Ramadan internet finds thread

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Assalamu Alaikum wr wb

If you come across something Ramadan related in your online paroosing, articles, songs, videos, etc, please post them here. inshaAllah, this will allow us to gather all the info in one place, and not clutter up the ME/NA board.

Approaching Ramadan by Imam Zaid Shakir

[UmmSqueakster 54]

9 reasons we must plan for Ramadan

Imam Zaid's Preparing for Ramadan mp3

[Henia 11]

Thanks for sharing I will check it

[Henia 11]

An article on Ramadan tips... inchallah it is a good read

This article provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadan. If followed, it would enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadan.

During the holy month of Ramadan, our diet should not differ very much from our normal diet and should be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that we maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is over-weight, Ramadan is an ideal time to normalize one's weight.

In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours.

* Slow-digesting foods are foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour, unpolished rice, etc. (called complex carbohydrates).

* Fast-burning foods are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates).

* Fiber-containing foods are bran-containing foods, whole wheat, grains and seeds, vegetables like green beans, peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, and other herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc.

The foods eaten should be well-balanced, containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems.

AVOID

* Fried and fatty foods.

* Foods containing too much sugar.

* Over-eating especially during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur)

* Too much tea during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur). Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.

* Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadan. Smoking is unhealthy and one should stop completely.

EAT

* Complex carbohydrates during the meal before Dawn (sehri. or suhur) so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry.

* Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a slow-burning food.

* Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium.

* Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.

* Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.

DRINK

* As much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar (Breaking fasting) and bedtime so that your body may adjust fluid levels in time.

Common Medical Problems

CONSTIPATION

Constipation can cause piles (haemorroids), fissures (painful cracks in ####### canal) and indigestion with a bloated feeling.

Causes: Too much refined foods, too little water and not enough fibre in the diet.

Remedy: Avoid excessive refined foods, increase water intake, use bran in baking, brown flour when making roti.

INDIGESTION AND WIND

Causes: Over-eating. Too much fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that produce wind e.g. eggs, cabbage, lentils, carbonated drinks like Cola also produce gas.

Remedy: Do not over-eat, drink fruit juices or better still drink water. Avoid fried foods, add ajmor to wind-producing foods.

LETHARGY ('low blood pressure')

Excessive sweating, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, especially on getting up from sitting position, pale appearance and feeling faint are symptoms associated with "low blood pressure". This tends to occur towards the afternoon.

Causes: Too little fluid intake, decreased salt intake.

Remedy: Keep cool, increase fluid and salt intake.

Caution: Low blood pressure should be confirmed by taking a blood

pressure reading when symptoms are present. Persons with high blood pressure may need their medication adjusted during Ramadan. They should consult their

doctor.

HEADACHE

Causes: Caffeine and tobacco-withdrawal, doing too much in one day,

lack of sleep, hunger usually occur as the day goes by and worsens at the end

of the day. When associated with "low blood pressure", the headache can be

quite severe and can also cause nausea before Iftar (Breaking Fasting).

Remedy: Cut down caffeine and tobacco slowly starting a week or two

before Ramadan. Herbal and caffeine-free teas may be substituted. Reorganize

your schedule during the Ramadan so as to have adequate sleep.

LOW BLOOD SUGAR

Weakness, dizziness, tiredness, poor concentration, perspiring easily,

feeling shaky (tremor), unable to perform physical activities, headache,

palpitations are symptoms of low blood sugar.

Causes in non-diabetics: Having too much sugar i.e. refined carbohydrates

especially during the meal before Dawn (sehri or suhur) . The body produces too much insulin causing the blood glucose to drop.

Remedy: Eat something at suhur (sehri) and limit sugar-containing foods and

drinks.

Caution: Diabetics may need to adjust their medication in Ramadan,

consult your doctor.

MUSCLE CRAMPS

Causes: Inadequate intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium foods.

Remedy: Eat foods rich in the above minerals e.g. vegetables, fruit,

dairy products, meat and dates.

Caution: Those on high blood pressure medication and with kidney stone

problems should consult their doctor.

PEPTIC ULCERS, HEART BURN, GASTRITIS AND HIATUS HERNIA

Increased acid levels in the empty stomach in Ramadan aggravate the

above conditions. It presents as a burning feeling in the stomach area under

the ribs and can extend upto the throat. Spicy foods, coffee, and Cola

drinks worsen these conditions.

Medications are available to control acid levels in the stomach. People

with proven peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia should consult their doctor well

before Ramadan.

KIDNEY STONES

Kidney stones may occur in people who have less liquids to drink.

Therefore, it is essential to drink extra liquids so as to prevent stone formation.

JOINT PAINS

Causes: The increased pressure on the knee joints during Salat. In the elderly and those with arthritis this may result in pain, stiffness, swelling and discomfort.

Remedy: Lose weight so that the knees do not have to carry any extra

load. Exercise the lower limbs . Being physically fit allows greater fulfillment,

thus enabling one to be able to perform salat with ease.

From an article by :

Dr. Farouk Haffejee

Islamic Medical Association of South Africa - Durban

info@submission.org

[Henia 11]

This was in my box today, just wanted to share:

8 tips on sharing Ramadan with your neighbors

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As: Mujahid said that Abdullah ibn Amr slaughtered a sheep and said: Have you presented a gift from it to my neighbor, the Jew, for I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace and

blessings be upon him) say: Gabriel kept on commending the neighbor to me so that I thought he would make an heir? (Abu Dawud).

