Nineteen years trying to figure out Ramadan and I still don't get it.
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Since 2000 then when I was studying Islam intensively at school in R.E. lessons.
2 translations of the Quran purchased.
Both of them read all the way through at least once.
Numerous other translations studied.
A few visits to Arab countries.
A few friendships with Sunnis.
A few years being a member of the Rashad Kahalifa cult.
8 years membership of this forum.
Many threads read about it on this and other websites.
Lots of time pondering it on my own.
Several attempts at Ramadan Sunni style (including one successful month).
A fair amount of mockery from family.
NINETEEN YEARS.
A whole Metonic cycle?(https//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonic_cycle)
But I still don't understand what the instruction is! The thing that currently makes the most sense to me is to fast the full moon following the summer solstice, so 3 days, darkness excluded. But even then I am not sure if it applies to people outside of Arabia as well or even if women are included at all?!
I don't even know how to spell it! Is it Ramadan or Ramadhan or Ramazan? I have seen all three used.
Kill me.
Just kill me now.
giveup
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Peace Jane.
Qoran s instructions starts from a very simple thing of GOD awareness which is "libas Al Taqwa". i.e believe in GOD and believe GOD if you think GOD sent a message.
If a relationship follows, it will take time and effort. GOD s trial of the individual and their true/honest conviction.The minimum criteria is to be honest with yourself and start from the basics of being a good, just, peaceful person Work on your character.to cleanse your spiritual self from bad like hate ,jealousy, back biting....etc.
Good works, fairness, justice and a good character contribute to the special relationship with your Creator. The rest like Salat. Sawm….etc are irrelevant without the basics.
Then GOD will reciprocate and works with you on understanding more. GOD knows you better than you know yourself. Trust in Him and works only with Him as far as your redemption is concerned. GOD Alone is your teacher and Wakeel.
As for all other humans, interact and socialise with them but Qoran should be your only source of salvation as you understand it now. Only change when you clearly see proof that you have to change.
Best of luck sister.
GOD bless you.
Peace. -
peace,
829
O you who believe, if you are aware of God (taqwa), He makes/creates for you a criterion (separation of Right and Wrong), and He covers/substitutes from you your sins, and forgives for you, and God (is owner) of the grace/favour/blessing, the great. -
Salam/Peace sister Jane. You should check out these videos, it's about Ramadhan
https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXvBSB7o_-Q
https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvuVsqqP_lw
https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPjv5w4eVBg
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How do you mean basic? Reading the Qur'an in Arabic?
I've read my english Qur'an translation all the way through twice. I can only read a translation so I'm dependent on Arab speakers but since even Arabs can't agree what
'Shahr Ramadan' means how I am supposed to work it out.Sometimes I think Ramadan is only decreed for people of the same ethnic group as Muhammad, maybe they're the only ones who are allowed to grasp the specific instruction. All the rest of us are led astray since it's not for us.
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Salam/Peace sister Jane. You should check out these videos, it's about Ramadhan
https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXvBSB7o_-Q
https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvuVsqqP_lw
https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPjv5w4eVBg
Interesting videos. Thanks a lot.
Although I am even more confused now... '( -
Interesting videos. Thanks a lot.
Although I am even more confused now... '(Oh? How so? What were your research before you watched the 3 videos.
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Salam/Peace,
The Ramadhan topic is somewhat difficult because it is easy to use wrong data points and end-up with incorrect conclusions.
To use the meaning of the word "Ramadhan" as "Scorching Heat /or/ First Rain" will lead people to a conclusion that Ramadhan can be anywhere from June-August - hence the moon discussion starts creeping in with the "Blood Moon" being suggested as an indicator of which month of summer the fast should be in.
However, if you read more into the Quran, you will find that the Arabs had been guilty of "manipulating" the sacred months by distorting the times to insert the extra month (intercalary) thata balanced the lunar and solar calendars
"In the use of the intercalary exists an increase in rejection; that those who have rejected may misguide with it. They make it permissible one calendar year, and forbid it one calendar year, so as to circumvent the count of what God has made forbidden; thus they make permissible what God has made forbidden. Their evil works have been adorned for them, and God does not guide the rejecting people." (937)
Therefore, when the Quran was revealed, the Arabic months were already out of sync with the seasons they were originally designed in...Even modern narrations put the time of revelation on 22nd December 609 A.D. (https//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran).
Ignoring the above, it is simple to find the true Ramadhan by looking at the Quranic clues
- Jesus was born when the dates were ripe - August/September (1925).
