Describing Ramadan to Non-Muslims
Fasting as such is a human phenomenon, which is noticeable in all religions, whether primitive or developed, Divinely revealed or man-made. Allah Almighty says: (O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off evil) (Al-Baqarah 2: 183)
Ramadan has a special appeal to all Muslims, even to our young children. It captures our souls. Fasting increases our goodness, cultivates our nature, and sharpens our consciousness of Allah. It disseminates brotherly feelings towards the community and all humanity, and above all sharpens in us the sense of responsibility towards one another. It helps us attain self-control and provides us with the ability to resist lusts and base desires during our fasting-time. Ramadan enables us to encounter hardships.
In Ramadan, we don’t only abstain from food, drink, smoking, marital sex, but also we abstain form all kinds of immoral acts and obscenity. Our social, religious, charitable acts are combined in our fasting. So, the month of Ramadan is an intensive course in physical and spiritual hygiene.
We fast also to honor the Revelation of the Qur’an in this blessed month. The Qur’an is our guide and rule to advance in this world and to draw ourselves closer to Allah.
During the blessed month of Ramadan, millions of Muslims gather in Mosques during the daytime for reciting and reflecting on the Qur’an. During the night, they gather to pray in congregation and listen to lectures from Muslim scholars. All these merits help us to be more adaptable, sociable, and practical.
more info: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-Englis...
Thanks for that. It really gets my goat when people try to compare Ramadan to Christmas. It's like comparing apples to light bulbs (you thought I'd say oranges there didn't you!) - they are both round but that's where the story ends.
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Baldrick - Qatar's answer to Google ;o)
My first week in Qatar.... I asked someone
'why do all the bathmats have compasses on them?'
Of course they were prayer mats -
I didnt know......I actually ended up going to the Qatar Guest Centre and taking a course in Islam to help me understand... and it was great and i learnt a lot.
So good for you Realsome for posting this.
Ramadan but some of them don't know what is the 'Purpose' of Ramadan specially for those who came to a Muslim Country first time in their life :-)
Stand Against Xenephobia : http://www.qatarliving.com/events/08sep2008/stand-against-xenephobia
Shedbabe: Here, at Portugal, we all know that Ramadan isn't a "a season of "laziness" "overindulgence(after break fast) "extravagance" etc.." but even so this post enlightens me a bite more about it :)
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Realsome: Thanks for this post, i ain't there but at least it's somethin new i add to my knowledges :)
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Yeah i think so. not only knowing about that ramadan is a month of fasting but also knowing about why muslims fast is there in the article and not everyone is aware of it.
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
Andrew...yes I'm last 4 years I'm taking this..as most of friends in office are muslims..
No offense meant at all by this realsomeone, as I understand you're just trying to enlighten people, but honestly, do you think there's anyone in Qatar or on this site now that doesn't know what Ramadan is about??
Visit www.qatarhappening.com
Nathan.........You are fasting tooo?????????
"I expect to pass through this life but once.
Therefore, if there be any kindness I can show,
or any good thing I can do for another human being,
let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again
...William Penn
realsomeone...good try...I'm giving a good suppor to my muslim friends...
Nathan its just little lighting for those non-muslims without a clue about Ramadan.
how do you find fasting Ramadan in those years?
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
I'm a non-muslim and taking ramadan fasting last 4 years..
So why do so many put weight on during Ramadan
just eat another pie
Whats the special in this topic...