When is Laylatul Qadr

Signs of Laylatul Qadr

The Night of Power or Destiny is an extremely important night for Muslims. It is the night in which the Holy Quran, was revealed from Allah (S.W.T.)to Prophet Muhammad (P.B.B.U.H.). It is a night worth more than 1000 days (which is more than the average lifetime of a human from his birth date to his death date).

When exactly is this glorious night? We don't really know, and the early Muslims asked the same question. The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged them to do I’tikaf (seclusion in the mosque away from all worldly thoughts, deeds and concerns) in the last ten days. So the last ten days of Ramadan are very important.




Looking for a Laylatul Qadr Dua?

Check this out heartful dua by Sa'ad Al Ghamdi

Ramadan Pictures 2010

Ramadan Pictures 2010

Muslims Worldwide Observe Ramadan with Prayer and Fasting

The last ten days of Ramadan has begun in some places - the last ten days of Ramadan are regarded as very important. Muslims will spend time in increased prayer and reflection.

Here are some pictures of Muslims around the world as they practice the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan in Pictures 2010

Karachi, Pakistan
A vendor sells caps in preparation for Eid.
Zahid Hussein / Reuters

Sanaa, Yemen
Cosmetic Kohl is applied to the eyelids of a young man. Oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of Mohammad mention the use of Kohl frequently. It is believed to contribute towards the Islamic belief in thawaab, or reward.
Khaled Fazaa / AFP / Getty

Tehran, Iran
A woman leaves her shoes outside the Imam Khomeini Mosque.
Mohammad Kheirkhah / UPI / Landov


Dushanbe, Tajikistan
During the holiday, observant Muslims get up before dawn to eat, then pray and then do not eat again until after the fourth prayer of the day, which occurs around sunset.
Nozim Kalandarov / Reuters

Jerusalem, Israel
Palestinian women attend the first Friday prayers of the month at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Ammar Awad / Reuters

Mathura, India
Young boys read the Koran at a madrasa, or religious school.
K. K. Arora / Reuters

Khartoum, Sudan
Men praying at the main mosque. Every day during the course of the month 1/30th of the Koran is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire book has been completed.
Mohamed Nureldin Abdalla / Reuters

St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Women pray at the Islamic Community Center in south St. Louis.
Christian Gooden / St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Foreign workers gather for iftar, the meal which marks the end of the daily fast during the holy month.
Reuters

Amman, Jordan
A shopkeeper hangs decorative lights in his store in celebration of the holiday.
Majed Jaber / Reuters

Menstruating Women Laylatul Qadr

How can Menstruating Muslim Women Observe Laylatul Qadr?

Laylatul al-Qadr (the Night of Power or Destiny) is an extremely important night for all Muslims. It is the night in which the Holy Quran, was revealed from Allah (S.W.T.)to Prophet Muhammad (P.B.B.U.H.). It is a night worth more than 1000 days (which is more than the average lifetime of a human from his birth date to his death date). It is said that Laylatul Qadr can occur on the last 10 days (odd days) of Ramadan.

Given the importance of this night, Muslims spend the last ten days of Ramadan in increased prayer and reflection. Some Muslims practice seclusion for the last 10 days of Ramadan.

But for Muslim women who are menstruating during the last 10 days of Ramadan, their observance can be affected, and some are rightly worried. For those of you who do not know, Muslim women are not allowed to pray while menstruating. So how can Muslim women attain the benefits of Laylatul while menstruating?

While it true that she cannot pray the obligatory prayers, or the qiyaam night prayers, she can still listen to the Quran, and say dua.

The prominent Muslim scholar, Dr. Muhammad Abu Laylah, professor of the Islamic Studies & Comparative Religions at Al-Azhar Univ. states:

A menstruating woman should not perform Salah (prayer) nor touch the Qur'an, but she can make du`a' (supplication) and share with other Muslims their prayer by watching and listening to TV channels or radio stations that broadcast Tarawih prayer live.

She can ask someone to put the Mushaf on a table or a stand and read from it without touching it. She can take a cassette and listen to Qur'anic recitation.

Today, Muslim women can make use online quran recitals. She should also read religious books, and remember God through dhikr.

Trust in Allah

Ramadan Message: Trust in Allah
Ramadan Messages for 2010
Day 17

"Put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful"
(Holy Quran, 12:217)

Many of us live our lives in fear. We fear not getting what we strive for, we fear losing what we do have, and we fear even aiming for something we do want.

