our intentions, today I am fasting, and every year I fast.

and what?
my shortcomings? are you seriousss?
lol I pray, fast, do what God ordered me, and refrain from what God wrote in his book that we should not do...so what are my shortcomings??

Hellon, read what Nana wrote:

"But Muslims don't break their fast on just any food. Most take their first bite of the day from a fresh or dry date. This is preferred because the prophet Muhammad used to break his fast on these middle-eastern fruits. If dates cannot be found, water is a good second choice."

I never knew that a habit of Muslims to eat a date before the Iftar...I just knew about it and this is called in our religion "Sunnah" and it is to follow what our Prophet Mohammad used to do...BUT it ain't necessary to follow it, you can follow it and you can start your Iftar by a cup of water..or a cone of ice cream..no one would disagree :)
I hope this is clear now.

Yes, I know what you mean but you said it in an offensive way.

and
Read what you wrote:

"how others, of the same religion would view your shortcomings?"

just to clarify something here Hellon..that "others" can't view or judge. God only can. So some people may say I'm vague...not religious enough to be worth a life..whatever..but I know that God knows what I'm doing.

so, just wanna tell you something..
it is SO offensive to tell someone Muslim that they ain't religious or "vague" about their religion..

At Nana:
I have a question, teacher! :P
if someone fasts while they're sick, is it a sin?
my friend was really sick, yesterday, she had a headache and dunno what, and she didn't accept to eat or drink or at least take the medicine,, I think it is a sin because God ordered us to save our bodies as well as our souls...right?

another question ...
what if a person is fasting..
and di a wrong thing
does he break his fast???

Hey there! I didn't defend myself...though I should have done this! I am way more open-minded than you think, but I never accept to be offended.
And I told you that it is really offensive and diminishing to tell a Muslim that he ain't religious...EVEN THOUGH I didn't consider your words as an offend and told you that I got what you mean...right?

and lol
why does everybody refer to my age?
16 isn't enough to take a seat and argue???
if I'm immature and vague and dunno what in your eyes then don't argue with me, because kids can be fiendish and troublesome sometimes...you know.

Thanks for the explination it was really helpful. :)

Have a blessed Ramadan. :)

Jennn are you a Muslim ?? XD
and thanks ...a blessed Ramadan for you too

^^omggg Anas?? ok, if you want me to go to hell I will :P:P:P no seriously, I won't do that again, haha. and thanks, blessed Ramadan for you too.

Nano trust me she didnt mean to offend you, she wont do it on the main forum lol but please i made this forr ramadam not to argue...

and not about bringing a verse nano, in arabic we say yenwe..when someone bynwe el safar they CAN fast or break it, thats my point like of u are travelling to stay a week out of ur country bla u can fast out there regarding el neye!

Aah....so yeah yeah maybe I am wrong...ask me why? "why?" ok because in the past, our fathers used to travel through camels and such so it was so hard to travel, so the Koran said that it is not a sin to break the fast. :)

sorry for being wrong!
and for Hellon, I know she wasn't, Nana, she said it in the wrong way, so I got upset and then she told me I'm 16...though it makes no sense.
sorry for ruining the thread!:)

yeah...
and I asked this:

At Nana:
I have a question, teacher! :P
if someone fasts while they're sick, is it a sin?
my friend was really sick, yesterday, she had a headache and dunno what, and she didn't accept to eat or drink or at least take the medicine,, I think it is a sin because God ordered us to save our bodies as well as our souls...right?

another question ...
what if a person is fasting..
and di a wrong thing
does he break his fast???

Im not a sheik i remind u :p and ofcourse u should know this...swearing...lying...gossipy...bllaaaaaa blaaaa breaka anyone's fast lol
edit:

her soul, has its right on her. Hence she should not fast when sick ..but I am no one to say she did a sin or a fault by that.

Poetesses, you have to understand that when people ask questions, especially about your religion, it could be because they are actually interested in learning. Sure we could look it up, but why not ask someone who practices the religion? She wasn't being offensive at all. And regarding your age, when you're older and discuss with teenagers, you'll understand what everyone means. We have ALL went through it. It's a learning experience, and you don't need to get all up in arms when someone isn't praising you or something.

Nana, do you typically lose a lot of weight during this time? Lol silly question I know, but I know when the sun is down here, I don't eat as I'm asleep, in the summer anyway. Do you typically stay up late to eat, or is it something you tend to not think about??

Are the first two weeks harder than the last? I would think itd be hard and then get easier at the end.

