In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful.
Ok...2nd attempt to post blog...I was almost finished with this when my computer quit unexpectedly. Aren't those annoying words to read! It's 3:30 a.m....so, I'll need to make this much shorter then the original. :)
I am unable to fast for the next 4-7 days. Why??? Well, there are several reasons a Muslim is relieved from this blessed duty. ... while traveling, in sickness, during pregnancy/breastfeeding, and while menstruating. I'm not traveling nor am I sick. So, I am either pregnant or menstruating. Well, to me, there are only 2 occasions to be disappointed by the arrival of my monthly friend.... 1-when trying for a child and 2-during Ramadan. So....which is it, am I pregnant or menstruating..... I unfortunately report I am not pregnant. : ) (a little suspense to you all :) :)
A woman is relieved from fasting while menstruating as it's too unhealthy for her to not eat and drink. For me, however, it doesn't feel much like a gift (to not have to fast) bc I find that it is with the abstinence of food that I obtain a higher level of feeling and understanding of God, his miracles and his love. This year, however, I am working extra hard to maintain the same level of intensity even while my monthly visitor is around and will only eat/drink enough to be healthy but not over indulgent.
With that, I am signing off. My original blog for today included a description of Prayer in Islam. However, I regretfully am too tired to re-type all of that and will save it for tomorrow's blog.
See you tomorrow. :) and blessing to you all.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Ramadan day 7
In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful.
Today was an easy fasting day...I suppose it helps that I didn't wake up until 1:00 in the afternoon! I don't think I've ever slept that late in my life! You see, my husband proposed this idea that we stay awake until dawn and then sleep until early afternoon. Work all afternoon up through sunset. I thought it was a crazy idea for many reasons. 1-we have children.... and those children start school soon... 2-it felt like cheating in a sense. Ok...so, point #1. Our children (2 boys; 5 and 2 years old). We live in Los Angeles and are visiting family in MI for the beginning of Ramadan. They always stay awake "late" for EST. Keeping a PST while in EST zone has been more in line with what they like. That is a 3 hour difference (PST is 3 hours behind EST). So...the kids are loving that we aren't trying to put them to sleep too early. But...that is all about to change. Our schedule for the first 7 days of Ramadan has gone something like this.... eat dinner from 8:30-11:00 p.m. Play with kids, relax and digest. Drink some tea. Work. Read and pray. eat again from 4:30 am-5:30 a.m. then pray, and go to sleep by 6:30 a.m . (Kids have been sleeping around 3 EST which is midnight PST). Wake between 11:30-1 p.m. work until 7 p.m. Crazy isn't it! Well...it's been nice actually. Very nice. But, we now have to start cycling our kids to sleeping earlier to wake earlier in prep for school. This will all begin tomorrow (btw...it's 1:30 a.m. here right now...1 son is asleep...the other sitting next to me reading) bc we have to drive to see family that live 2 hours away and need to leave by 11:30 a.m..... We will then begin to sleep an hour earlier every night for the next week. The fasting days will seem so much longer to us waking up at 6:30 a.m. again. Uggghhhhh..... HAAAAAHAAAAHAAAAA.
We took a vacation day (my husband, me, and my mother/father/sister in law). It was wonderful. It rained in MI so the kids splashed around outside playing in their "forest" being pirates and then rescuers so on and so forth...we followed that by a several hour swim in grandma's indoor heated pool and jacuzzi. Very nice. Then it was time to prepare dinner (my father in law cooked) and eat. And if you can believe this...I took a 20 minute nap around 7 pm!!! HAAAAheeeehaaaaaa!!!
So I was thinking today about divisions and how all of the worlds religions (at least as far as my limited readings) have divided into various sects. And I was thinking...how does this occur. Aren't we all children of God. Shouldn't we instead of divide, UNITE! Unite in carrying out what is good and putting our differences of opinion aside. I mean, who can argue with the "commandments". Then I got to thinking about the Ten Commandments. The Koran doesn't have a specific statement of ten commandments like the bible...however, it does have similar messages. So, here is a beginning comparison to the commandments between the Bible and The Koran.