- Jesus was conceived with the Spirit + Angels coming to Myriam (1917, 355).
- The Night of Destiny (in which the Quran was revealed) is the night the Spirit + Angels descend (974)
- The Quran was revealed in the month Ramadhan (2185)
Therefore Conception of Jesus (December) = Night of Destiny = Ramadhan
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What makes more sense to me is the equinox, eother north or south because it would not change all that much that it is south or north, whereas with the scorching whatever, it turns always into those defferences where some people have to fast for one hour and other people have to fast 23 hours.
As to using the Christian calendars to fix Isa's birthday... it may be like jumping from the pan into the fire.
Salaam
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What makes more sense to me is the equinox, eother north or south because it would not change all that much that it is south or north, whereas with the scorching whatever, it turns always into those defferences where some people have to fast for one hour and other people have to fast 23 hours.
As to using the Christian calendars to fix Isa's birthday... it may be like jumping from the pan into the fire.
Salaam
Ouch.
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Salam,
As to using the Christian calendars to fix Isa's birthday... it may be like jumping from the pan into the fire.
I'm not sure what you mean here as the Christian calendar is a pure solar one, whilst the Quran uses a luni-solar.
As to Jesus's birthday, that is concluded by deducting 9 months from when the dates ripen (August/September).
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You are right, Layth, you did not put the christian calendar to show anything. And all your deductions on that post are strictly quranic based. I by myself do not know when dates are ripe. For thoroughness sake I have consulted the tima when the dates become ripe. I suppose tht it epends on the vrieties and also the places. For the dates of Elche, in Spain, which are the most common variety it says that they become ripe in autumn which might leave august out, but I suppose that depending on climate the limits may be stretched.
Sorry for my misunderstanding. May be by now I am so conscious of the undue assumptions imposed on the Qur'an by "christian sources" that I react even when there is no need for it.
Salaam
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Salam,
I'm not sure what you mean here as the Christian calendar is a pure solar one, whilst the Quran uses a luni-solar.
As to Jesus's birthday, that is concluded by deducting 9 months from when the dates ripen (August/September).
Yes, the year system which the Quran uses is solar
but its months are not shahrs
because SHAHR which the Quran mentions in 2185, 936 and 105 (moon phase) is FULL MOON;
it is not month.So the year in the Quran
is simply solar;
it is not lunisolar.For example in the time span
from summer solstice 2015 to summer solstice 2016
there are 13 shahrs-
Ramadan* -----------> Jul 02, 2015 (First crescent, Jun 16, is 5 days before Jun 21).
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Shawwal -------------> Jul 31
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Zul-Qa’dah ----------> Aug 29
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Zul-Hijjah -----------> Sep 28
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Muharram -----------> Oct 27
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Safar ----------------> Nov 25
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Rabi-Al-Awwal--------> Dec 25
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Rabi-Al-Thani --------> Jan 24
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Jumada-Al-Awwal ----> Feb 22
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Jumada-Al-Thani -----> Mar 23
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Rajab ----------------> Apr 22
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Shaban ---------------> May 21
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??????-------------------> Jun 20, 2016 (Last crescent, Jul 04, is 14 days after Jun 21).
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Jul. 19, 2016
…
If SHAHR was a lunar month lasting 29.5 days
13 shahrs would be 384 days long
and they woluld not have enough room in the 365-day time-span.384 – 365 = 19
They have enough room now
because they are full moon nights
like laylatul qadr.The 19 days are placed
before and after the 365-day span between the two solstices;
that is, OUTSIDE the 365-day time-span.
- https//www.moonsighting.com/actual-saudi-dates.pdf
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Thanks for your replies everyone.
I agree shahr is probably the full moon phase only (1-3 nights). There was no concept of a month in olden times, that's a Roman invention. (As is a rotating weekly cycle). Prior to that the solar quarter-days and/or the cross-quarter days and the 12 full moons were the markers in most cultures. Except for the Israelites who were forced to have an additional marker ever lunar quarter...until Yeshua came to relieve them of it.
https//pics.me.me/names-of-the-full-moon-jan-wolf-or-old-moon-17454772.png
https//media.worldslastchance.com/images/2010/11/18/4919/luni-solar-calendar-smaller-updated-b.jpg
Shahr must mean the full moon.
