Happy Ramadan!

Reply

#13144342

By Nets - 28 Aug 2009 00:14

- 28 Aug 2009 00:14 #13144342

Muslim, do Muslims (that sounds weird) have any full fast days (24 hrs), or just this sunsrise-to-sunset variety. Can you have water during the daytime?

I observe three no food/water fasts during the year.

Last edited by Nets on 28 Aug 2009 00:24, edited 1 time in total.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly.
His name was spessul olymmian

#13144348

By Muslimanka - 28 Aug 2009 00:19

- 28 Aug 2009 00:19 #13144348

It's not just food - sex also. We have to cram that in every night as well, Haha.

But yes - we can have water, at least I believe we can? My parents told me I could eat anything I didn't have to chew. Haha... I was an adult before I knew it was all lies.

Just remember, little darling, every time you misbehave, Santa kills an elf.
She throws a bagel like the horse is still attached.

#13144351

By Nets - 28 Aug 2009 00:21

- 28 Aug 2009 00:21 #13144351

Water makes a huge difference. You wouldn't think so, but it does. I kind of do enjoy fasting actually, though, at first your stomach is going crazy, but by the last few hours your body kind of surrenders and resigns itself to its fate ... it really clears your mind.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly.
His name was spessul olymmian

#13144367

By Muslim - 28 Aug 2009 00:32

- 28 Aug 2009 00:32 #13144367

Nets wrote:Muslim, do Muslims (that sounds weird) have any full fast days (24 hrs), or just this sunsrise-to-sunset variety. Can you have water during the daytime?

I observe three no food/water fasts during the year.

No water. But it is just sunsrise-to-sunset.

What are those three fasting days?

Nets wrote:it really clears your mind.

QFT

Muslimanka wrote:But yes - we can have water, at least I believe we can?

I am curious, are you the only one who do that or it is common in your country?

#13144388

By Nets - 28 Aug 2009 00:51

- 28 Aug 2009 00:51 #13144388

What are those three fasting days?

Yom Kippur, you probably know .... the holiest day in the Jewish calendar when God decides everyones' fate, the only day on which the High Priest would utter the true name of God, Y_H_V_H (with _ being vowels which have been lost). It is a chilling holiday, particularly:

Unatanah Tokef wrote:On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur will be sealed how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die; who will die at his predestined time and who before his time; who by water and who by fire, who by sword, who by beast, who by famine, who by thirst, who by storm, who by plague, who by strangulation, and who by stoning. Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquillity and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted.

Tisha B'Av (9th of Av) commemorates the destruction of the first temple by the Babylonians and 586 BCE, and the destruction of the second temple (and the end of the Jewish polity) in 70 CE. Some have suggested that this should be reduced to a half-day fast because of the recreation of Israel, but I haven't made up my mind yet.

The first two here are full fast days, 24+ hours no food or water.

The third one that I observe is Taanit B'chorot ("Fast of the Firstborns"). Basically, since I am a first born male, the day before Passover I have to fast to commemorate the Egyptian firstborns who were slain and how I was spared. This one only starts at dawn though, and breaks at sundown. The sorrow at the deaths of our enemies gives way to the joy of Passover.

The fast days I don't observe are:

Tenth of Tevet - commemorates the day on which Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE.

Seventeenth of Tammuz - the day the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem after a three week siege, prior to the destruction of the Temple.

Tzom Gedalia - commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah, the Jewish Babylonian-appointed Governor of Judah, the last Jewish leader of Israel before the exile to Babylon.

----

Muslim, as you can see, besides Yom Kippur, they all have a highly nationalist character to them which I find interesting. They aren't religious so much as commemorating tragic historic events.

Does Islam have other fast days?

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly.
His name was spessul olymmian

#13144397

By Muslim - 28 Aug 2009 01:03

- 28 Aug 2009 01:03 #13144397

Nets wrote:Does Islam have other fast days?

Fasting is a good thing in Islam. Ramadan is the only obligatory time, otherwise there are many other occasions in which fasting is preferable. Actually the Prophet used to fast every Monday and Thursday throughout all his life and many Muslims nowadays do the same to follow him.

#13144512

By Political Interest - 28 Aug 2009 02:18

- 28 Aug 2009 02:18 #13144512

Ramadhan Mubarak wa Ramadhan Kareem yaa Muslimeen!

#13144522

By Nets - 28 Aug 2009 02:23

- 28 Aug 2009 02:23 #13144522

That is a stunning Mosque. Beautiful.

Where is it?

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly.
His name was spessul olymmian

#13144637

By Muslimanka - 28 Aug 2009 03:17

- 28 Aug 2009 03:17 #13144637

Muslim - Only a minority of Muslims here fast at all, usually those born before and after socialism. Among people my age (I'm 27), I would estimate a vast majority fast - or at least profess to fast in public (what they do in their homes, who knows?). If our names weren't so obviously Muslim, Ramadan would be one of the only times of year you would truly notice how many of your fellow citizens are Muslim. People become more religious - it's a neglected form of faith, similar to Christianity in Western Europe (but people aren't ignorant of their faith - they feel very justified, theologically, in their way of living). Again, I would estimate a majority of those allow themselves some beverages during the day - usually water, but often coffee.

Here is a short article from Reuters about how my generation is slowly bringing Islam back from the realm of culture to the realm of religion here: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSL271864520080909

Just remember, little darling, every time you misbehave, Santa kills an elf.
She throws a bagel like the horse is still attached.

#13144888

By Muslim - 28 Aug 2009 06:43

- 28 Aug 2009 06:43 #13144888

Muslim wrote:my generation is slowly bringing Islam back from the realm of culture to the realm of religion

Well, that is really great.

#13144947

By Political Interest - 28 Aug 2009 08:43

- 28 Aug 2009 08:43 #13144947

That is a stunning Mosque. Beautiful.

It is the Blue Mosque, found in Shah Alam, Malaysia.

#13144948

By Political Interest - 28 Aug 2009 08:45

- 28 Aug 2009 08:45 #13144948

Muslim - Only a minority of Muslims here fast at all, usually those born before and after socialism. Among people my age (I'm 27), I would estimate a vast majority fast - or at least profess to fast in public (what they do in their homes, who knows?). If our names weren't so obviously Muslim, Ramadan would be one of the only times of year you would truly notice how many of your fellow citizens are Muslim. People become more religious - it's a neglected form of faith, similar to Christianity in Western Europe (but people aren't ignorant of their faith - they feel very justified, theologically, in their way of living). Again, I would estimate a majority of those allow themselves some beverages during the day - usually water, but often coffee.

Are they truly this lax with regard to fasting? It is a pillar of Islam and they must have truly been brainwashed by socialism to think this. This is the sadness which socialism has brought to many Islamic countries. Alhamdulillah, I have heard there is an increase in observance and Taqwa. Insha'Allah, your generation will herald in the Islamic revival in post-socialist lands.