But recall this: [The Caliph] 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be well pleased with him) is reported as having said: "Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said: "If you really and truly placed all your trust in Allah totally, He would sustain you as He sustains the birds. They start the day with their bellies empty, and return back with their bellies full."



This absolute trust in Allah is called tawakkul.

The real meaning [haqiqa] of absolute trust [tawakkul] is delegating all one's affairs to Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He), making a clean escape from the murky darkness and gloom of personal choice and self-management, and advancing to the arenas where the [divine] decrees [ahkam] and foreordainment [taqdir] are experienced directly.

The servant [of the Lord] must be convinced that there is no possibility of changing the allotment of destiny [qisma], which means that whatever has been allotted to him cannot pass him by, and that he can never obtain what has not been allotted to him. His heart will then become reconciled to this, and he will feel confident in relying on the promise [wa'd] of his Master [Mawla]. He will therefore receive from his Master [Mawla].

Putting one's trust in the Lord [tawakkul] is actually the first of three stages, namely: (1) the basic sense of trust [tawakkul], then (2) the act of surrender or resignation [taslim], and then (3) the act of delegation [tafwid]. The person who is at the stage of basic trust [al-mutawakkil] is one who feels confident in relying on the promise [wa'd] of his Lord. The person who is at the stage of surrender or resignation [sahib at-taslim] is one who is content to rely on His knowledge ['ilm]. The person who is at the stage of delegation [sahib at-tafwid] is one who is happy to accept His judgment [hukm].

From: Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Chapter 3

Absolute trust in the Lord [tawakkul] is living one day at a time, and dispensing with concern about tomorrow.

It is the constant fears, doubts and worries that stymie our happiness in this life. Remember that what happens only happens because Allah wills it so. That should not stop us from seeking out what we need as do the birds seek out the food it needs daily; rather we should place trust in Allah that he will provide for us what is best for us. If we do not attain what we seek despite our best efforts, then accept it and trust that it was for the best! If something is meant, it will happen, regardless of what we do or do not do.

Dispense with fear, doubt and worry. Replace it with trust in Allah.

"And why should we not put our trust in Allah while He indeed has guided us our ways. And we shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us, and in Allah (Alone) let those who trust, put their trust."
(Holy Quran, 12:14)



Ramadan Message 2010: Ramadan Dua Accepted?

Ramadan Message 2010: Gratitude

Ramadan Message 2010: Charity

Ramadan Message 2010: Dua

Ramadan Message 2010: Patience

Ramadan Singapore Photos

Ramadan in Singapore 2010

Every Ramadan in Singapore, a food bazaar is held at Arab Street selling tasty food for the breaking of the fast (puasa). Muslim and non-Muslim Singaporeans alike go to this food bazaar. Some delicacies sold at the food bazaar are only available during Ramadan, for instance, the Kathirah drink. So if you happen to be in Singapore during this beautiful month, go ahead and drop by Arab Street and visit the bazaar to soak in the atmosphere.

Here are some sights of the Ramadan food bazaar in Singapore, contributed by a Singaporean reader.

Ramadan Singapore Pictures 2010

Sultan Mosque in Arab Street, Singapore
Oldest Mosque in Singapore, First built in 1824.
Present Mosque Structure was Built in 1925.

Dates Galore.
Every Muslim break their fast with dates, even in Singapore!



Multitude Benefits of Dates :)

Chicken Shawarma

Ramly Burger
Meat Patties from Malaysia
Used to Make Burgers in Singapore
Very Popular!

Roti John (Roti is Malay for Bread)
The origin of the 'John' in the name is supposedly due to the
Western origin of the Baguette and the tomato sauce used in the dish.
The ingredients include minced meat (chicken or mutton), onion, egg,
tomato-chilli sauce and a baguette-type loaf.

Malay Desserts

Ramadan Dua Accepted

Ramadan Message: Ramadan Dua Accepted?

Ramadan Messages and Daily Reminders for 2010
Day 15

In a previous article, we discussed the importance of making dua (supplication) to Allah. Making dua to Allah is encouraged throughout our lives. But this is highly recommended during Ramadan because Allah will grant a fasting person his wishes, if what is asked for is good for him, and He deems it so. There is no one thing that you can ask for that would be too small and insignificant. Allah is indeed all-powerful, all-merciful, and all-giving, that we may fear what we regard as important to us may be in reality "not worthy" to be asked for to Allah.