The Ten Commandments
(Taken from The Students Study Bible)
Exodus 20
1. You shall have no other Gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
10. You shall nto covet your neighbor's belongings
The Koran's "commandments"
1. Serve no other God besides God.
2. Show kindness to your parents
3. Give to the near of kin, traveler. Do not squander wastefully.
4. Be neither miserly nor prodigal.
5. Do not murder
6. Do not commit adultery
7. Do not interfere with the property of orphans
8. Do not follow what you do not know
9. Do not walk proudly
10. Be patient, truthful, just and sincere
11. Pray and fast (during the month of Ramadan)
12. Keep your covenant
13. Do not sell God's revelations for a paltry price
So, as you can see..rather you are a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim (or any other religion)....the instructions for living a good life are the same and isn't it interesting the first commandment of each is not to serve anyone other than the one GOD, the beneficent, the merciful. So, why then must religions divide. Christianity has hundreds of sects. Islam has 4 (that I know of) (Sunni, Shi ite, Sufi and Nation of Islam). And all argue that they are following the proper form of the same religion! Oh, how we convince ourselves that our way is the only way! Put down your defenses. Open up a bit and just see what you see without projecting anything into the world. It really is beautiful.
Goodnight to all.....
Today was an easy fasting day...I suppose it helps that I didn't wake up until 1:00 in the afternoon! I don't think I've ever slept that late in my life! You see, my husband proposed this idea that we stay awake until dawn and then sleep until early afternoon. Work all afternoon up through sunset. I thought it was a crazy idea for many reasons. 1-we have children.... and those children start school soon... 2-it felt like cheating in a sense. Ok...so, point #1. Our children (2 boys; 5 and 2 years old). We live in Los Angeles and are visiting family in MI for the beginning of Ramadan. They always stay awake "late" for EST. Keeping a PST while in EST zone has been more in line with what they like. That is a 3 hour difference (PST is 3 hours behind EST). So...the kids are loving that we aren't trying to put them to sleep too early. But...that is all about to change. Our schedule for the first 7 days of Ramadan has gone something like this.... eat dinner from 8:30-11:00 p.m. Play with kids, relax and digest. Drink some tea. Work. Read and pray. eat again from 4:30 am-5:30 a.m. then pray, and go to sleep by 6:30 a.m . (Kids have been sleeping around 3 EST which is midnight PST). Wake between 11:30-1 p.m. work until 7 p.m. Crazy isn't it! Well...it's been nice actually. Very nice. But, we now have to start cycling our kids to sleeping earlier to wake earlier in prep for school. This will all begin tomorrow (btw...it's 1:30 a.m. here right now...1 son is asleep...the other sitting next to me reading) bc we have to drive to see family that live 2 hours away and need to leave by 11:30 a.m..... We will then begin to sleep an hour earlier every night for the next week. The fasting days will seem so much longer to us waking up at 6:30 a.m. again. Uggghhhhh..... HAAAAAHAAAAHAAAAA.
We took a vacation day (my husband, me, and my mother/father/sister in law). It was wonderful. It rained in MI so the kids splashed around outside playing in their "forest" being pirates and then rescuers so on and so forth...we followed that by a several hour swim in grandma's indoor heated pool and jacuzzi. Very nice. Then it was time to prepare dinner (my father in law cooked) and eat. And if you can believe this...I took a 20 minute nap around 7 pm!!! HAAAAheeeehaaaaaa!!!
So I was thinking today about divisions and how all of the worlds religions (at least as far as my limited readings) have divided into various sects. And I was thinking...how does this occur. Aren't we all children of God. Shouldn't we instead of divide, UNITE! Unite in carrying out what is good and putting our differences of opinion aside. I mean, who can argue with the "commandments". Then I got to thinking about the Ten Commandments. The Koran doesn't have a specific statement of ten commandments like the bible...however, it does have similar messages. So, here is a beginning comparison to the commandments between the Bible and The Koran.
