Ramadan 2008

[sandinista! 1,816]

I keep hearing of these complicated meals to break the fast for Ramadan. Is it really necessary? I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean that it is just me, my father (who is not muslim or fasting), and maybe inshallah my husband. I don't have any friends near me or family so I don't see the point in cooking all that food. It would just go to waste or I would have to keep eating the same thing every evening for days. I was thinking it might be good to just make a big fruit salad that can be used with Iftar and Sahoor, a regular vegetable salad for Iftar and making a main meal with some vegetable sides. Is anyone else thinking it would be better to go simple or am I just being lazy and cheap? I just feel like the whole point of fasting isn't to gorge myself as soon as the sun sets which is what these huge meals would do unless you had a lot of mouths to feed. If you have a lot of people then it would make sense. I hope I'm not offending anyone. It just seems like too much for me.

i don't think you sound lazy or cheap in the least, and i agree wholeheartedly that the whole point of fasting is not to stuff yrself once it's sundown. i wish more people thought less about what they're gonna eat and more about how they're planning to fix the fact that lots of people have nothing to eat during ramadan and the rest of the year.

and i hope and pray yr husband can be with you this year for ramadan, God willing.

[Nasturtium 500]

I keep hearing of these complicated meals to break the fast for Ramadan. Is it really necessary? I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean that it is just me, my father (who is not muslim or fasting), and maybe inshallah my husband. I don't have any friends near me or family so I don't see the point in cooking all that food. It would just go to waste or I would have to keep eating the same thing every evening for days. I was thinking it might be good to just make a big fruit salad that can be used with Iftar and Sahoor, a regular vegetable salad for Iftar and making a main meal with some vegetable sides. Is anyone else thinking it would be better to go simple or am I just being lazy and cheap? I just feel like the whole point of fasting isn't to gorge myself as soon as the sun sets which is what these huge meals would do unless you had a lot of mouths to feed. If you have a lot of people then it would make sense. I hope I'm not offending anyone. It just seems like too much for me.

i don't think you sound lazy or cheap in the least, and i agree wholeheartedly that the whole point of fasting is not to stuff yrself once it's sundown. i wish more people thought less about what they're gonna eat and more about how they're planning to fix the fact that lots of people have nothing to eat during ramadan and the rest of the year.

and i hope and pray yr husband can be with you this year for ramadan, God willing.

We don't do anything elaborate, and this year we won't even be home at that time anyway.

By the way, I saw these giraffe print towels at West Elm and it totally reminded me of the cutie bathing suit picture of your daughter. Now I see she has a tunic! Precious!

[S and S 12]

I keep hearing of these complicated meals to break the fast for Ramadan. Is it really necessary? I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean that it is just me, my father (who is not muslim or fasting), and maybe inshallah my husband. I don't have any friends near me or family so I don't see the point in cooking all that food. It would just go to waste or I would have to keep eating the same thing every evening for days. I was thinking it might be good to just make a big fruit salad that can be used with Iftar and Sahoor, a regular vegetable salad for Iftar and making a main meal with some vegetable sides. Is anyone else thinking it would be better to go simple or am I just being lazy and cheap? I just feel like the whole point of fasting isn't to gorge myself as soon as the sun sets which is what these huge meals would do unless you had a lot of mouths to feed. If you have a lot of people then it would make sense. I hope I'm not offending anyone. It just seems like too much for me.

i don't think you sound lazy or cheap in the least, and i agree wholeheartedly that the whole point of fasting is not to stuff yrself once it's sundown. i wish more people thought less about what they're gonna eat and more about how they're planning to fix the fact that lots of people have nothing to eat during ramadan and the rest of the year.

and i hope and pray yr husband can be with you this year for ramadan, God willing.

