Ramadan 2009

[Donna A 4]

Hi Ladies....just joining this thread & needing some advice. My husband is Muslim and I am Christian. I've never been through Ramadan before and I am seriously worried about what I should do for my hubby! I don't know the exact "procedures" if you will and when and where and how. I feel like I should fast with him, but I don't know how I should even begin. Is it correct that you can even drink water during the fast? Need some help ladies. This will be his first Ramadan away from home and I want to make it the best I can.

Amanda

my husband and i are the same and there is no need for u to fast with him. just try not to eat or drink when he is near so you dont put temptation infront of him. you dont have to do anything special as they know what to do. its nice you want to but dont feel you have to. god wont punish you or anything but remember as Christians Jesus was our ultimate sacrifice so we dont have to sacrifice anything anymore.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Tangentally, a large number of christians *do* fast and consider it quite important, although in a very different way from the fasting we're talking about here. Oriental and eastern orthodox christians fast under the supervision of their priest/spiritual father.

Unlike muslim fasting, which is abstaining from food and drink only during daylight hours, or jewish fasting, which is abstaining from food and drink for 25 hours, orthodox fasting is abstaining from certain types of food, often for longer periods of time. In general, the fasts are from meat, dairy, fish, olive oil and wine, I believe, although I've observed a fair bit of variation.

And up until the mid century, catholics fasted as well. Growing up in heavily catholic central wisconsin, the schools did not serve meat on Friday, as it was catholic practice to abstain from meat on that day.

[attaya_girl 1]

I've posted here once before, but wanted to say again how much I appreciate all the information here. I'm still learning, but it looks like I'll be in Senegal during part of Ramadan with my fiance this year (inshallah, if our visa process keeps going smoothly). I was there with him last year, but I have to say that I completely forgot about the no kissing during Ramadan, so it looks like we won't quite have the romantic reunion that I had imagined over the past several months....Which, of course, isn't a huge deal--I'm just excited to see him again. In any case, now that I know I'll be there with him, I'm starting to prepare myself for at least fasting a little while I'm there with him and his family. I want to be supportive, and since I will constantly be surrounded by people fasting, I don't want to be insensitive by always guzzling down water, etc. Thank-you for the tips--I've started giving up coffee and spacing my meals farther apart, etc. in anticipation of Ramadan. Just wanted to say thank-you

[Amoon 0]

Tangentally, a large number of christians *do* fast and consider it quite important, although in a very different way from the fasting we're talking about here. Oriental and eastern orthodox christians fast under the supervision of their priest/spiritual father.

Unlike muslim fasting, which is abstaining from food and drink only during daylight hours, or jewish fasting, which is abstaining from food and drink for 25 hours, orthodox fasting is abstaining from certain types of food, often for longer periods of time. In general, the fasts are from meat, dairy, fish, olive oil and wine, I believe, although I've observed a fair bit of variation.

And up until the mid century, catholics fasted as well. Growing up in heavily catholic central wisconsin, the schools did not serve meat on Friday, as it was catholic practice to abstain from meat on that day.

I agree...I have fasted as a Christian before...I had been taught that fasting brings you closer to God. And sometimes we fast as a means to show that we are ernest and sincere in things we have been praying for. It actually may do me some good to fast, at least as much as I can, and pray instead.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Fasting seems to be a lost devotional act amongst most of western christianity, at least from my observance. Glad to hear your experience was different.

Beliefnet has a piece on 8 Ramadan lessons for all spiritual seekers that may be of interest to non muslims who may fast.

[Speeditup 0]

Hello, I live in good old O H I O! What part of Ohio will you be coming to and maybe I can try and help you?

Hi well i am going to be living in Akron, Ohio. I think Cleveland there are a few halal restaurants and stores but i doubt very much any in akron!!!

Where abouts do you live??

:-)

[Aymsgirl 0]

Hello, I live in good old O H I O! What part of Ohio will you be coming to and maybe I can try and help you?

Hi well i am going to be living in Akron, Ohio. I think Cleveland there are a few halal restaurants and stores but i doubt very much any in akron!!!

Where abouts do you live??

:-)

I actually live in Southwest, Ohio. About 200 miles from Akron. I was hoping I could help you out. I am sorry I have no clue about the Cleveland area. I wish you the best in finding what you need

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Dear Seeker,

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The course will open on August 14th. Live session has been tentatively scheduled for September 12th.