The Ten Commandments
(Taken from The Students Study Bible)
Exodus 20
1. You shall have no other Gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
10. You shall nto covet your neighbor's belongings
The Koran's "commandments"
1. Serve no other God besides God.
2. Show kindness to your parents
3. Give to the near of kin, traveler. Do not squander wastefully.
4. Be neither miserly nor prodigal.
5. Do not murder
6. Do not commit adultery
7. Do not interfere with the property of orphans
8. Do not follow what you do not know
9. Do not walk proudly
10. Be patient, truthful, just and sincere
11. Pray and fast (during the month of Ramadan)
12. Keep your covenant
13. Do not sell God's revelations for a paltry price
So, as you can see..rather you are a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim (or any other religion)....the instructions for living a good life are the same and isn't it interesting the first commandment of each is not to serve anyone other than the one GOD, the beneficent, the merciful. So, why then must religions divide. Christianity has hundreds of sects. Islam has 4 (that I know of) (Sunni, Shi ite, Sufi and Nation of Islam). And all argue that they are following the proper form of the same religion! Oh, how we convince ourselves that our way is the only way! Put down your defenses. Open up a bit and just see what you see without projecting anything into the world. It really is beautiful.
Goodnight to all.....
Ramadan-day 6
Is it really only day 6!!!!!!! It feels like day 60!!!!! I am reminded of the importance of taking things "1 day at a time". When I think of how many more days I have left to fast, I feel anxious and worried "how am I going to make it!".... but when I focus on the day, GOD and enjoying whatever surfaces, then all is smooth sailing and frankly not too bad. The toughest part of the day for me is from 2-4ish. My stomach burns with hunger and my mouth is begging for water. Thoughts enter my mind like "ahhhh, just take 1 sip of water or just 1 bite of food, really, can God really want us to feel this way!".... haaaaaa haaaaaaa....then I think of all of the people in the world who don't know when their next meal will come and when it does it's scraps of other peoples food. And I feel blessed beyond words. I am reminded that it's not pain that God wishes upon us but strength. Abstaining from something you desire sooooooo badly for the sake of something much more powerful builds character...builds strength in ones self and plainly makes one feel good and accomplished. It doesn't matter if I am all alone and no one else in the world knows if I am fasting-I know and the rewards for not cheating are so great.
I came across a notebook of mine from '96/'97. It was a notebook detailing my introduction to and the study of Islam and consequently my conversion. WOW! did it ever bring back memories and also made me realize that I am not nearly as ambitious about my spirituality as I was back then. It has taken a back seat to life-kids, marriage, laundry, dishes, work etc... and I realize that when my spirituality is lacking, there is lack in every other aspect of my life as well. I am not speaking of religion and the rituals that religion entails. I am speaking of spirituality and even deeper than that...something that I don't believe has a name.... I am speaking of that 'voice' inside that leads all of us.
Back to my notebook...I had written song lyrics from Celine Dion that made me feel especially spiritual..."Call the Man" and "Because You Loved Me". In these songs I thought who else besides God could she be singing about.
"call the man who deals in love beyond repair
He can heal the world of hearts in need of care
shine a light ahead, when the the step is unclear
Call the man...he's needed here"
"You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me Faith, cuz you believed
I'm everything I am because you loved me"
Many of us think of these songs as love songs to our spouse, boy/girl friend etc.... but to me, when I hear these songs I can only think of God...who can really do all of these things except HIM". God is the magnificent, the compassionate, the merciful.
A Muslim before beginning any venture says "Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim" which means "In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful" because it is by God's grace that we accomplish and persevere.
