NationStates Jolt Archive

Tomorrow (October 4th) marks the first day of the month of Ramadan on the Muslim calendar. It was during this month that Qur'an was revealed to Mohammad.

It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to Allah, and self-control. Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives.

The third "pillar" or religious obligation of Islam, fasting has many special benefits. Among these, the most important is that it is a means of learning self-control. Due to the lack of preoccupation with the satisfaction of bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to Allah. Ramadan is also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Quran, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds.

Related Qur'an quotes - 2:183-187.

So, to all my Muslim brothers and sisters, Ramadan ul-Mubarak!

Correlates nicely with Rosh Hashannah, eh? :D

Ramadan rocks my socks. Namely because it means I get to eat the food normally consumed by my Muslim housemate. ;)

Correlates nicely with Rosh Hashannah, eh? :D

Only at the moment. Give it a few years and it will correlate nicely with easter. ;)

Only at the moment. Give it a few years and it will correlate nicely with easter. ;)

Yeah ... that's the fun thing about lunar calendars, eh? :D

Ramadan rocks my socks. Namely because it means I get to eat the food normally consumed by my Muslim housemate. ;)

Aha! See everyone? There's an advantage to having a Muslim housemate!

Does he cook? I love Ramadan for the fast breaking at night. Feast a'plenty!

I pray that your time of Fasting will fill your spirit with great joy.

"Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and the most distinguished of God's chosen Ones, hath likened the Dispensation of the Qur'án unto heaven, by reason of its loftiness, its paramount influence, its majesty, and the fact that it comprehendeth all religions. And as the sun and moon constitute the brightest and most prominent luminaries in the heavens, similarly in the heaven of the religion of God two shining orbs have been ordained -- fasting and prayer. 'Islam is heaven; fasting is its sun, prayer, its moon.'"

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 39)

I am considering participating in Ramadan this year. Even though I'm not Muslim. I have great respect for them however.

I am considering participating in Ramadan this year. Even though I'm not Muslim. I have great respect for them however.

You are most assuredly welcome to do so. If you're not used to the idea of fasting, there is a clause in the fasting that allows you to break fast for one day if you feed a homeless person or volunteer your time to a noble cause.

Also, no sex during the day. Refrain from cigarettes during the day if you smoke, too. Find a mosque and hang out with them and see what they do. They'd love to have you.

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 39)

That's very thoughtful and beautiful. Thank you.

Here's part of a fasting prayer revealed by Baha'u'llah. Enjoy.

Glory be to Thee, O Lord my God! These are the days whereon Thou hast bidden all men to observe the fast, that through it they may purify their souls and rid themselves of all attachment to any one but Thee, and that out of their hearts may ascend that which will be worthy of the court of Thy majesty and may well beseem the seat of the revelation of Thy oneness. Grant, O my Lord, that this fast may become a river of life-giving waters and may yield the virtue wherewith Thou hast endowed it. Cleanse Thou by its means the hearts of Thy servants whom the evils of the world have failed to hinder from turning towards Thine all-glorious Name, and who have remained unmoved by the noise and tumult of such as have repudiated Thy most resplendent signs which have accompanied the advent of Thy Manifestation Whom Thou hast invested with Thy sovereignty, Thy power, Thy majesty and glory. These are the servants who, as soon as Thy call reached them, hastened in the direction of Thy mercy and were not kept back from Thee by the changes and chances of this world or by any human limitations.

(Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 78)

It has just become official in the CST. Ramadan 1, 1426 (by the Hijri calendar).

Let the festivities commence! Woo!

Lol...I once observed Ramadan as a challenge...I did win my bet..though I cheated by swallowing my spit on the sly.. :D

Anywayz..Inshallah, let the festivities bring in some sanity.

Aha! See everyone? There's an advantage to having a Muslim housemate!

Does he cook? I love Ramadan for the fast breaking at night. Feast a'plenty!
OH HELL YEAH!!! As a stereotype, Muslims are some of the best cooks around.

http://www.smiliegenerator.de/s28/smilies-991.png

why mention Bahu'll'ahasdjsdf if Muslims think Baha'i is a terrible heresy? :/

at least..that's what I thought I knew

why mention Bahu'll'ahasdjsdf if Muslims think Baha'i is a terrible heresy? :/


Muslims don't. Not in general anyway. We recognize that the path to Allah, the path to righteousness, has many roads and no one man can ever know them all. Judgement is reserved for Allah and Allah alone.

It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to Allah, and self-control. Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives.

Until the sun goes down! Then it's party, party, party!!!! Wooohooo!!!!

I've always half-observed ramadan. :)

Paragraph two of a fasting prayer.

I am he, O my God, who testifieth to Thy unity, who acknowledgeth Thy oneness, who boweth humbly before the revelations of Thy majesty, and who recognizeth with downcast countenance the splendors of the light of Thy transcendent glory. I have believed in Thee after Thou didst enable me to know Thy Self, Whom Thou hast revealed to men's eyes through the power of Thy sovereignty and might. Unto Him I have turned, wholly detached from all things, and cleaving steadfastly unto the cord of Thy gifts and favors. I have embraced His truth, and the truth of all the wondrous laws and precepts that have been sent down unto Him. I have fasted for love of Thee and in pursuance of Thine injunction, and have broken my fast with Thy praise on my tongue and in conformity with Thy pleasure. Suffer me not, O my Lord, to be reckoned among them who have fasted in the daytime, who in the night-season have prostrated themselves before Thy face, and who have repudiated Thy truth, disbelieved in Thy signs, gainsaid Thy testimony, and perverted Thine utterances.

(Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 78)