But remember that Allah has told us to make dua.

“And when my slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them) I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.”
(Holy Quran, 2: 186)

And He, in His infinite Mercy, also says: “Who else is there that responds to the call of the one in distress when he calls out, and He removes evil from him? ...Is there any other God besides Allah? Little is it that you remember!”
(Holy Quran, 27:62)

However, it is not uncommon for people to complain that they have asked God for something, but they have not received it. They become upset when their prayers and dua to Allah is not answered. They feel hope ebb away, and start to feel resentful.

One muslimah writes to us:

"For the last two Ramadans, I had fasted sincerely, and I had been more attuned to the spiritual aspect of the holy month. I made an effort to pray my obligatory 5 daily prayers during the month, where before I had skipped prayers. I read the Quran. I also made vows to be a better Muslim and be true to my religious obligations. I did so because I felt my life was heading in a direction I did not like. I also wanted to get married, but it did not seem to be happening for so many reasons. Meanwhile, all my friends were moving on to the next chapter of their lives, marrying and starting families. So my Ramadan dua for the last two years had been simply for Allah to make my life easier so that I could finally get married. But this has not happened. Now it is my third Ramadan, and I still have the same wish. But part of me, thinks it is hopeless to ask this of Allah again. I should perhaps not ask for this anymore. Sometimes, I feel upset, but then I wonder if it could it be my fate not to be married? But then my life is not perfect, and I have not kept up to my vows to be better, so could that be the reason? Because of such thoughts, I find myself not as "sincere" this Ramadan - I am more tired physically, and have skipped prayers. Then I feel bad about it."

If you are at this point, then please have the good conscience, to step away from the negative feelings and contemplate on whether or why your dua has not been accepted or answered.

Some things to think about on why your dua may not be accepted:

1. Praying to other than Allah (SWT):

Allah (SWT) said: “And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not anyone along with Allah (72:18). He (SWT) also says, “So invoke not with Allah another god lest you should be among those who receive punishment.” (26:213)

2. Hastiness in Dua:

We make dua and expect it to be answered the next morning, at the latest. We should be patient when making dua to be answered. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Your supplication will be answered if you are not impatient, and if you do not say, ‘I supplicated but my supplication was not heard.’” (Malik)

The Prophet (SAW) said: “The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?” He (SAW) said, “It is one's saying: ‘I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.’ Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether.”

This shows that Dua should be continuous, and that we should avoid giving up our Dua because it has not been responded to at a time that we see fit. For Allah (SWT) is The Wise and we know that no Dua is ever wasted! This does not mean however, that we cannot pray that our Dua be answered quickly, for it has been narrated that the Prophet prayed for rain and said "quickly, and not delayed." (Ibn Majah)

3. Impurity of one’s sustenance:

Allah (SWT) said: “O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you…” (2:172). It is important that one’s income be lawful and free from interest as the Prophet (SAW) said, “Make wholesome your earning, Allah will accept your Dua.”

The Prophet (SAW) made mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled, and covered with dust. “He lifts his hands and makes supplication, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ but his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful, and his nourishment is unlawful. How then can his supplication be accepted?” (Muslim and Ahmad)

4. Not being assertive on what he asks for:

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “None of you should say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You wish, (or) O Allah, have mercy on me if you wish.’ Rather you should be firm in your request, for (Allah does whatever He wishes) and no one can force Him to do otherwise.”

5. Neither enjoins good nor forbids evil:

The Prophet (SAW) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, you either enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will certainly soon send His punishment to you. Then you will make supplication and it will not be accepted.” (At-Tirmidhi)

6. Not praying with humility and submissiveness:

Allah (SWT) said: “So call you upon (or invoke) Allah with sincere devotion to Him (Alone)…” (40:14) The Prophet (SAW) said, “Make dua to Allah in a state that you are certain that your dua will be responded to, and know that Allah does not respond to a dua that originates from a negligent, inattentive heart” (Tirmidhi). It is the one who prays with no humility and submissiveness, whose heart is negligent and inattentive.

7. Striving actively to change oneself first:

Allah (SWT) said: “…Verily, Allah will not change the (good) conditions of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)”

So the next time you think that your dua hasn’t been answered and you want to give up think again and keep trying because Allah is always near.