A Muslim also says at the end of a statement "Insha-Allah" which means "if God wills". For instance, if I were to say "I'll see you tomorrow" I also add on (either silently or a loud) "Insha-Allah". Why? Well...it's simple...because only God knows if I will see you tomorrow or not!
With that thought, I end my pondering with this quote from Penguin classic "The Koran"
"The only guidance is the guidance of God"
Peace to you all...God Bless and good night.
I came across a notebook of mine from '96/'97. It was a notebook detailing my introduction to and the study of Islam and consequently my conversion. WOW! did it ever bring back memories and also made me realize that I am not nearly as ambitious about my spirituality as I was back then. It has taken a back seat to life-kids, marriage, laundry, dishes, work etc... and I realize that when my spirituality is lacking, there is lack in every other aspect of my life as well. I am not speaking of religion and the rituals that religion entails. I am speaking of spirituality and even deeper than that...something that I don't believe has a name.... I am speaking of that 'voice' inside that leads all of us.
Back to my notebook...I had written song lyrics from Celine Dion that made me feel especially spiritual..."Call the Man" and "Because You Loved Me". In these songs I thought who else besides God could she be singing about.
"call the man who deals in love beyond repair
He can heal the world of hearts in need of care
shine a light ahead, when the the step is unclear
Call the man...he's needed here"
"You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me Faith, cuz you believed
I'm everything I am because you loved me"
Many of us think of these songs as love songs to our spouse, boy/girl friend etc.... but to me, when I hear these songs I can only think of God...who can really do all of these things except HIM". God is the magnificent, the compassionate, the merciful.
A Muslim before beginning any venture says "Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim" which means "In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful" because it is by God's grace that we accomplish and persevere.
A Muslim also says at the end of a statement "Insha-Allah" which means "if God wills". For instance, if I were to say "I'll see you tomorrow" I also add on (either silently or a loud) "Insha-Allah". Why? Well...it's simple...because only God knows if I will see you tomorrow or not!
With that thought, I end my pondering with this quote from Penguin classic "The Koran"
"The only guidance is the guidance of God"
Peace to you all...God Bless and good night.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Ramadan 2009
In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful. May you guide me in this blogging journey.
Here we are again...another year has passed and us Muslims all over the world are embarking on our 1 month quest to get closer to our heart, closer to our souls to find God. It is RAMADAN again!!! We are fasting. Fasting means abstaining from food and drink, foul language, bad thoughts/actions and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset for 30 days. Since last Ramadan I have gotten quite savvy in the wonderful world of technology and so I have decided to blog about my personal experience this Ramadan. My blog will contain both personal thoughts/feelings/experiences as well as Qu'ran quotations and perhaps a bit of Islamic history. Here we go....
(all references to the Qu'ran have been taken from Penguin Classics "The Koran", which is the best English translation of the Qu'ran that I have found.)
Ramadan is mentioned in The Holy Qu'ran like this:
"Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; perchance you will guard yourselves against evil. Fast a certain number of days but if any one among you is ill or on a journey, let him fast a similar number of days later' and for those that cannot endure it there is a penance ordained: the feeding of a poor man. He that does good of his own accord shall be well rewarded; but to fast is better for you, if you but knew it.
In the month of Ramadan the Koran was revealed, a book of guidance for mankind with proofs of guidance distinguishing right from wrong. Therefore whoever of you is present in that month let him fast. But he who is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on.
God desires your well-being, not your discomfort. He desires you to fast the whole month so that you may magnify God and render thanks to Him for giving you His guidance.
It is now lawful for you to lie with your wives on the night of the fast; they are a comfort to you as you are to them. Eat and drink until you can tell a white thread from a black one in the light of the coming dawn. Then resume the fast till nightfall."