[~ameriptian~ 54]

We just started preparing for Ramadan at work (well we as the staff decided and the boss has nothing against it) We started making a schedule to reciting and memorizing Quran every day at home. We tick a box that we did or did not every day, and who doesn't has to pay a certain amount of money that goes to charity to prepare iftar for the poor and needy. By the end of Ramadan we should finish reading the whole Quran and memorize at least 5 Surahs.. MashaAllah I'm so glad they thought of that idea.. I really like it

Edited August 5, 2009 by Aya&John

[HLM 1]

We just started preparing for Ramadan at work (well we as the staff decided and the boss has nothing against it) We started making a schedule to reciting and memorizing Quran every day at home. We tick a box that we did or did not every day, and who doesn't has to pay a certain amount of money that goes to charity to prepare iftar for the poor and needy. By the end of Ramadan we should finish reading the whole Quran and memorize at least 5 Surahs.. MashaAllah I'm so glad they thought of that idea.. I really like it

Masha Allah that's great! May Allah accept from you and support you ameeeen.

[Donna A 4]

Hello, I live in good old O H I O! What part of Ohio will you be coming to and maybe I can try and help you?

Hi well i am going to be living in Akron, Ohio. I think Cleveland there are a few halal restaurants and stores but i doubt very much any in akron!!!

Where abouts do you live??

:-)

akron is only about an hour south of me. im sure you can find halal stores there. i mean if we have 3 of them in this little town of youngstown then there is sure to be some in akron. they do have them in cleveland also.

[doodlebugg 10]

We just started preparing for Ramadan at work (well we as the staff decided and the boss has nothing against it) We started making a schedule to reciting and memorizing Quran every day at home. We tick a box that we did or did not every day, and who doesn't has to pay a certain amount of money that goes to charity to prepare iftar for the poor and needy. By the end of Ramadan we should finish reading the whole Quran and memorize at least 5 Surahs.. MashaAllah I'm so glad they thought of that idea.. I really like it

That's awesome that you can do that at work!!!! I'm only friendly with one other muslim here at work, though there are a few others I just don't really socialize with them. I'm taking one week off during the month so that will be good since I can make like an Egyptian and sleep the day away!

I don't really have any goals other than to read the Quran and try not to puke from fasting. I did post a question to that link that UmSqueakster gave in a thread somewhere but they said to check with a good muslim doctor to see if I'm exempt. HA. I finally found one good doctor period after about 3 years of searching but she's not muslim. I think the number of muslim doctors in my area is slim to none and who knows if they're "good". I decided just to wing it and if I get sick from fasting then I'll wait a little bit to see if it passes and if not I'll eat. Should be interesting.

[~ameriptian~ 54]

We just started preparing for Ramadan at work (well we as the staff decided and the boss has nothing against it) We started making a schedule to reciting and memorizing Quran every day at home. We tick a box that we did or did not every day, and who doesn't has to pay a certain amount of money that goes to charity to prepare iftar for the poor and needy. By the end of Ramadan we should finish reading the whole Quran and memorize at least 5 Surahs.. MashaAllah I'm so glad they thought of that idea.. I really like it

That's awesome that you can do that at work!!!! I'm only friendly with one other muslim here at work, though there are a few others I just don't really socialize with them. I'm taking one week off during the month so that will be good since I can make like an Egyptian and sleep the day away!

I don't really have any goals other than to read the Quran and try not to puke from fasting. I did post a question to that link that UmSqueakster gave in a thread somewhere but they said to check with a good muslim doctor to see if I'm exempt. HA. I finally found one good doctor period after about 3 years of searching but she's not muslim. I think the number of muslim doctors in my area is slim to none and who knows if they're "good". I decided just to wing it and if I get sick from fasting then I'll wait a little bit to see if it passes and if not I'll eat. Should be interesting.

Alhamdulillah.. I can't wait till we can come up with more ideas like that.. I really hope fasting this year will be easy for you Bridget Just don't do much physical effort during fasting and have a good iftar with a meal to give you energy for the rest of the night.. I usually skip suhoor.. I get very hungry and tired if I do, strange right? I feel lighter if I just go from iftar to iftar with a light meal before going to bed sometimes..

[HLM 1]

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle (pbuh) saying regarding Ramadan, "Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." [bukhari Book 3 Volume 32]

[Cheryl & Medo 3]

Just ordered my Dates for Ramadan for the hubby. And I'm gonna stuff them. And Got them at a good price.

http://www.nutsinbulk.com/