“And Your Lord said: Call on Me, I will answer you”
(Holy Quran, 40:60)

Source:http://www.ramadan.com.au/why-is-my-dua-not-accepted

Hopefully, the muslimah does not lose hope. She needs to have faith that her dua will be accepted, assuming she continues to be sincere in her words and actions. InshaAllah, her dua will be accepted in due course, if it something Allah deems good for her.

Losing Weight During Ramadan

How to Lose Weight During Ramadan

During the Ramadan month, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk for 30 days. Muslims stay away from all food and drink while fasting. This might seem an ideal way to lose some weight. But contrary to popular belief, some Muslims actually put on weight during the month of Ramadan.

The lavish iftar dishes - traditional sweets, cakes and fried foods - that are served for the breaking of the fast can actually contribute to unwanted weight gain. It is customary to have several selections of such foods on the table for iftar. It is a strong person indeed to stay away from such temptations after a whole day of fasting.

So even if a fasting person took a small taste from each of such unhealthy foods, it will eventually start to add up, and weight gain would be inevitable.

However, it is not impossible to lose weight (if one needs to), or maintain a healthy desired weight during the Ramadan period.

Here are some simple tips a fasting person can use to lose some weight during Ramadan:

1) Do NOT skip Sahur (the early morning meal). Firstly, it is the Prophet's sunnah to wake up and take a meal in the morning. Secondly, there is wisdom in this for the early morning meal provides the body with needed nutrients while fasting during the day. It also engages the body's metabolism. Remember a fasting body slows down its metabolism quite a bit so as to conserve energy. In order to lose weight, a high metabolism is required. And the early morning meal helps jump-start the body's metabolism.

2) If possible, eat what you normally would for breakfast on a non-fasting day. Cereal and milk, toast and fruits and so on. There is no need to have an entire meal that one would for dinner during Sahur. This is particularly so, if you intend to go back to sleep after your morning prayer. The easiest way to gain weight is to sleep on a heavy and full stomach!

3) If you are able to, incorporate an exercise routine into your day. There is no absolute ideal time for exercise, but it is recommended that if you want to exercise while fasting that you do it 1-2 hours before iftar. That way, all the bodily fluids one loses while exercising can be replaced in a relatively short period at iftar. It is vital to re-hydrate the body during iftar, or else one could suffer from headaches, which is a common symptom of lack of water in the body. Another way is to exercise after taraweeh prayers, but this schedule can be tough to maintain for most people who need to wake up early for work and school! Keep in mind, that if you do decide to exercise while fasting, you may not have the same energy level as you normally do. Be less demanding on yourself - instead of a 45 min run, reduce the time period, or do brisk walking instead. The idea is to get the blood moving.

4) Be discriminating about what you eat at iftar. Seriously! This can make or break your Ramadan weight loss goals. Your mother can cook fantastic food for iftar, but it may not be the best type of food that could help you achieve weight loss. Avoid the oily and sweet stuff. Again, it is best to follow the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. He broke his fast with dates. Dates can quickly provide natural sugars to the blood system - and has many other health benefits. It has also been reported in a science paper that dates can help the body re-hydrate three times faster than if one were to only drink water. The dates help the body to absorb the water better. How about that!

5) Definitely avoid the sugars, and that goes for carbohydrates that are easily broken down into sugars. It is the sugars in our foods that make us put on weight quickly. Instead, eat more high-protein and high-fiber foods that will help the body build on muscles. When the body has less sugars to burn for fuel, the body will turn to fat. Muscles help in fat-burning. And the best part is that this process continues while you sleep.

Ramadan Photos 2010

Muslims Worldwide Observe Ramadan with Prayer and Fasting

Here are some pictures of Muslims around the world as they practice the month of Ramadan.


Muslims attend Friday prayers on Aug. 13, 2010 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Friday prayers at Istanbul, Turkey.

Muslim women Praying in Taguig City, Philippines.

Palestinians at Friday prayer at Jenin, West Bank.

Palestinian men wait to cross an Israeli-controlled checkpoint Friday, August 13, on the outskirts of Ramallah in the West Bank to reach the Al Aqsa in the Old City of Jerusalem. Israel deployed thousands of police officers to prevent violence as Muslims gathered for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan.

Turkish man waiting for for Friday prayers to begin in Istanbul, Turkey. Muslims remove their shoes before entering a mosque, preserving the cleanliness of the prayer space.

Muslims in New Delhi, India, take a break after Friday prayers.