Typically when someone hears that I am fasting, the food element is what comes to mind. NO FOOD OR DRINK is allowed. No gum. Nothing by mouth. This is difficult, absolutely. And I'll have more words on this aspect later. Right now, however, I want to look at the other aspects of fasting. During fasting hours the fasting person strives to be as God has intended him to be-kind, patient, fair, loving and compassionate. Oddly enough, this is difficult! For example, to argue with someone or to yell at a driver on the road for cutting you off would be a violation of your fast. Ramadan teaches me to think of the other person. Perhaps that person driving so violently on the road is rushing to see his child being born or perhaps a family member in the hospital. At any rate, it doesn't matter what their reasons are-it has nothing to do with me.
Fasting from our own inner demons (our thoughts) is in many ways more difficult then the superficial fasting of food. When I approach Ramadan with the mindset that I am going to use this time as it was intended-to cleanse myself of myself and to be as close as possible to the beautiful soul that God made me, it opens worlds for me that I could never have imagined. When I approach Ramadan grudgingly and focused on the hunger in my stomach and the dryness of my mouth, it ends up being torcher and pushes me further away from God and leaves me feeling like a failure. So, you can see....Ramadan is more about re-establishing oneself and re-connecting with God and in the end is so much more rewarding then putting a piece of food into my mouth. God feeds my soul.
Here we are again...another year has passed and us Muslims all over the world are embarking on our 1 month quest to get closer to our heart, closer to our souls to find God. It is RAMADAN again!!! We are fasting. Fasting means abstaining from food and drink, foul language, bad thoughts/actions and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset for 30 days. Since last Ramadan I have gotten quite savvy in the wonderful world of technology and so I have decided to blog about my personal experience this Ramadan. My blog will contain both personal thoughts/feelings/experiences as well as Qu'ran quotations and perhaps a bit of Islamic history. Here we go....
(all references to the Qu'ran have been taken from Penguin Classics "The Koran", which is the best English translation of the Qu'ran that I have found.)
Ramadan is mentioned in The Holy Qu'ran like this:
"Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; perchance you will guard yourselves against evil. Fast a certain number of days but if any one among you is ill or on a journey, let him fast a similar number of days later' and for those that cannot endure it there is a penance ordained: the feeding of a poor man. He that does good of his own accord shall be well rewarded; but to fast is better for you, if you but knew it.
In the month of Ramadan the Koran was revealed, a book of guidance for mankind with proofs of guidance distinguishing right from wrong. Therefore whoever of you is present in that month let him fast. But he who is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on.
God desires your well-being, not your discomfort. He desires you to fast the whole month so that you may magnify God and render thanks to Him for giving you His guidance.
It is now lawful for you to lie with your wives on the night of the fast; they are a comfort to you as you are to them. Eat and drink until you can tell a white thread from a black one in the light of the coming dawn. Then resume the fast till nightfall."
Typically when someone hears that I am fasting, the food element is what comes to mind. NO FOOD OR DRINK is allowed. No gum. Nothing by mouth. This is difficult, absolutely. And I'll have more words on this aspect later. Right now, however, I want to look at the other aspects of fasting. During fasting hours the fasting person strives to be as God has intended him to be-kind, patient, fair, loving and compassionate. Oddly enough, this is difficult! For example, to argue with someone or to yell at a driver on the road for cutting you off would be a violation of your fast. Ramadan teaches me to think of the other person. Perhaps that person driving so violently on the road is rushing to see his child being born or perhaps a family member in the hospital. At any rate, it doesn't matter what their reasons are-it has nothing to do with me.
Fasting from our own inner demons (our thoughts) is in many ways more difficult then the superficial fasting of food. When I approach Ramadan with the mindset that I am going to use this time as it was intended-to cleanse myself of myself and to be as close as possible to the beautiful soul that God made me, it opens worlds for me that I could never have imagined. When I approach Ramadan grudgingly and focused on the hunger in my stomach and the dryness of my mouth, it ends up being torcher and pushes me further away from God and leaves me feeling like a failure. So, you can see....Ramadan is more about re-establishing oneself and re-connecting with God and in the end is so much more rewarding then putting a piece of food into my mouth. God feeds my soul.
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