I was 90% sure Shahr Ramadan was thus the full moon after Litha (summer solstice) since 90% of Muslims state that Ramadan means scorching heat so yes that would be after then.Therefore the total full moon was the Special Night. Then I watched those videos which seem to confirm that the Arabs pre-Muhammad had Ramadhan at the END of summer and now I'm back to square one!
Layth - I see where you're going but the videos make sense and I've now read a few Aabic speakers saying the root of Ramadan is Ramadiyu which means the end of summer rain??
It makes total sense that the full moons had set points in the year starting with with winter solstice, in old Arabia like other areas
https//quranstudy19.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/islamic-months.png
I am just so confused even more though because if Shahr Ramadan is the 9th full moon then it's likely the one closest to Mabon (the autumn equinox) which is the Harvest Moon in old European tradition. This would be the worst time of the year to be fasting!! Because of all the physical work needed at that time.
https//s22380.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/Harvest-Moon-George-Mason-public-domain-480x274.jpgHow could God mandate this. That's what I meant by being even more confused. Surely that means Ramadan is just a commandment for the Ishmaelites.
Although our friend Joseph doesn't see an issue
https//m.youtube.com/watch?v=cOG1XeZ0xzIIt's also no longer clear to me whether the Special Night is the same as Shahr Ramadan at all. I can't see it being Winter Solstice. I accept that Yeshua/Isa was born in the autumn but we have no way of knowing when he was conceived. Saying his conception was at winter solstice assumes two things
- that his gestation was definitely 9 months; we don't know that, it wasn't a standard conception so maybe it wasn't a standard gestation, he could have even been premature we don't know.
- that the only day angels descend is 1 night a year. Seems unlikely?? Zechariah was also visited and told about Yahya. Was that also winter solstice? And Abraham and Sarah were visited by Gabriel too. I think if the Jews were used to being visited by angels on winter solstice they would have made it part of their culture but there's no significant winter solstice celebration in Judaism that I know of.
Perhaps to be on the safe side we should just fast every 100% full moon day, dawn til dusk, so we're covered!
I'm praying I will understand Ramadan sometime before I die, God-willing!
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Since 2000 then when I was studying Islam intensively at school in R.E. lessons.
2 translations of the Quran purchased.
Both of them read all the way through at least once.
Numerous other translations studied.
A few visits to Arab countries.
A few friendships with Sunnis.
A few years being a member of the Rashad Kahalifa cult.
8 years membership of this forum.
Many threads read about it on this and other websites.
Lots of time pondering it on my own.
Several attempts at Ramadan Sunni style (including one successful month).
A fair amount of mockery from family.
NINETEEN YEARS.
A whole Metonic cycle?(https//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonic_cycle)
But I still don't understand what the instruction is! The thing that currently makes the most sense to me is to fast the full moon following the summer solstice, so 3 days, darkness excluded. But even then I am not sure if it applies to people outside of Arabia as well or even if women are included at all?!
I don't even know how to spell it! Is it Ramadan or Ramadhan or Ramazan? I have seen all three used.
Kill me.
Just kill me now.
giveup
Peace,
Somewhat late, but Ramadhan hasn't begun yet this year, in fact, right now is the four restricted months and it will soon end. So you are practicing something else that the Sunnis and Shias has slapped the name Ramadhan on.
First, you must be able to answer this question yourself; how do you come to the conclusion that Ramadhan this year was in June like the sectarians say? Or do you follow what they say blindly? How do you gather information from Quran and conclude that Ramadhan this year was in June (while it is the four restricted months which are separate from Ramadhan)? The point being that if you don't know when Ramadhan is, you don't have to do it sectarian style or any style, for God has not granted you this knowledge yet.Anyway, if you want the real timing of Ramadhan, I recommend you read The Natural Republic, which presents the proof for the timing, unlike the sectarians who only guess everything and make up lies.
The next Ramadhan begins around November or December.
If you don't want to read the whole book, then you should begin with Chapter 13, and then continue with Chapter 16 and finally Chapter 18. It's the same as what brother Layth said, but he goes deeper into the topic in the book.
Remember to confirm everything yourself;
1736 And do not uphold what you have no knowledge of; for the hearing, and eyesight, and mind—all these you are responsible for.And ask God that He increases your knowledge.
https//www.free-minds.org/sites/default/files/TNR_0.pdf
Peace
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Dear Jane,
Shahr cannot mean ?full moon? as that would throw off a number of verses which speak of child waning lasting 30 months and the fasting of 2 consecutive months In certain circumstances as well as the waiting for divorce 3 months or 3 menstruations.