Thankyou. I hope he will make it too inshallah

[Henia 11]

I keep hearing of these complicated meals to break the fast for Ramadan. Is it really necessary? I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean that it is just me, my father (who is not muslim or fasting), and maybe inshallah my husband. I don't have any friends near me or family so I don't see the point in cooking all that food. It would just go to waste or I would have to keep eating the same thing every evening for days. I was thinking it might be good to just make a big fruit salad that can be used with Iftar and Sahoor, a regular vegetable salad for Iftar and making a main meal with some vegetable sides. Is anyone else thinking it would be better to go simple or am I just being lazy and cheap? I just feel like the whole point of fasting isn't to gorge myself as soon as the sun sets which is what these huge meals would do unless you had a lot of mouths to feed. If you have a lot of people then it would make sense. I hope I'm not offending anyone. It just seems like too much for me.

Well since Muslims really only celebrate Ramadan, the Eids, weddings and births they do tend to go overboard with the foods! But really Ramadan is not about the food eaten after day of fasting ... actually opposite in my opinion. So do what you want ... but beware your husband may be demanding! Who knows! But for 2 ppl I wouldnt' go all out!

[S and S 12]

I keep hearing of these complicated meals to break the fast for Ramadan. Is it really necessary? I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean that it is just me, my father (who is not muslim or fasting), and maybe inshallah my husband. I don't have any friends near me or family so I don't see the point in cooking all that food. It would just go to waste or I would have to keep eating the same thing every evening for days. I was thinking it might be good to just make a big fruit salad that can be used with Iftar and Sahoor, a regular vegetable salad for Iftar and making a main meal with some vegetable sides. Is anyone else thinking it would be better to go simple or am I just being lazy and cheap? I just feel like the whole point of fasting isn't to gorge myself as soon as the sun sets which is what these huge meals would do unless you had a lot of mouths to feed. If you have a lot of people then it would make sense. I hope I'm not offending anyone. It just seems like too much for me.

Well since Muslims really only celebrate Ramadan, the Eids, weddings and births they do tend to go overboard with the foods! But really Ramadan is not about the food eaten after day of fasting ... actually opposite in my opinion. So do what you want ... but beware your husband may be demanding! Who knows! But for 2 ppl I wouldnt' go all out!

My husband and I broke our fast last year at Ramadan in Syria with very little food. Just one small meal put together with some bread. He wouldn't let me buy the food and he could only pay for so much. His family manages to go all out most years for Ramadan, but my husband is thankful for what he gets and doesn't demand more than necessarry. He lived under sanctions for over 10 years and there were times he his family only had potatoes to eat. It makes me think these people who want big elaborate meals to break their fast when there is just a couple people to eat it are ungrateful and selfish. All the people starving in the world and they must have their 4 and 5 course meals. It really makes me sad they think this is what Ramadan is all about. If they had a few Ramadans where they hardly had food to break their fast they might be more appreciative of any food cooked for them.

[Henia 11]

SandS: I really do pray for your SO and his family! One cannot even begin to imagine how hard their lives must be! But maybe for his family going all out, or trying to is one way to if even for a moment forget all that is going around them outside!

But truly, Muslims must think of the less fortunate ... all the time but esp during Ramadan! Personally, I rather share our food with others then go all out with all the amount of food! But sometimes one's culture overrides the religions's rituals.

[Jenn! 918]

Nothing unique about going overboard on the holidays to Muslims and Ramadan. Just look at Christmas.

[Henia 11]

Nothing unique about going overboard on the holidays to Muslims and Ramadan. Just look at Christmas.

Don't ya just love the Christmas decorations during Ramadan and all the gift wrap that says Joyeux Noel on it LOL!

[polarbear 0]

About the big meals - I find that fasting is harder when you have a larger stomach, mine always shrinks and I just physically can't eat that much. Especially with all the water I drink to make up for being dehydrated.