The Prophet Muhammad said: "He is not a believer who eats his fill

while his neighbor remains hungry by his side" (Baihaqi).

"By Allah, he has no faith (the Prophet repeated it three times)

whose neighbors are not safe from his wickedness" (Bukhari).

*****

Ramadan is a great opportunity to share Islam and more specifically, its values of spirituality, generosity and kindness with others, especially your neighbors. It's a great time to do Dawa. And Dawa is very much needed in the current atmosphere of anger, tension and sadness in the wake of September 11, 2001.

Here are some ideas on how you can share the joy with your neighbors this Ramadan.

1. Begin with Dua (prayer)

Make Dua that Allah give you and your family the sincerity, strength,

motivation and wisdom to do this. Dawa is hard work, and it needs

preparation, commitment and organization.

2. Put up a Ramadan banner on your door

This can be something handmade or something more formal.

But don't stop there. Print out a factsheet on Ramadan and stick that

on the door to educate readers passing by about the blessed month and

what it means to Muslims.

3. Send neighbors Iftar snacks

Include a note with the food that the month of Ramadan is here and

you are sharing your joy with them.

You can offer snacks that are not just "American" but also "ethnic"

(i.e. African, Middle Eastern, Indo-Pakistani, etc.). You can include

index cards with the snacks listing all of the ingredients. This will

help neighbors avoid food that causes allergies.

4. Give kids Ramadan Mubarak balloons and candy

Let your neighbors' kids also feel the happiness of Ramadan by

including chocolate and candy among your snacks. Balloons also add a

nice touch, and if you can get some printed which have "Ramadan

Mubarak" written on them, they may remember the blessed month even

after it has passed.

5. Publish Ramadan information in your neighborhood newsletter

If you are part of a tenants' association, a group within your

housing complex or your neighborhood block parents' association and

they publish a newsletter, inform them about Ramadan and prepare a

short write-up about the month. This is a great way of informing many

more neighbors about Ramadan.

6. Have a neighborhood Iftar gathering

You don't have to invite everyone. Perhaps just the closest neighbors

can attend this event. Send handmade invitations for an "Iftar

gathering" at most a week in advance (avoid the word "party" as it

may be misunderstood to mean a gathering including alcohol, loud

music, etc.).

Ask about allergies or other food issues before establishing the

menu. Include American and "ethnic" food.

Be sure to invite Muslim family and friends who are comfortable

interacting with non-Muslims to this event, and brief them about how

they should properly share Ramadan with the neighbors.

Also, have some written material on Ramadan available for your

guests. You can print out this factsheet and put it on some fancy

paper to add to the festive air of the evening.

At the gathering:

Be cordial, generous and friendly, but maintain Islamic rules of

behavior and modesty. This should not be a "party" in the common

understanding, but more of a religious celebration that is spiritual

and respectful to all.

Don't impose information. Just let non-Muslim guests ask questions,

if they want to. As well, be ready for questions about Islam and

violence/terrorism, the oppression of women, etc. Give neighbors the

benefit of the doubt and clarify their misunderstanding in a calm,

gentle manner.

7. Get your kids on it

Tell your kids to inform other neighbors' kids what Ramadan is all

about and have the children invite their classmates to your Iftar

gatherings.

8. Talk about what Ramadan means to you

What's it like to fast? How do you work/go to school and still fast?

These are some questions you may be asked. Don't just point your

guests to the pamphlets. Tell them and use some personal examples

they can relate to.

[type2negative 0]

I wil find myself in Ramadan...

I will become a completely different person..

A Better one..

[Henia 11]

I wil find myself in Ramadan...

I will become a completely different person..

A Better one..

I know you are totally being saracastically stupid (not serious at all) but in any case I wish you would find yourself.

[type2negative 0]

I wil find myself in Ramadan...

I will become a completely different person..

A Better one..

I know you are totally being saracastically stupid (not serious at all) but in any case I wish you would find yourself.

Just behold on November 1.

PS I already found my avatar... In my Pants.. Its big, but I need to wash it.,.

[ahlam ladida 0]

Maybe its' that missing sock from the dryer.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

Maybe its' that missing sock from the dryer.

[Henia 11]

I wil find myself in Ramadan...

I will become a completely different person..

A Better one..

I know you are totally being saracastically stupid (not serious at all) but in any case I wish you would find yourself.

Just behold on November 1.

PS I already found my avatar... In my Pants.. Its big, but I need to wash it.,.

O snaps....

[noura 0]

Maybe its' that missing sock from the dryer.

ROLMAO

[Henia 11]

Maybe its' that missing sock from the dryer.

o snaps ... Go ahlam ladida ... good one !

[noura 0]

Maybe its' that missing sock from the dryer.

o snaps ... Go ahlam ladida ... good one !

henia, where *do* you get these funny little emoticons? do tell.....

[Henia 11]

Maybe its' that missing sock from the dryer.

o snaps ... Go ahlam ladida ... good one !

henia, where *do* you get these funny little emoticons? do tell.....

Noura, I really copy them whenever I see a funny one, but I get many of them from:

http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/smilies.php

http://www.smileyworld.com/

Here is one for you Noura called Maroc (hmm doesnt really look Morrocan but thats its name LOL)

and also for you called "diva" cos you are so the diva here