Pakistani child arranging food for iftar (breaking of fast) on August 12, Karachi, Pakistan.

A Pakistani flood survivor waits to break her fast in Charsadda, Pakistan, on August 12.

The flood situation in Pakistan has displaced an estimated 2.4 million people. Many are stuck without adequate food and drinking water. If you are in a position to help, either by donating money or essential items, please consider visiting the links to donation sites listed below.

Donations for Pakistan Flood Victims

Photo Source: CNN

Ramadan Message 2010: Showing Gratitude

Ramadan Messages and Daily Reminders for 2010
Day 10

Some of you may feel weary and tired during Ramadan, and that is normal because we are fasting, and yet continuing with life's many responsibilities from housework, child-rearing, school and work. But we hope these short but insightful Ramadan reminders will inspire you to persevere through times of difficulties during this Ramadan. InshaAllah.


Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "He is successful who has accepted Islam, who has been provided with sufficient for his wants and been made contented
by Allah with what He has given him."




"If you count God's blessings, you can never encompass them all.
Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative."
Quran 14:34

"Say, "Nothing befalls us, save what God has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In God the believers shall trust."
Quran 9:51




The Importance of Showing Gratitude

When good things come over way, we are happy and content. We neglect to realize that the good in our lives come from God, and we neglect to show proper gratitude to God for it. We take for granted the many good things that God has given us - our family members, our friends, our health, and even our ability to see, hear, speak and reason! And yet we constantly yearn for more than what we have, and then get depressed or angry when what we desire is not forthcoming. Then we begin to question God - how dare us?!

Wanting more is human nature, and wanting more is not necessarily a sin. But it is important to be thankful for what we do already have. Why should God answer our prayers for more, when we do not show Him the proper gratitude for the things we already have?

True believers are aware that all good things that happen to them in life surely come from God alone. This message is quite clear in the Quran. Believers are also assured that no one other than God has any power to harm or benefit them, for nothing befalls them except what God has decreed.

Only those who are genuinely content with what they already have, will be the ones to attain true happiness in this life. After all, it has been said that true happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.

The Salaf and their Gratitude
Taken from 'Patience and Gratitude'
By Ibn Qayyim

Fasting During Ramadan

The following is an article contribution by Tariq Hyder from India, who blogs at http://websnacker.blogspot.com. He shares with us his thoughts on a typical fasting day during Ramadan. Enjoy!

What a Typical Day during Ramadan Entails!



Picture yourself experiencing the humid heat of scorching summer without any chilled coolers to cool you off. Envision missing your daily breakfast, lunch and your favorite cup of coffee at 11 post noon daily for 30 full days. Imagine having to miss that fat five- star Sunday brunch that your friend has invited you for or envisage having to give up that free trip to Thailand. Imagine all these together and not lying, being good, honest to yourself and others around you and much, much more! Well, these are just some (and many) of the things Muslims around the world (including me) will be sacrificing the few weeks to observe the piously sacred month of Ramadan.

The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar year, Ramadan or Ramzan, is acknowledged as the month of fasting - a period that signifies a time to be still, a time to become aware spiritually and a time to submit to complete subservience to Allah through personal sacrifice. It is also the month in which the Holy Quran was sent down (from the heavens) to Man.

I have often been asked whether it is hard to desist from eating and drinking for a whole month, especially in summer. I’m surprised when I always find myself replying “no” - for through being raised as a Muslim, fasting inescapably becomes embedded in one, a part of one’s being. For those who’ve come into Islam, fasting is undoubtedly a trying experience at first, I’m sure. Though, as soon as you realize what the health and religious benefits are, together with the feeling of being united with Muslims worldwide experiencing exactly the same, it makes for a rather awe-inspiring feeling.

The most captivating part of fasting during the month of Ramadan is the self-denial from food, drink and any sexual activity (both mental and physical) – especially to those who’ve never experienced a fast before. Here I see it fitting to add that the abstaining applies only from the break of dawn until sunset. No food or drink is to pass the lips; nose etc. meaning that taking a sneak dip in the pool is also a taboo! Smoking is prohibited as well.

It gets a bit more intricate and demanding… other senses are also under commitment to fast. The eyes (from wandering to that which is considered to interfere with your spiritual upliftment); ears (from gossip etc); tongue (from lying, backbiting etc); and other limbs should also, with the complete objective of pleasing the Almighty, be restrained if the faster wants his/her fast to be accepted. And I can hear you ask why?