My favorite breakfast during Ramadan is Oatmeal. The quaker instant kind. It's nutritious and gives you energy (which I'm always lacking during Ramadan) and tends to fill you up for longer. When I was alone I broke the fast with a date or water and a sweat, then something microwavable unless I was at the mosque. At the mosque, I just ate a little and people actually commented and thought I was always sick

This year, I have no idea - still need to discuss that with the hubby

[Henia 11]

Egyptians I believe eat things like Oum Ali ...

[polarbear 0]

Egyptians I believe eat things like Oum Ali ...

Fouul is my husband's breakfast of choice

[Nothing1234 2]

Nothing unique about going overboard on the holidays to Muslims and Ramadan. Just look at Christmas.

Don't ya just love the Christmas decorations during Ramadan and all the gift wrap that says Joyeux Noel on it LOL!

Any holiday the decorations make me giggle! At my bday party last year in Egypt, they had decorated our flat with balloons, etc...some of the balloons said Happy Anniversary, Feliz Navidad, etc and the balloons were sold in a mixed pack!...Now thats funnnyyyy!

Samboosa or samoosa's have ground beef with spices or sometimes potaotes and they are placed in like a pastry, like wonton wrappers, or eggroll wrappers, or even some people use torillas. and folded into triangle and fried. They are very yummy and later I can write recipie for you if you would like.

Yummy!

Hmmmm...I am thinking of samosas and chicken tikka for dinner tonight. Yummmm

I'm coming over! LOL

Where do you live Nawal?...lol. The more the merrier.

I'm in AZ But I've been known to fly for food! JK

[nunyab 0]

I am sooo glad to hear about oatmeal... I think tht's going to be my morning meal.. it helps me during the rest of the year and i've started preparing myself for ramamdan by eating less at lunch and having a late dinner. Boy gonna have a hard time with missing my afternoon cup of coffee

Just got invited to a friend of mines for breaking my fast... the bummer thing is my work is sending all the managers to Las Vegas for the last 4 days of September... yeah... not happy about it. I will be in "sin city" the last days of a precious month... does anyone know the rules of traveling and fasting???

[Henia 11]

I am sooo glad to hear about oatmeal... I think tht's going to be my morning meal.. it helps me during the rest of the year and i've started preparing myself for ramamdan by eating less at lunch and having a late dinner. Boy gonna have a hard time with missing my afternoon cup of coffee

Just got invited to a friend of mines for breaking my fast... the bummer thing is my work is sending all the managers to Las Vegas for the last 4 days of September... yeah... not happy about it. I will be in "sin city" the last days of a precious month... does anyone know the rules of traveling and fasting???

Well Rajaa since Islam is the religion of ease, meaning Allah does not want to make any hardships on you if not needed. Surat Al-Hajj 22:78 says (... He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardhsip...) It is allowed to break the fast for people who are traveling (when they must - not traveling to commit sins or avoid fasting that is) if you are traveling a long distance (I believe the scholars have agreed it around 80km or 50 miles)

[2:184] Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, an equal number of other days may be substituted. Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast. If one volunteers (more righteous works), it is better. But fasting is the best for you, if you only knew.

[2:185] ..... Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

And as already discussed here people who are ill are also allowed to break the fast, women who have their menses, pregnant or giving birth and who are breastfeeding. Buuut with that said many women do try (thou I am not sure why since their fast isn't accepted) !

Polar Bear: Yes, I believe you are right. I had Egyptian friend before ... and I remember every morning they would eat foul or lebn (or thick sour milk) with bread!

Here people eat achida (semolina porridge similar to creme of wheat), sweet couscous or varisous pastries like petit pain!

[Henia 11]

But more to the point of having big meals ----> what is everyone planning for Eid day? I mean personally, not that I am some scholar but for me having a big or nice meal for Eid day is much more important then for Ramadan! What is everyone thinking?

I want (wish really) that my husband go all out and buy a leg of lamb ... for we have roast leg of lamb. I'm thinking something with spinach pinenut stuffing, roast potatoes and garlic sauce! If we had that I would be soooo happy!