Most of the Muslim world started fasting the month of Ramadan on Thursday. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, during this month Muslims abstain from eating and sex, among other things, before sunrise until sunset.In reality, abstaining from food is the easy part. The aim of Ramadan is for the Muslim to be able to control all his/her desires and behaviours. So if you use to eat too much or sleep too long, you can readjust in this month. If you had anger problem, didn't have time to connect with friends, then you should do that in Ramadan. Also, Muslims should be more charitable in Ramadan, being hungry should remind you that others aren't as fortunate as you're.
But Ramadan has been mixed with culture, and has been almost entirely changed to a cultural event. People pray less, eat more and often times end up worse than they were before Ramdan(I've been guilty of that before).
During the month, I'll post on some of the more notable intersections between the cultural-ramadan and the real-ramadan.
6 comments:
salaam, i was just surfing for some information about ramadan when i was directed to your blog. just want to say that i like it a lot! having some friends in egypt, i find the US-MidEast relation more intriguing to me as i now know more about islamic and mid-estern culture. your blog to me is defintely educational in this light.
Salaam rita,
Thanks for your kind comment. The middle east as well as being chaotic, it's full of culture and is surprisingly welcoming. I've been busy and unable to update the blog regularly but I hope you'll visit again and chat.
Salaam,
I know I am not alone among your Christian brothers and sisters in feeling grateful and inspired by your entry, "Ramadan karim." Indeed, Muslims struggle with many of the same challenges and foibles as we do. How many Christians would nod in agreement of your observation that we are often worse off during our most holy of days. After speaking about this blog entry with some dear friends of mine here in Cairo, they laughed in recognition of their own experiences of Ramadan.
We are, after all, cut from the same cloth. As I celebrate iftar tonight with Muslim friends in one of the world's most historic cities, and drink tea beside the Al Husseini mosque, I will perhaps reflect more deeply on your words. This is, after all, Ramadan -- a time for reflection and contemplation. I only wish we Christians had a full lunar month like Muslim do!
Tomorrow, I have invited another Muslim friend to Al Azhar park for Iftar, where we will enjoy a picnic of bread, fettah, bamya and musaqaa while enjoying the fanastic vista of Old Cairo at dusk, along with some great conversation. Want to come along? (We just might eat too much!)
Cheers,
Jay Schneider
Cairo, Egypt
Jay,
Thanks, that's an irresistable invitation. I spent most of my teenage years in Egypt, and the old city is marvelous. I had hoped to write posts about Ramadan and how people have changed what it was really intended for, so far no time but I still have more than 10 days to go.
I would love to hear your reflections on Ramadan, drops a line at shirsoore@gmail.com if can.
Regards,
Abdurahman
happy ramadan 2009 !! =)
its very important festival for muslim community..
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