Ramadan starts in a few days - ask me anything

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

[Book Lover]

1. Can you direct me to a good Islamic calendar webpage?

I have an interest in different types of timekeeping.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

6. Here are a few links

http://moonsighting.com/calendar.html

http://www.islamicfinder.org/Hcal/index.php

http://www.islam101.com/dawah/calendar.htm

[Book Lover]

11. Many thanks!

[WCGreen]

2. I thought you were making dinner.....

[AlCzervik]

3. Thanks for the reminder, i won't be calling my BIL during the day

he gets very cranky when he doesn't eat during the day.

[billyskank]

4. Will you be fasting?

[flamingyouth]

5. Do you and your husband both fast?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

7. Yes, we do

We get up early in the morning (usually around 5:15; depends on when the Fajr prayer time is) and have breakfast. When it's time for Fajr prayers we have to stop eating, so we say our prayers and usually go back to bed for an hour or two. Then we have nothing to eat or drink until Maghrib time (sunset). We break the fast with something light, such as fruit, then say Maghrib prayers, then have dinner, and then we can eat the rest of the evening. We don't stuff ourselves, though; our stomachs seem to shrink during Ramadan!

Muslims also fast from other things besides food and drink. We can't have any sexual activity during the fasting time, and we're supposed to refrain from hearing nasty or angry words in person, in music, on TV, etc.

[flamingyouth]

10. I didn't know about refraining from hearing angry words

Might need to log off the Internet. :D

[hfojvt]

19. no what??

does that mean no sex during Ramadan, or is that just during the day? Also, can't Hakeem drink water if the basketball games are played after sundown?
Is Ramadan gettin later in the year? It helps to have Ramadan in the fall or winter. In July you have about 15 hours of daylight. In October it goes from about 12 at the beginning to about 11 at the end of the month.
What exactly is a "nasty" word? Pubic, scatological, phlegm, mucous? Can I say booger? What about crap? Flattulation? Rats? Aaack? Drat?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

20. No sex during the daylight hours

Hakeem can drink water after sundown, but not in an afternoon game until after the sun sets.

Ramadan usually starts about 10 days earlier each year. I've only been a Muslim since 1997, and so far I've just fasted during the fall and winter months. My husband grew up in Karachi and said, "Just wait until you have to fast in July when it's over 100°!"

We're not supposed to watch sexy movies during the day in Ramadan. (We never watch porn; don't get me wrong!) If people are arguing or otherwise being awful to one another, we're supposed to turn away and not listen. We fast with our minds and not just our bodies. Flamingyouth is right; if people are being nasty here on DU, I'm not supposed to read it while fasting!

[ikojo]

45. I had a muslim roommate and when we were roomies

Ramadan was in the summer...I tried for a couple of days and it was difficult. I certainly enjoyed the feast at the end of Ramadan....it was DELICIOUS!!!

YUM, YUM!!!

[AllegroRondo]

60. Is there a big party at the end?

some way of celebrating "we made it through Ramadan!" ??

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

61. Yes

There are Eid prayers at the masjid about 8:00 a.m. the morning after the last day of fasting. Then there's a big breakfast. In Wichita several of our friends held open houses, and we'd go visiting and eat our way around town! I'm assuming they'll do that here in Texas, too.

[Blue-Jay]

8. Do I get a discount at the Ramadan Inn?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

9. LOL

I don't know!

[tjdee]

12. When does it start?

Should I expect SRK to be flying home? :( I don't know much about Ramadan, except that it's a Muslim holiday.

on edit:

I know it lasts for a month...I know obviously that "regular" Muslims still go to work, etc.....so maybe SRK will just continue to work.

/dummy :)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

13. Yes, we continue to work and do everything normally

But eat, drink, etc. He should be carrying out his regular schedule. Even Hakeem Olajuwon played basketball during Ramadan (and I don't know how he did it without drinking water, but faith gives you a lot of willpower!)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

14. And it's supposed to start on the 4th

But it depends on when the crescent moon is sighted. Different countries start on different days depending on when someone trustworthy has sighted the moon. I was just chatting online with my husband's niece in Pakistan, and she said it's starting there the 5th. But we're expecting that someone will see the crescent moon on the 3rd, making our first day of fasting the 4th.

[ikojo]

48. Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) begins on the 4th

and thus ushers in the High Holy Days.

Interesting that the holiest fast of the Muslim faith begins on one of the holiest days of the Jewish faith.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

15. Do you lose weight usually?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

17. I usually maintain or maybe lose 1-2 lbs.

My stomach usually shrinks and I can't eat as much.

[sasquatch]

23. Why do you still live in Texas?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

16. Also, do pregnant women fast?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

18. Pregnant women shouldn't fast

The baby needs nutrients. Also, people who are diabetics and need insulin, as well as others who need to take medications during the day or are feeling sick, don't have to fast. If you have your period during Ramadan, you don't fast because you're considered unclean. You're supposed to make up the days you miss fasting later, or give food to a needy person.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

21. I've got a question for you. What is a good English translation of

The Koran? Please don't say there isn't any.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

22. Of course there are!

I believe those by M. Pickthall are considered good, but I'm sure there are others. Here's one link to a Qu'ran online.

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/

[Crazy Guggenheim]

24. Thank you!!

[LeftyMom]

25. What age do kids start fasting?

I appreciate you answering all our questions. :)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

27. They generally start full-fledged fasting at 12

Even then they just fast a few days, then take a break. I've known really pious kids who wanted to start fasting full-time and did so at an earlier age, but their parents strictly supervise them.

[Midlodemocrat]

26. Did you convert to Islam when you got married?

Are any particular foods off limits? I know about pork, but are there any others?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

28. Yes, I did, but I wasn't forced

I read the Qu'ran and thought about it, and it made sense to me. I also took a Muslim name; again, not forced; it was my choice.

You're right about pork; no pork in any form (even gelatin, as it may come from the pig and not beef). This is hard sometimes; if there's gelatin in medication and you don't have any other choice, then you can have that. We can't eat any sea creatures that don't have gills and any four-legged creatures with cloven hoofs. Veal isn't forbidden, but we don't eat it because it comes from a baby animal (although we do eat lamb, but not baby lambs).

Contrary to popular belief, Islam is flexible. If you were starving and pork was the only thing available to eat, that would be allowed.

[Midlodemocrat]

29. I didn't mean to imply you were

forced...just that you stated you had only been Muslim for since 1997, I think? and I was just assuming that it was due to marriage.

Were you religious prior to converting?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

32. No, I didn't think you were implying that at all!

Some people think it's always a condition of marriage, but I didn't think you were saying that!

I was raised a Baptist; Mom and Dad always made sure I went to church on Sundays. My late sister became a very conservative Southern Baptist and tried to force it down my throat, which I highly resented. I don't know that she drove me away; I was just attracted to Islam when I read about it.

[sasquatch]

30. Why do you still live in Texas?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

33. Because my husband loves his job!

And we have a beautiful house, and I've taken the Texas bar exam!

[sasquatch]

35. What's the Texas bar exam?

Is that like a liquir license test or something?
:D

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

36. Nope - not that simple!

Test for aspiring attorneys to see if we know diddly-squat about Texas law!

[sasquatch]

37. I know that I was being sarcastic and Texas bashing at the same time

[redsoxliberal]

31. im ready, but for two questions

good natured flirting - yes or no?

swearing without any meaning - yes or no?

good luck... the thirst is the hardest.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

34. Do you mean in general or for Muslims in particular?

I don't subscribe to the theory that women should not speak to men to whom they're not related; I think that's just silly. I would hope I didn't flirt with anyone; I think sober, intelligent conversation is best.

I swear; I say bad words every day! I wish I didn't. I've loosened up a lot in that regard since I was a kid. I don't swear to anyone but my husband and sister, though!

[redsoxliberal]

38. I meant during ramadan, as those are always my biggest problems.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

39. Are you Muslim?

[redsoxliberal]

40. yes.

I guess that makes two DUers... half english half egyptian.

kalem araby?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

41. Assalam o alaikum!

I am a "white bread" American of Irish/English/Scotch/Welsh/Cherokee ancestry. My husband is Pakistani, born and raised in Pakistan and becoming a US citizen in 1999.

[redsoxliberal]

44. walikum salaam

colo sanna wenta tiyeb

[ikojo]

47. How are white American born converts treated in

mainstream Islam?

In Judaism if one's mom is Jewish then you are Jewish. Are Muslims born into the faith. Many in the Jewish community look askance at a woman or man who converts to Judaism only for marriage. Some rabbis will refuse to convert someone who is doing it only to marry a Jewish man or woman (most of the time it's to marry a man because as I indicated above, a child born of a Jewish woman is Jewish).

Jews also cannot eat pork and eat only fish with fins and scales. The only meat that may be eaten is that with a cloven hoof and one that chews its cud (like a cow).

I've heard that in places with a small Muslim population and no hallal butchers, Muslims will buy from a kosher butcher.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

50. From my experience, white American converts are welcomed

No one has treated me any differently; indeed, they're happy and seem impressed by everything I do! The reason one converts doesn't seem to matter; Muslims are just happy to have you in the fold.

When an animal is slaughtered for food, it is blessed and made halal. I think kosher butchers do something similar. Halal meat is much cleaner and less bloody. I must confess that we do not eat strictly halal (meaning we will eat steak and chicken at restaurants). Most Muslims probably do, but we know several who don't. We do strictly avoid pork and pork products, however.

[kwassa]

42. Nothing to ask, I went through Ramadan in Morocco

A bazillion years ago.

Everyone fasted all day, and then there were all these special foods made for when the fast was broken in the evening. Wonderful loaves of fresh baked bread, some kind of great tomato based vegetable soup with cheese on top. People really rushed the restaurants.

It was where I first discovered couscous, which I've eaten ever since.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

43. Breaking the fast is called "Iftar"

People host them at their homes or restaurants. I know we're invited to two so far, one at a friend's house on the 15th and one at a local Pakistani restaurant on the 22nd.

[UrbScotty]

46. How is the sanctity of your marriage?

:evilgrin:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

49. Quite undisturbed!

[entanglement]

51. A couple of questions:

What liberal ideas (if any) have you had to forsake after your conversion?

Does a convert to Islam need to make substantial lifestyle alterations?

Have you encountered any hostility because of your conversion?

Thank You
(and Happy Ramadan)

entanglement

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

52. I haven't forsaken any of my liberal ideals

I'm still pro-choice. I've never seen it as anti-life, as the Repukes like to label us; I see it as the woman's choice to make. Islam frowns upon homosexuality, as well, but I believe everyone has the right to love whom they please. I figure we should all be able to do what we want as long as we're not hurting others. If a person gets sanctimonious and tries to tell someone how to live his or her life, I say to that person, "Let them do what they want; if you believe it's a sin, God will sort it out in the end! It's not YOUR problem!"

The biggest lifestyle change I've had to make is giving up pork. I loved pepperoni pizza and bacon! But I've found I can do without it. As far as women's clothing, some female converts believe they need to wear hijab. I have decided not to do that. The only time I cover my head is when I pray. The Qu'ran says a women should cover her bosom, NOT her head! That means dress modestly; I don't interpret it as meaning I must cover my entire body. I do dress modestly; I don't wear shorts, short skirts and tank tops anymore, but I do wear t-shirts and jeans. It can be difficult to pray five times a day; sometimes I'm just so busy that I don't get to it, and I regret that! It really doesn't take long; no more than 5 minutes for the morning prayer and 10-15 minutes for the rest.

I have not encountered any hostility because of my conversion. Then again, most of our friends are Pakistani or Indian Muslims, so they naturally welcome it. My Christian friends embraced it and were curious, more than anything. My parents are dead, so I didn't have to worry about that. My sister and brother had some concerns at first, mostly because of the way the media portrays Muslims and particularly the way Muslim men supposedly treat their wives. After they got to know my husband they certainly know the media's portrayal is dead wrong (for the most part; I know some oppression goes on in some parts of the world, but certainly not in my house!).

Thanks for your questions and your Ramadan wishes! :hi:

[5thGenDemocrat]

53. I greet you with "Eid Mubarak" during the season, yes?

Actually, I only speak a little fractured English, but I hope you have a happy holiday season.
John
Catholic. Digs Muslims.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

58. You say "Ramadan Mubarak" at the start of Ramadan

and "Eid Mubarak" on Eid (which is the end of the fasting period. Coincidentally, Eid is supposed to fall on the day I'm to get my bar exam results. :scared: My husband said that's a good sign - I hope so!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

54. Kick for more questions

??

[Taverner]

55. Are you allowed to chew gum, smoke cigarettes or drink coffee?

To curb hunger....

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

56. No to all

No sustenance in any form from sunrise to sunset.

[Taverner]

57. Wow. Simply wow!

When I was in Thailand even the monks could smoke cigs (and often did) to curb hunger when not eating their meal a day.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

59. You can't even get an injection!

If you need a flu shot, don't get it during Ramadan!

[Heddi]

63. Wow!! That's pretty rigorous

but then again, no more so than Lent where you're supposed to give up 'excesses' or whatever for how long it lasts (if you can't tell, I'm not too up-to-snuff with regards to my religious rite information).

A guy I knew would "give up" chocolate during lent (he hated chocolate anyways and never ate it) and his wife "gave up" cooking during lent and they would just eat out every night. I don't think that's what the Lent-Makers had in mind..... :)

[Heddi]

62. So you can't drink anything? Not even water?

How long is Ramadan? I went to school with a fellow a few years ago who was Muslim and during Ramadan came to evening classes a few minutes late because of...something to do with Ramadan. I'm not sure.

But you can't have ANYTHING? Not even a sip of water? That sounds pretty tough!! (not judging the ritual, just my own polydipsia (excessive thirst) that occurs when I'm in a situation where I absolutely cannot drink!)

Today I got a free copy of the Koran in the mail from a site that was giving them away. I'm not Muslim, but I thought it would be an interesting addition to our very ecclectic library. We have alot of other religious texts like the Bible, the Book of Mormon, a book by the Hare Krishna's, Basic Catechism, books on Taoism, Buddhism, witch craft, etc. I like having a diverse collection of religious books---I think reading them enables understanding of those beleifs---I am one that likes to form my own opinion of things, and thought the Koran would be nice since these days we seem to get very biased information regarding Muslims and the Muslim faith.

How interesting....I don't know if I could go without water all day....I suppose I could take Ramadan off from school/work and just sleep all day :)

Can you not even take a secret sip of water when you're in the shower (I suppose it's not too secret when God knows what you're doing ha ha)

this thread has been very interesting and enlightning that's for sure!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

64. No - no secret shower sips!

Ramadan lasts a full lunar month based on the sighting of the new moon. I posted above that it's supposed to start tomorrow, but now the authorities are saying Wednesday.

We believe God will see you and know you're breaking the fast. We can't have ANYTHING during the day until sunset. You can brush your teeth, but you have to be careful not to swallow water!

If you slip and eat something forgetfully, you haven't broken the fast. It's when you eat or drink something intentionally that the fast is broken. If you get sick and need to take medicine, you can break the fast (but as above, you're supposed to make up the day later or give food to a hungry person).

When I first started fasting I tended to sleep a lot, thinking that would make it easier. Now that I'm used to it I just carry on with my normal activities. Somehow sleeping all day seems like cheating to me!

You could do it! People always say to me, "I don't know how you do it," but you can do anything if you have the willpower. I usually take some Tylenol with breakfast because I tend to get headaches if I don't eat. I also drink lots of water with breakfast.

Glad you picked up a Koran! I agree with you that it's good to have knowledge of other religions. I'd like to learn more about Judaism and Hinduism. I know that Judaism and Islam are have many similarities, something that might surprise a lot of people.

[Heddi]

66. Wow! Good for you for having the fortitude and willpower

Me---if I'm forced to have ANYTHING to do with willpower, I immediately cave in. Like today I had a cholesterol test done and I just had the NEED to eat a whole can of Crisco...I don't know....

A whole month...this is just so...amazing to me. I was going to say "Bizzarre" but that sounds really judgemental and that's not what I'm about. I just really admire you and anyone who could have that willpower for a whole MONTH!!!

and I guess God knows if you're cheating, and I suppose it's just as much a test of your own willpower as much as a test to devotion to God. No cheating with God---when I was little my mom told me that when I was bad, it wasn't just GOd that knew, but Santa---I fear that getting a lump of coal for Christmas was more of a deterrent to bad behaviour than eternal damnation was :) ha ha

I have a book that I've not read in a long time and it was about Christianity, Judiasm, and Islam and just how interconnected they all are, seeing as they're basically branches off of the same tree. I am more of a believer that God appears to us in different ways---to Muslims he appeared as Allah, to Christians as "God", to Asians as "buddah"....even polytheistic beliefs, I feel, are all kind of worshiping the same thing---the sun is a part of God and when the sun rises, what's the difference between thaking God directly for a bright day, and giving that aspect of God (rising sun) a different name for thanks...I don't know if that makes any sense. Probably not. I've been at school all day and not eaten (hey! I'm fasting too!! ha ha) and getting a bit goofy

Thanks so much for all of this information. This has been MOST educational. I always like learning about things from people first-hand instead of just reading about it on an informational website. It's nice to get the personal "feelings" or whatever about it rather than just blah blah text.

Do you eat alot of falafel? I love falafel. I make it like 3x's a week

[redsoxliberal]

65. no

ramadan is 29-31 days.

Starting either tomorrow or wednesday (probably wednesday.)

Exciting stuff :D

[Heddi]

67. holy moly! That's a long time

I should try it. I bet I'd lose weight that way. I think I could do without the 'no food' during the daytime, but I'd be hard pressed for the water part. I get really dehydrated and get awful headaches from it.

So it changes every year depending on the calendar? It's not like Christmas where it's always on X day of X month? I guess kind of like Lent and Easter which falls on the 2nd Sunday of the 4th Week of the 3rd Month after the 4th full moon...that's not how it is, but it's convoluted like that.

I got a free Koran in the mail today. Any advice on how to start it? It's in English (thankfully!!!). Do I just start at the beginning? Is there a better way about it? It's pretty thick but thankfully not in the tiny print and onion paper like the Bible is. Talk about a need for bifocals!

Oh--here's a question---

I heard once that truly devout Muslims cannot use any words that are not contained in the Koran. So like they could not say "television" because the word "Television" doesnt' appear in the Koran, so they have to use a description like "Box of light and moving images" or something like that. Is that true? I doubted it when I heard it (and I don't even know where I heard it)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

68. I have never heard of your last statement

Some Muslims don't have their picture taken or keep pictures in the home because it's a kind of "graven image" thing.

You can start the Koran at the beginning! I don't know which version you have, but I believe usually the chapters (called "suras") are published in the order in which they were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Ramadan starts about 10 days earlier every year. There is a Muslim calendar (I've provided a link).

http://fisher.osu.edu/~muhanna_1/hijri-intro.html

Thanks for your thoughtful questions! :hi:

[Heddi]

70. Thank **you** for your great answers

If only everyone would 1) be so open about their faith and belifs and 2) others would be open to learning about new things without judgement or pre-belief about those things, the world would be a MUCH better place, I think.

I remember when I was in 2nd grade, I was in class with this rotten boy named William Reed. He was just awful, but we played together (even after he punched me in the stomach for no reason). Kids, right?

Well once we were jumping over a ditch and he was hemming and hawing away and I said "Come on, William, what are you waiting for, Christmas?" and he said "I'm Jewish. I don't believe in Christmas"

Well we played for a while but that whole "I don't beleive in Christmas" thing really got to me---not because of the "I don't believe in your god" (I wasn't very religious), but the whole 'Christmas' thing----I thought that was unheard of! What 2nd grader doesn't believe in CHRISTMAS???

So I went home and told my mom about rotten William Reed and that he didn't believe in Christmas, and she said that was okay, he just believed different things. I was nonplussed at her answer. Then she said "Well, he doesn't believe in Christmas but Jews have Haunnakah, and that lasts for 8 days, and they get presents on all 8 days" and I just about flipped! How great was that? It wasn't christmas as in one day, but a whole WEEK and a DAY of Christmas!

I was in 2nd grade and that was the first time I met someone who was not SOuthern Baptist or Methodist (I grew up in the South), but it really enlighened me to the idea that other people don't necessarily believe the same things I do, but some times maybe they believe better things, or things that are just as good.

Later in life, I found out that Jews don't have a concept of hell, which was a real treat for a heathen like me :) At least it gave me a last-ditch choice of conversion should "that time" be drawing near and I needed to do some quick thinking on my feet. Heh. Again, though, I suppose you can't trick God, as much as sometimes we may wish we can :)

I was supposed to go to Synagogue with some friends of mine back in Charleston but moved away before I could. I've never been to a mass (even though hubby is Catholic), and would just love to go to a service of every religious group I can find. Kind of like a "spiritual field trip". I don't think God would mind. I think s/he would be pleased at the quest for knowledge and enlightenment--I mean, that's what it's all about, right? Living good and making the best decisions you have with the knowledge you have, loving others and allowing others to love you, I guess.

:hi:

[redsoxliberal]

69. never, ever heard of that last question

although wouldnt rule it out... some "devout" are also insane.

[Heddi]

71. OH yeah!!!

I grew up in the Bible Belt of the south--the "holy" city of CHarleston, SC to be exact--more churches per capita than any other city.

Anyways, most people I grew up with were SOuthern Baptist or Methodist, although I found the methodists to be less....anal than the SB's.

One gal I knew was SB and couldn't watch Dirty Dancing when it came out because you could see Jennifer Gray's nipples and Patrick Swayze's butt. She couldn't get her ears pierced and stuff like that. I guess that's not TOOO bad, but it seemed kooky to me.

Another family was VERY religious and the girls couldn't play with boys, not even their brothers, and vice-versa. The girls always had to wear long dresses and honestly now that I think about it, they weren't even allowed to PLAY. They just sat outside and shoveled dirt into plastic pails. Their parents forbid any music and dancing and they just seemed very...sad, you know. Other religious folk I knew really had joy in their faith and while they were restricted or restricted themselves from certain activities, they seemed to do it with purpose and pride, and had pride in their faith.

Not this family, though. THey were so sad, like they were being forced to do these things. They trudged down the road 3 days and nights a week for church and just never seemed to have any Joy or Happiness. Like they were slaves to God rather than willing followers.

I don't think I'm conveying their kookiness ernestly, though. THey were a wacky bunch and always seemed to be the kind that would poop in your flower garden or something. Weird, weird folks....

[redsoxliberal]

72. what you mean it's okay to play with girlies?

damn I gotta go catch up! :D


by the way... to create unparalleled confusion, the Islamic Society of North America has claimed the Ramadan starts wednesday, while the NE council believes today (tuesday.) The rest of the world is also today... and we at this residence humbly have decided on today.

[jpgray]

73. Is it anything like Syd Barrett banging on drums for twenty minutes?

x(