Ramadan is here. How many will fast and how will you spend your time?
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Peace to all,
I will be fasting, this will be my third time doing ramadan, I start the first day of october and continue for one month, I usually try to do extra good things for my community members during this time. Also, since this time of the year is one of my favorite seasons, I try to pray outside on the shores of Lake Superior during ramadan, it really is beautiful and makes me feel a little closer to God.
Kurt
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Greetings IronSky,
I will be fasting..I start the first day of october and continue for one month
My heart and mind have not settled on when to fast or how; so with that in mind, I'm (humbly) curious as to how you came to fast Octobers. Would you mind to share that with us?
Thanks in advance -- either way.
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Peace to all,
well iLisa, its pretty simple, when I became a muslim (submitter to God) almost three years a go I didnt know anything about Islam, I started to read and research and soon found that the traditional muslims fasted around this time, it was at a point in my life where I was doing as much as I could to be a good muslim, and when I discovered that they fasted for an entire month from sunup till sundown, I was actually kinda scared and thought I couldnt do that, but I decided to try, so I just followed along as the traditionals did it, and since the Quran does say something about fasting in this month(im not sure which month but october is as good for me as any) i decided to do it, and I did, and it was very hard for awhile. After the first few days I remember telling myself I cant do this for an entire month, I was getting dizzy and sick feeling, but eventually it became easier. Then when I was done I felt so good about it, I really think it was the best thing ive ever done for myself, i understand the point is to do good for others not ourselves, but the point is that without doing this for my own benefit, I would have never learned and grew spritually and personally without doing the fast. I became more disciplined, empathetic to others, I felt a deeper urge to help others less fortunate than me, and I began doing good instead of just saying I would. I realy believe it has helped me in more ways than I can fathom today,,hence, Im actually getting kinda excited to fast this ramadan.
Hope all others that will be fasting or have already fasted have a good experience.
Kurt
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For those interested in different views about Ramadan. See
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=14636.0
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=14678.0
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=13238.0
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=8906.0 (this needs responses)
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=12364.0
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I had difficult times at Ramadan and never actually felt good about it, even though I raced towards beating the odds as if it was some kind of a competition, often sneaking to break fasts but the fear factor of not only the "almighty" but other people sweated and twitched my nerves. The timings and routines suddenly changed, offset appetite and upset stomach, became weak, lazy and mentally drained with work load, mandatory extra prayers, and so forth. The long hot summers, special lailatul qadar, other odd nights and eid prayers were bad enough, invoking names of people I have no idea about, parroting Quran in Arabic several times and bowing and prostrating profusely towards Mecca. The only times I enjoyed is when I gathered around my family and friends at Iftaar, gobbling down rich and zesty cusine and having a ball on eid days. "bakra eid" was a special treat and naively yet excitingly watched animals being slaughtered right in front of my eyes in my own backyard. At around the age of 35, none of this made any sense to me and often thought why would a merciful god make life uneasy, miserable and dramatic. After studying its history and for many years now, I became free of such perilous and unheathly man-made dogmatic atmosphere and succumbed to nature's provisions, commitments and obligations as a gift of survival and the purpose of my life in its natural and universal setting. Just my side of the story.
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I will try to fast because I have problem with my sensitive skin when I don't consume enough water for a certain period of time. Not eating food is no problemo for me but not drinking water is hard.
It's all in your head, dude! I know this lady who doesn't fast because she believes sha has to drink water every certain amount of time, or a certain amount of glasses a day. Your body has an amazing ability to adapt, if you don't put your mind in the way.
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It's all in your head, dude! I know this lady who doesn't fast because she believes sha has to drink water every certain amount of time, or a certain amount of glasses a day. Your body has an amazing ability to adapt, if you don't put your mind in the way.
One thing I loved about Ramadan is hearing the Azaan in sunset. Its like music in your ears. Its a joy you can not explain. But then 10 minutes later the anti-climax starts.
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One thing I loved about Ramadan is hearing the Azaan in sunset. Its like music in your ears. Its a joy you can not explain. But then 10 minutes later the anti-climax starts.
D I know the feeling! I fast in the middle of summer, and break my fast at night, way after the 'azaan' which I never hear.
Peace
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Peace Zenje,
D I know the feeling! I fast in the middle of summer, and break my fast at night, way after the 'azaan' which I never hear. )
In the great reading night ("layl" starts at sunset. So you don't need to wait until the dark part of the night (in the great reading this is called "ghasaq al-layl".
Peace,
Ayman
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In the great reading night ("layl" starts at sunset. So you don't need to wait until the dark part of the night (in the great reading this is called "ghasaq al-layl".
Peace,
Interesting brother Ayman. I am interested in how you came about to this conclusion.
Peace,
Ali -
i remember my first ramadan, the first day, i fell asleep in the afternoon and had a dream about eating something out of my fridge and spitting it out all scared and feeling sorry, it wasnt pleasant.
3rd ramadan this one
may God protect and bless us all
peace -
Peace Zenje,
In the great reading night ("layl" starts at sunset. So you don't need to wait until the dark part of the night (in the great reading this is called "ghasaq al-layl".
Peace,
Ayman
But , sun set is described as Ghoroob ul shams.
could you eloborate on above please? we need another debate to clarify this issue.
siki
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Peace Ayman and all,
It's a pity, I tried to search for that thread where I had that discussion with you and Wakas, but I got an error message. I think it's one of those old threads that just dissappeared. I wasn't convinced at the time, I remember that much, but I don't remember what points I had raised that made me think otherwise. (must be getting old)
But , sun set is described as Ghoroob ul shams.
could you eloborate on above please? we need another debate to clarify this issue.
siki
I agree with siki on this point. Let's clarify, perhaps on another thread?
peace