Nana.....yeah but you know lots of stuff :P:)

Britt, when she asked, I answered her, so kindly and I appreciate that she is interested. But if you read the posts, you would find that she told me I'm vague about my religion, and that is, yes, offensive, at least, for me.
For my age, I don't want or need someone to praise me every once and a while but people should never regard me as an ignorant person due to my age, and if you could bear what people used to tell you, then I'm not, we are different, humans nature.....end of the arguement

I must agree about his 1st :

. And regarding your age, when you're older and discuss with teenagers, you'll understand what

And hahah this will make you laugh :P no seriously and to be honest during Ramadan people tend to Gain weight not lose weight, cause they eat a bit late and this reminds me about Hellons question which I forgot to answer, HELLON we do not look to check the sun, we usually have a specific time to eat, like at 7:45 pm :) and then each day we take one minute out of the counter like today we break the fast on 7:44 ..tomorrow it will be 7:43..etc.. As you know since the timing around the world changes ...

And ya people gain weight, not only cause they eat a bit late, but cause during Ramadan people make huge amounts of food, and plentyyyyy and countlesss types of sweets..that are Ramadans specialties..especially to give the body the sugar it needs..and believe it or not this is one of my favorite months and I feel so disappointed when it comes to an end.. let me show you some good pictures :)

Sweets of Ramadan :

http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?q=Ramadan+sweets&um=1&hl=ar&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbnid=eMWn-TJ-bjyCfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/ramadan/meals_bsisu&docid=1gN6igEtYjnOnM&w=200&h=247&ei=sQo4Tp_NGNHVsgbLruET&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=594

http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?q=Ramadan+sweets&um=1&hl=ar&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbnid=mn9P3FUuGFSZ2M:&imgrefurl=http://newshopper.sulekha.com/bangladesh-ramadan_photo_944932.htm&docid=w-fAPq6aDMCggM&w=640&h=426&ei=sQo4Tp_NGNHVsgbLruET&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=594

http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?q=Ramadan+sweets&um=1&hl=ar&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbnid=qX-BV1LkSA0zwM:&imgrefurl=http://indianmuslims.in/ramadan-2008-in-pictures/&docid=JylKL1zn07vjWM&w=500&h=334&ei=sQo4Tp_NGNHVsgbLruET&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=594

and this is how the tables are usually stuffed in each house :

http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?q=%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF+%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9&um=1&hl=ar&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbnid=vYUkXfTjInFOSM:&imgrefurl=http://www.3-reeh.net/vb/showthread.php%253Ft%253D18514%2526page%253D3&docid=Tw5vVMEaPHzcPM&w=700&h=525&ei=9Qs4TqSyMMjPsgbSsqAa&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=594

http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?q=%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF+%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9&um=1&hl=ar&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbnid=FUrdRiOVstNYSM:&imgrefurl=http://www.alwatan.com.sa/Nation/News_Detail.aspx%253FArticleID%253D18271%2526CategoryID%253D3&docid=b1LQKNwv6fyLqM&w=300&h=255&ei=wAs4TqjSIsyRswazy_UP&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=594

http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?q=%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF+%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9&um=1&hl=ar&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbnid=qpUdd3alH37fOM:&imgrefurl=http://www.j-allail.com/vb/showthread.php%253Ft%253D6028&docid=Prbl-lqiNhG2_M&w=500&h=500&ei=4ws4To_dCYbLswaAndkR&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=594

http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?q=Ramadan+sweets&um=1&hl=ar&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbnid=sw7aEARyz7Cj3M:&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/groups/we-love-kuwait/discuss/72157621980392495/&docid=2b0GMGbVeO7AtM&w=500&h=334&ei=sQo4Tp_NGNHVsgbLruET&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=594

----------------------
And honestly I am the wrong person to answer you about being harder, as you remember every time I talked to you on msn at 10 pm, I said am hungry lol, cause I used to finish very late and I am used to this...nothing changes on me, cause my meal usually is taken at a late time.. but I believe yes the 1st week is the hardest then it gets easy :) and normal I suppose..

Dear the poet, if I am to defend I would defend Noura,. but this is not a battle field, and no one is defending no one! This is called Clearing up the air, as to show Noura that Hellon did not mean to offend her by what she said, which means no need for her to be upset.. As what is being said is only being said so Noura doesnt feel upset!

And please I repeat I made this for Ramadan not for cuddling. I hope you respect my wishes guys, and keep this revolving only about Ramadan, to help others know more about it. Thanks!

Ok, Nana. We're done, sorry! :)

Thanks.

