the month of ramadhan

well, so now the muslims are into the ramadhan month. i found a website via suanie that has good simple explanation on ramadhan for well… idiots like me… well… at least not idiot in the sense of not knowing what ramadhan is but idiot in the sense that not knowing how to explain.

some excerpts from the site are in brown here.

Why do some people stuff themselves when the fast is over? Those who are fasting should deprive themselves of the meals they would normally have during the times of fast but they shouldn’t really eat all they missed once the fast is over as this defeats the whole objective of the fast. When breaking the fast (of having breakfast, I guess), they should simply have the meal they would on any other day. It is permissible to have a more elaborate feast if one if hosting a ‘Iftar’ meal for guests as this is considered a good and noble act, in which there is divine reward.

“…. this defeat the whole objective of the fast.” indeed. that was why how i feel that all those hotels and restaurants that came up with ‘buka puasa buffet spread’ (or something like that) are tempting the muslims. i understand though, they have to resort to such, since they are only trying to make money (business!).

What is the point of fasting? The reason Muslims fast is to discipline their body and mind. The absence of food and drink and other pleasures provides a perfect opportunity to concentrate on prayer and worship. Not having the luxuries of life to hand makes it easier to reflect on life and be grateful for what we do have. Muslims use this month to start afresh and give their life a new direction?

nice reasons indeed. i hate it when some people give this reason – “so that we will know how it feel to be without food.” or “so that we will know how those who are starving feel.”

some catholics i know who fast during the 40 days of the season of lent, also gave this reason.

to them i would like to say “come on, get real! you fast the whole day but you know at the end of the day, there will be food awaiting you (when break fast), whereas those who are starving, they have no hope at all of food awaiting them, so how can you say you fast so as to get to feel how those who are starving feel?”

one thing i like about ramadhan month is of course – the food! plenty of food stalls would sprung up, with lots of good food and delicacies. the star yesterday highlighted the ramadhan bazaar in my area – bayan baru mosque in jalan mayang pasir. (sidetrack. how come in the star, ramadhan is spelt without a ‘h’ while in the idiot guide site, it is spelt with a ‘h’.) hmm… i didn’t know about that until i read about it in the paper. i think next week, one of the day in a week, i will go over to the bazaar and look out for some good food to buy!
(picture taken from the star, showing one of the food stall, selling ikan bakar in the bayan baru mosque)