The above mentioned is fundamentally two of the three vital elements required for a fast to be worthy of full acceptance. The third element is preventing the heart and mind from dwelling on anything other than the remembrance and praise of Allah.

And with these three aspects of one’s being combined, it makes for a rather perfect recipe for divine cleanliness and leaves the door wide open to a path that can lead to a higher spiritual plane and an awareness of others’ suffering… for the hunger pangs will certainly make you think back to that homeless person, that sick child, that frail old woman and the countless destitutes and poor orphans who cant even get a proper meal a day.

Fasting has always, across the religious spectrum, been an accepted way of cleansing the body (and strengthening the spirit). And with the health-conscious mindset reigning supreme in this age, it is fast gaining momentum.

A fast can easily last up to approximately 12-14 hours – starting at about four in the morning and ending at around 6.30 in the evening. The fast usually starts as early as three thirty in the morning when you have to wake-up and eat well ( but not gorge) to help you fast for the day. After performing the morning prayers at around five, it’s almost impractical to squeeze in any more sleep. Chances are I won’t hear the alarm if I try to sleep again…yet, I do fall asleep at around 7 and I arrive late to work at ten.

As the day carries on, the air-conditioned confines of my office becomes my shelter. Energy levels slip steadily, a wave of drowsiness constantly distracts and the stomach is rumbling. Personally, I find that minus the next meal on my mind, it is quite astounding how empty the brain feels. What else to think about if I don’t have to decide where to go to eat during my lunch hour and my energy levels are too low to go shopping. You really have no option then but to become conscious of why you’re fasting – which then leads to the kind of divine consciousness you are supposed to dwell on anyway. It’s all really a sanctified chain reaction.

The fast ends at sunset, preferably broken with a sip of fruit juice or water, and dates – a natural and copiously rich source of sugar – and the evening prayer, in the hope that the fast will be accepted. Tradition comes under analysis again… those deep-fried mutton samosas, chicken cutlets and fish fingers can’t possibly be healthy when one is aiming to purify the body but actually most Muslims end up feasting everyday – both during the morning pre-fast and post break sessions. The final prayer of the day is performed at around 8.30 in the night followed by the special prayer for Ramadan, which takes a bit more time and requires one to go to mosque and perform it with your fellow Muslim neighborhood.

This is in a nutshell is a typical day in the life of a working, fasting Muslim man or woman during Ramadan. For the archetypal Muslim housewife or women with children, and the extended circle as is quite common in Muslim families, the burden is actually tenfold. Yet, you’ll be astonished at their strength and their unvarying juggle between the no-nonsense and divine. Okay, I got to go now. It’s almost three o’ clock again!

---

Healthy Eating Habits Tips During Ramadan
at the Ramadan Blog!


How to Fast Healthily During Ramadan

What to Avoid During Ramadan

Dates | Beneficial Things to Eat During Ramadan

Iftar Menu Ideas

If you are looking for iftar menu ideas for Ramadan 2010, here are an interesting Islamic multi-cultural food samples for you. It can indeed be difficult cooking up interesting and nutritious iftar dishes for a family who have been fasting all day. We hope you are amply inspired by the iftar menu ideas below!

Easy and Tasty Iftar Recipe Ideas

Appetizer

Moroccan Seafood (Shrimp) Briouat

or

Egyptian Baked Sambusak

Soup

Iranian Ramadan Soup
(Aash-e Sholeh-Ghalamkar)

or

Haleem

Main Dish

Moroccan Chicken Couscous

or

Lebanese Lamb Yoghurt Stew

Salad

Easy Cucumber Mint Salad

Dessert

Ramadan Dessert from Iran
Zolbia Bamieh

Ramadan Duas

In a previous post, we discussed the importance of supplicating (making dua) Allah regularly. It is imperative that when we make dua, we do not only seek worldly things from Allah. We should also seek spiritual enlightenment, forgiveness and mercy for our sins. The best duas are those that come from your heart; you should be sincere. As such, it is better to "speak" to Allah in your own language, and not simply recite an Arabic dua that you do not know the meaning of.



But some of us need help in forming a dua. And for this reason, we have some sample dua compiled that you can use as a starting basis to help you supplicate Allah.

