Ramadhan

Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, believed by Muslims to be the holiest month of the entire year. Its reverence signifies the revelation of the Holy Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad. During this month, Muslims throughout the world fast from dawn until dusk. The word Ramadhan comes from the Arabic root word ramida or ar-ramad, which means 'intense heat and dryness'. It is a fitting name for the month in which Muslims endure the heat of hunger and thirst.

Ramadhan begins with the sighting of the new moon and ends when the first crescent of the next new moon rises, declaring the start of a new month called Shawwal. The first day of Shawwal is marked by a joyous celebration called Eid ul-Fitr, meaning 'Festival of Breaking Fast'. This festival starts off with special congregational prayers in mosques or Islamic centers, followed by hearty feasts and socializing.

There are a few important things that Muslims observe during Ramadhan:

1. Fasting. The act of abstaining from food, drink and sexual intercourse is so prevalent during the month that people often misunderstand Ramadhan to mean fasting. Actually, the Arabic word for fasting is sawm. Fasting begins with suhoor, which is a light meal or snack at dawn, and ends with iftar or breaking fast, a full meal just after sunset.

Fasting is two-faceted, involving the physical and spiritual aspects of Islam. Physically, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking or having any form of sexual contact from sunrise until sunset. Spiritually, Muslims refrain from negative habits, such as gossipping, cursing, lying and badmouthing others. Additionally, Muslims avoid obscene sights and sounds.

Fasting strips away the distraction of worldly pleasures and enables Muslims to concentrate on inner reflection and heightened purity of thought and action. Ramadhan is the month to pray, perform good deeds and pass time with family and friends. It is also a time to remember the poor and how they suffer to get even one meal per day. In fact, at the end of Ramadhan, Muslims are encouraged to give fitra, a sufficient amount of charity to feed one person for a day.

Muslims who find fasting a problem are not obliged to perform the one-month fast during Ramadhan. The elderly, very young children and sickly people are exempted from fasting. Those who have a temporary condition that prevents them from fasting are required to make up for any missed days after Ramadhan. If their condition is permanent or extended for a long period of time, they can provide charity to feed a needy person for each day missed.

2. Laylat al-Qadr. Also known as the Night of (Will) Destiny, this is the holiest night during Ramadhan. It is the night when the Holy Qur'an was first revealed by God to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. Although the exact night remains a mystery, it is believed to be one of the last ten nights of Ramadhan, particularly the odd-numbered nights between the 21st and the 29th.

Muslims are encouraged to seek this night through ardent prayer. The Holy Qur'an has provided that prayers on this single night are better than prayers of a thousand months. Seekers of this night will be blessed manifold, whereby all of their sins will be erased as though they were reborn.

3. Tarawih prayers. Consisting of eight to twenty raka'ah, the Islamic units of prayer, these optional prayers are performed every night during Ramadhan. Tarawih prayers can be performed congregationally at the mosque or individually at home. At the mosque, the entire Holy Qur'an is recited for these prayers. The 114 chapters of the holy book have been conveniently divided into 30 equal sections, one for each night of Ramadhan.

Ramadhan is an opportunity for Muslims to cultivate a raised awareness of God the Almighty. It is a month of spiritual cleansing and reflection on past actions and a time for Muslims to think about their religious future. During this time, Muslims come together with a single objective: to serve God in accordance with His instructions and the practice of His messengers.

Zikr

The Holy Prophet SAW said, "Those who are admitted into Paradise will not regret over anything of this world, except the time spent without zikr in their life"

Note: After their entry into paradise, when they will see the huge reward (as large as mountains) for remembering Allah once, they will feel extremely sorry over their loss caused by the time spent without zikr, as can be well imagined.

In this world, there are such blessed persons who would not relish this life it is were spent without the zikr of Allah.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar rah writes in his book "Munabbihaat" that Yahya bin Mu'aaz Raazi rah used to Say in his supplication: O Allah! the night is no good unless spent in communion with you, the day is no good unless spent in worshipping You, this life is no good without Your zikr, the next life will be on good without forgiveness from You, and Paradise will not be enjoyable without beholding You.

Hadhrat Sirri ra says, "I Saw Jurjani swallowing roasted barley flour. He told me that he had compared the time taken in chewing bread and in eating barley flour "SUBHANALLAH" seventy times in that time. Therefore, he had not taken bread for forty years, and had lived by swallowing barley flour alone."

It is said about Mansoor bin Mu'tamar that he never spoke to anybody after Ishaa prayers for forty years.

Similarly, it is said about Rabee' bin Hatheem that it was his practice for twenty years that he noted down what he talked during the day,and would check at night whether that talking was necessary or not. Those pious scholars were particular that every moment of their life was spent in zikr and in nothing else..

The Truth About Coconut Water

The truth "This is an urban legend," says Liz Applegate, Ph.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of California in Davis. "There is no valid research proving it." Another, albeit contradictory, myth: Coconut water makes you fat. This bad rap came from coconut milk, which is made from pressed coconut meat and packs 445 calories per cup, most from saturated fat. The water (the fluid in young coconuts) has only 46 calories per cup. Of course, for a truly trimming sip, opt for zero-calorie water, coffee or tea.