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...Layth - I see where you're going but the videos make sense and I've now read a few Aabic speakers saying the root of Ramadan is Ramadiyu which means the end of summer rain??
Ayman too is an Arabic speaker;
and he says this
about the root and meaning* of RamadanWe know that one of the meanings of a derivitive of "RMD" ("TaRaMoD" means inhumane hunting in the hot time of the year by chasing an animal until its legs burn from the heat and it falls. Hunters can catch animals this way with their hands without using weapons (see 594 reference to catching prey by hands).
The hot time of the year is when young animals are newly born and are relying on their mother so killing the mother means sentencing her newborns to death by dehydration and starvation.
Notice that out of the punishments listed for violating the hunting restriction in 595 fasting is the only one followed by the reason being so that the hunter "tastes the consequence of his deed".
How does the hunter taste the consequence of his deed by fasting? He experiences the thirst and hunger of the wild animal during the hot time of the year when hunting is restricted.
This is why fasting was decreed. It is not to feel the suffering of the poor as people contend. The poor are not given a license not to fast. It is to feel the suffering of the wild life that we as leaders of the earth must take good care of. This is why we fast with the beginning of the hunting restriction.
*Ra-Miim-Dad,
Ta-Ra-MoD,
Lane's Lexicon, p 322, meaning 5He drove the gazelles
upon the ground or stones vehemently heated by the sun
until their hoofs became dissundered or dislocated
and so they were taken... -
Dear Brook,
Ayman too is an Arabic speaker;
and he says this
about the root and meaning* of RamadanIt seems I have been misunderstood. I have not challenged the meaning ascribed to 'Ramadhan' of 'Scorching Heat' or 'Early Autumn'...I have however, pointed out a very obvious fact that this discussion keeps ignoring, which is that the Arabs at the time of the Prophet had altered the sequence of the months so they can circumvent the Restricted Months of hunting
"In the use of the intercalary exists an increase in rejection; that those who have rejected may misguide with it. They make it permissible one calendar year, and forbid it one calendar year, so as to circumvent the count of what God has made forbidden; thus they make permissible what God has made forbidden. Their evil works have been adorned for them, and God does not guide the rejecting people." (Qur'an 937)
Therefore, even if Ramadhan in the Arabic language meant "Scorching Heat", when the Quran was revealed it was a distorted month occurring at a different time - which is why the claim that December is when the Quran is revealed makes the tracks here.
Just like Ramadhan now in the lunar calendar occurs at every season, so the argument can be made that Ramadhan of today is not "Scorching Heat" - as was originally the name when the months were distributed in a proper luni-solar system..
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...Also, the "nasi'" was an improper intercalation introduced at the end of the year every other year to delay the hunting restriction and violate it. So this means that the restricted full moons must occur at the beginning on the year.
The way I see it
is different.The restricted moons are not part of the (solar) year,
they are part of the full moon series from one summer solstice to the next;
so they must ocur at the beginning of the FULL MOON SERIES.The full moon series
and the (solar) year
are different concepts.They are so different
that the year is always made up of the same number of units (365 plus days)
but the series of full moons has changing number of units (12/13 full moons).The following are the times of the Scorching Full Moon
which ocurs at the beginning of 33 full moon series.Please note
that 12 of them each comes 19 days later than the former
because there are 13 full moons in the series the former initiates
and that extra 13th full moon causes the delay.http//astropixels.com/ephemeris/phasescat/phases2001.html
Jul. 05, 2001 --- Jul. 05, 2020
Jun 24, 2002 --- Jun 24, 2021
Jul. 13, 2003 --- Jul. 13, 2022
Jul. 02, 2004 --- Jul. 02, 2023
Jun 22, 2005 --- Jun 22, 2024
Jul. 11, 2006 --- Jul. 11, 2025
Jun 30, 2007 --- Jun 30, 2026
Jul. 18, 2008 --- Jul. 18, 2027
Jul. 07, 2009 --- Jul. 07, 2028
Jun 26, 2010 --- Jun 26, 2029
Jul. 15, 2011 --- Jul. 15, 2030
Jul. 03, 2012 --- Jul. 03, 2031
Jun 23, 2013 --- Jun 23, 2032
Jul. 12, 2014 --- Jul. 12, 2033
Jul. 02, 2015
Jul. 19, 2016
Jul. 09, 2017
Jun 28, 2018
Jul. 16, 2019The day the year begins is man’s business;
he can decide it to be the day Jesus Christ was born
or the day Prophet Muhammad migrated.