Ramadan Dua for First 10 Days

Ramadan Dua for Second 10 Days

Ramadan Dua for Third 10 Days

Ramadan Message 2010: Charity

Ramadan Messages and Daily Reminders for 2010
Day 9

Some of you may feel weary and tired during Ramadan, and that is normal because we are fasting, and yet continuing with life's many responsibilities from housework, child-rearing, school and work. But we hope these short but insightful Ramadan reminders will inspire you to persevere through times of difficulties during this Ramadan. InshaAllah.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "Richness does not lie in the abundance of worldly goods, but richness of the richness of the soul (heart, self)"



(Have you seen the one who denies the Religion? Such is he who repulses the orphan, and who does not urge others to feed the poor. Woe to worshippers, who are absent-minded to their prayer, those who make a show (of piety), and refuse to render small acts of kindness (towards others).) (Al-Ma`un 107: 1-7).



Prophet Muhammad(saw) said: "It is imperative on every one to render acts of charity every single day that sun shines in the sky in order to express gratitude to Allah for every single joint or faculty in his body. It is charity to restore peace between two people with strained relations, it is charity to give a stranded person a ride on his mount or lift his load onto it, it is charity to utter a good word, every step one takes towards mosque for prayer is charity, to remove litter or objectionable things from people’s path is charity."

So please remember to do charity this Ramadan, and continue it after Ramadan, so that you can ensure you are on the right side of the Fate that you desire. InshaAllah.

"You cannot attain to righteousness unless you spend (in charity) out of what you love." (The Holy Quran 3:92)

The Importance of Charity

Charity, for which the expression used in the Holy Quran is "spending out of what God has given you". Giving charity does not have to be only money. Charity can also be given by using your energy, talent, resources, money, possessions, or whatever else, to help and do good to those in need.

In Islam, charity is very often mentioned alongside prayer because just as the latter is man's relation with God, or man's duty towards God, the former (charity) represents his relation with his fellow-beings, and indeed with all the creation of God.

Prayer expresses love for God, submission to Him, and a desire to bring out the Divine qualities that lie hidden in every person. Charity is an expression of sympathy and benevolence towards God's creation, putting into actual practice the lessons you learn in prayer.

Ramadan Message 2010: Dua

Ramadan Messages and Daily Reminders for 2010
Day 8


Some of you may feel weary and tired during Ramadan, and that is normal because we are fasting, and yet continuing with life's many responsibilities from housework, child-rearing, school and work. But we hope these short but insightful Ramadan reminders will inspire you to persevere through times of difficulties during this Ramadan. InshaAllah.

Ramadan is the month in which the Holy Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind with clear signs for our guidance and judgement.



Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "Bear in mind that if all the people combined together to grant you some benefit, they would not be able to do it unless Allah has determined it for you. And if all of them combined together to do you harm, they would not be able to do it unless Allah has determined it for you. The pens have been set aside and writings of the Book of Fate have become dry."

So make duas (supplications) this Ramadan so that you can ensure you are on the right side of the Fate that you desire. InshaAllah.

The Importance of Making Dua and How to Do it - Video

Dua (supplication) is the most powerful weapon of the believer and a means of communicating with his Lord. Shaykh Yasir Qadhi elaborates on the status, importance and etiquette of dua' in Islam. For more information and details please refer to the book published by the speaker of the same title which is the most comprehensive work yet to be written in English on the topic, the author discusses, amongst other matters: the excellence and benefits of du'a; the types of du'a; the pre-conditions that are needed in order for a du'a to be accepted; the recommended etiquette of performing du'a; the timings and situations in which a du'a is more likely to be answered; the various factors that aid or prevent a du'a from being accepted; the relationship of du'a with the Divine Decree (qadr); the wisdom behind a delayed response, and many other relevant topics.

Yasir Qadhi was born in Houston, Texas and completed his primary and secondary education in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston, after which he was accepted as a student at the Islamic University of Madinah. After completing a diploma in Arabic, he graduated with a B.A. from the College of Hadith and Islamic Sciences. Thereafter, he completed a M.A. in Islamic Theology from the College of Dawah. His published works include Riya'a: The Hidden Shirk, Du'aa: The Weapon of the Believer, and An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur'an.

Ramadan Day 7 Message 2010

Ramadan Messages and Daily Reminders for 2010

Some of you may feel weary and tired during Ramadan, and that is normal because we are fasting, and yet continuing with life's many responsibilities from housework, child-rearing, school and work. But we hope these short but insightful Ramadan reminders will inspire you to persevere through times of difficulties during this Ramadan. InshaAllah.



Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: " A great month has come over you: a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; it is the month of patience and the reward for patience is Heaven.

Fasting in Ramadan

More than one billion Muslims around the world are fasting during the month of Ramadan. In 2010, Ramadan will be for 30 days beginning on August 11 (in most parts of the world).

If you are a non-Muslim and have wondered why so many Muslims fast from dawn to dusk for every day during the month of Ramadan, then do spend a few minutes watching this informational video that will help answer this question.

Additionally, the following reading materials might be beneficial for you:

Why Do Muslims Fast During Ramadan?

Basic Facts on Ramadan

Fasting in Ramadan

Easy Iftar Recipe Ideas

Dear Readers,

How was or is the first day of Ramadan for you? InshaAllah, it will be as good as it was for us over at The Ramadan Blog.



If you are in need of easy, interesting tasty and iftar recipe ideas, please visit this recommended website:

Islamic Iftar

The Iftar recipe ideas at that website are compiled by a few of our enterprising sisters who also work on The Ramadan Blog.

To get you started, you can browse the few iftar recipe selections below that were compiled at Ramadan Blog before Islamic Iftar was created.

Please keep in mind that Islamic Iftar will contain updated iftar recipes, and also a selection of Eid recipe ideas. We will no longer post iftar recipes at the Ramadan Blog. So please bookmark the Islamic Iftar.

Thanks!


Easy and Tasty Iftar Recipe Ideas
Compilation Made in 2008 and 2009




Singapore Rice Porridge

Moroccan Hearty Soup - Harira

Indian Hearty Soup - Haleem

Middle Eastern Chickpea Soup

Kuwaiti Chicken Mechbous

Saudi Arabian Al Kabsa

Syrian Chicken Fatteh

Moroccan Chabakia

Moroccan Almond and Avocado Milkshake

Malaysian Steamed Almond Cake

Date and Cardamom Moist Cake

Ramadan 2010 Begins

In Indonesia, South-east Asia and most of the Middle-East, Muslims have already begun observing Ramadan. And Ramadan will begin in North America tonight (August 10) with the sighting of the new moon. For the next 30 days, Muslims will abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn to dusk. They will spend most of their free time in quiet reflection, reading the Quran and in prayer.

Take a look at some pictures compiled by various news agencies of Muslims preparing for Ramadan.


Ramadan 2010 Sights in Pictures


An Egyptian vendor prepares the display of traditional lanterns for sale at his shop in Cairo, Egypt Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, in preparation for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan beginning around the middle of August.
(AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)


Palestinian children hold lanterns displayed at a market as part of preparations for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on August 7, 2010. The start of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, is traditionally determined by the sighting of a new moon.
(SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images)


Indonesian Muslim students perform during a rally for Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010. Ramadan, the holy fasting month, is expected to begin on Wednesday, Aug . 11. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)


Indonesian Muslim students march during a rally for Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010. Ramadan, the holy fasting month, is expected to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)


An Egyptian worker carries a handmade lantern, used during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a workshop in downtown Cairo on August 7, 2010.
(KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)


Traditional sailing boats known as 'feluccas' are decorated for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the Nile river in Cairo on August 7, 2010.
(KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)


A Palestinian man arranges neon lights and other decorations for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan at his store in the northern city of Jenin, in the West Bank, on August 8, 2010. The start of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, is traditionally determined by the sighting of a new moon.
(SAIF DAHLAH/AFP/Getty Images)


A Lebanese Muslim man decorates the outside of his shop with the Islamic symbols of the crescent and the star in preparation for the celebration of the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday, Aug. 9, 2010.
(AP Photo / Hussein Malla)


A Lebanese worker hangs a decoration banner that reads "Happy Ramadan" for the celebration of the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan at an Arab bank window, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday Aug. 9, 2010.
(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)


A Palestinian woman buys sweets ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a market in the West Bank city of Jenin, Tuesday, Aug, 10, 2010. Muslims throughout the world will celebrate the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar which will start on Wednesday, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset.
(AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas).


A Bahraini man points skyward at dusk Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010, in Hamad Town, Bahrain, towards where a slim crescent moon should be visible to indicate the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time of prayer, fasting and charitable giving. Clouds hampered skywatchers in the Persian Gulf island nation.
(AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)


Indonesian Muslims offer an evening prayer called 'Tarawih' at the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)


Indonesia Muslim women offer an evening prayer called 'Tarawih' at the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)