Lol,
wait
let me put my two cents in here.
Islam, like any other religon, is diverse, i know for a fact that me, nana, nano, came from three diffrent sects, and while some of the sects are flexible about religon rules, other's are strict, hence why some fast, and others don't. I for one, i'm not anything close to religous but i know better than to be oblivous about ramadan.

@hellion.. i <3 ur questions, it's nice to know that some people are intrested in learning, it really makes communicating easy amongst us, and sure does break a better understanding,
to answer ur last questions,
while your allowed to break your fasting to lots of reasons, they failed to mention that you should also pay a fee if you do that, and the "fee" is usaully to provide food for a poor person,
for instance, my mother suffers from alot of sicknes which makes it impposible for her to FAST, everyday, our driver buys a good meal, nothing fancy, 5 dollars @ most can buy a good meal here, and gives it away to a poor person, unless ofcrouse if the person who broke the fasting is poor, then no fee is needed.

althought if the sickness is not anything serious, like a headache, or u bledd or vomited and had to break your fast, YOUR allowed to break ur fasting but u have to Fast again when the month is over, and your obliged to do it before the next ramadan starts, for example, you couldn't fast for 4 days because u were sick and on medication, u must fast for 4 days within the year, along with paying the fee, =-)

a women, also is not expected to fast and should not fast when it's her time of the month, because it's really hard to do that, so when it's that time of the month, ur free of charge, and no fee is needed to be paid cuz it is inevatible, althought u must fast for the days that you didn't after ramadan =-),

travelling is another issue
it is said that if the travelling distance is more than 80killometers, which is like 45-50 miles, you'r allowed to break your fast, that ofcouse, withtin the old days, they used to travel by walking and cammels, so anyone who breaks their fast today due to travelling issues is now unexcusced imo, cuz we got planes and cares
unless he's goin on a trip that is 24 hours or more, then it would be understandble.

britt,
to answer ur question, yes and no, people tend to pigout during ramadan, and we have this thing called Sahoor, it's a meal we eat like 30 minutes before the sun rises again, and we start fasing, and usaully that meal consists of gracy fattening stuff, it's fun,

its awsome in ramadan let me add, because ull find more than 80% of the people wide awake at 5 am, for praying and then eating sahoor, so the city never sleeps.

the only reason i'd think the 1st two 1st weeks might be harder is because is at the 1st couple of days, the sun sets around 7 pm each day,and that is when we break our fast
but in the end of month the sun sets around 6 pm,
other than that, it's a month full of love and happnies and rebinding with your faith, these things makes it easy for us i'd assume.

Nano=
sigh, sometimes you're hard headed dear, give her a break :P
let me start tourtuing you, 1st of all, the reason you broke your fasting is not worth it @ all, they used to fight wars while they are fasting, :P
2nd of all, you should realise that if you did not fast , and you had no excuse not to fast,
then fasting every single day of your life won't be equivlent to missing that one day.
so shame on you :P,
also, don't get on your defence stance that fast, she was asking a simple question, and it's easy to see she was talking about how lean our relgion can be when u said i'm not fasting

you bascailly just gave a bad impression about us when i'm sure you did not mean to. ;p
peace dear, lol

1. I wasn't arguing anywhere.
2. I see nothing that should offend anyone in here. Perhaps people should read posts assuming an easy tone, rather than an attacking one. Some people don't put smiley faces and lols to lighten their posts, but it doesnt mean they have intent to offend.

I think what Hellon means by her vague comment was directing to Nanos posts. They seemed vague, where as Nana went into detail/in depth.

Everyone just breeeeathe!

Just breathe! and breath! just breath!

Hahah breathin breathing aree we all pregnant now :P

Rabea thanks a lot for your post, amazing, I didn't want to go into these details, but it makes people get more info about the importance of this month!

And I believe what you talked of, works for both our sects, same case over here. XD

edit:

And brittttt...do you have a certain impression regarding what we said about gaining weight and the yummy food :P lol

I hope I don't come back on here after class in a few hours and find anything penalty worthy in these posts... all I'm seeing down at the bottom are suggestions to breathe!

What about a pregnant woman, does she have the permission to fast or is it her "duty" to fast?

When do people first start to fast (age)?

@Nano no I'm not a Muslim :)

Thanks in advance for the answers. :)

Haha Rabea, I know I swear I know but ok...I promise I won't do it again, isn't it enough?
you have no idea how hot here is...in Syria the sun is directed towards us...directly..:P and I was dying for a cup of water, so I broke my fast.

and yeah Britt, I hate people referrin to my age, but ok, I apologize I thought you were attacking me. :)

Hmmm...
ok
breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeathe