Happy Ramadan

[DaisyDeadhead]

When I heard about that guy shot up the movie theater, my heart stopped, thinking it was because it was Ramadan.

Whew, what a relief it was just an isolated wacko and not a terrorist.

Anyway. Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic calendar and it sounds like the Christian Lent:

During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.
Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.

During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.

Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of God.

From
http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/f/ramadanintro.htm

Aside: Did anyone here see "House of Sand and Fog"? I read the book, too.

[beth]

Is it Ramadan again already? For some reason I was thinking it was later in the year (about September-ish). I remember working at the jail, our Food Service Sgt was Pakistani and Muslim, so he always let us know when it was approaching.

[Bob M]

Nope, didn't see it and I am not interested in Ramadan.

[dramaturge]

(07-21-2012 01:27 AM)beth Wrote:  Is it Ramadan again already? For some reason I was thinking it was later in the year (about September-ish). I remember working at the jail, our Food Service Sgt was Pakistani and Muslim, so he always let us know when it was approaching.

IIRC, it's calculated using a lunar calender, so it shifts around?

[DaisyDeadhead]

Bob M, you are excused from the thread.

[MKxcomm]

I lived in Albania for a while and we loved Ramadan. People would go around in the streets playing live music and there were parties when people broke their fasts. Lots of fun!

[exOBCstudent]

(07-24-2012 09:10 AM)MKxcomm Wrote:  I lived in Albania for a while and we loved Ramadan. People would go around in the streets playing live music and there were parties when people broke their fasts. Lots of fun!

I saw some of that in Kosovo too. We had to be very culturally aware of not offending folks during Ramadan (eating MRE's around them, etc..). Most of the Albanians in Kosovo today are VERY westernized though still majority Muslim.

[MKxcomm]

(07-24-2012 09:37 AM)exOBCstudent Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 09:10 AM)MKxcomm Wrote:  I lived in Albania for a while and we loved Ramadan. People would go around in the streets playing live music and there were parties when people broke their fasts. Lots of fun!

I saw some of that in Kosovo too. We had to be very culturally aware of not offending folks during Ramadan (eating MRE's around them, etc..). Most of the Albanians in Kosovo today are VERY westernized though still majority Muslim.

That sounds about right. Because Kosova didn't get closed off the way Albania did by communism, Kosovars kept their religion and are much more traditional muslim than Albanians. Albanian muslims eat pork and drink alcohol. It's more of a culture than a religion there.

[exOBCstudent]

(07-24-2012 01:26 PM)MKxcomm Wrote:  

(07-24-2012 09:37 AM)exOBCstudent Wrote:  I saw some of that in Kosovo too. We had to be very culturally aware of not offending folks during Ramadan (eating MRE's around them, etc..). Most of the Albanians in Kosovo today are VERY westernized though still majority Muslim.

That sounds about right. Because Kosova didn't get closed off the way Albania did by communism, Kosovars kept their religion and are much more traditional muslim than Albanians. Albanian muslims eat pork and drink alcohol. It's more of a culture than a religion there.

Were you guys in Albania in the late '90s while the Serb/Bosnian wars were going on?

[MKxcomm]

Yes, a lot of refugees flowed into Albania during that time.