downloading our Ramadan issue in PDF

July 2014 – Issue 02
monthly magazine
RAMADAN
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around the world
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HEALTH
in Ramadan
By Mubarakah Ibrahim
Interview: Founder of
MUSLIM SHOW
Ramadan Recipes
by Fauzia’s
Kitchen Fun
Contents
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1
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Muslim Ink
Ramadan
EDITOR
Faraz Omar
I
T’s amazing how many emotions the mere mention of this
month evokes. It brings with it a unique sense of happiness,
togetherness, nostalgia, tranquility and unity with the
Ummah.
It brings a renewed spirit of struggle against the flesh and the
nafs, against the pleasures of unchecked consumption and
mindless gratification.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Rahla Khan
CONTACT US
E: editors@muslimink.com
F: fb.com/MuslimInkMag
T: @MuslimInkMag
W: www.muslimink.com
Most of all, it brings an opportunity to reload our spiritual
batteries, refresh our intentions and re-evaluate ourselves on
the scale of ihsan, a time when we reset our internal GPS from
pleasing people to pleasing our Creator.
It is a valuable time of the year for all Muslims, more so for us
at Muslim Ink, as a fledgling magazine flexing its wings before
taking to the skies, In sha Allah.
It is a time for us to take stock after our first issue and chart our
future course, to internalize the valuable feedback, reactions
and suggestions we received from readers and contributors.
The enthusiasm of our readers across the globe was heartening
and immensely motivational – may Allah reward everyone for
their interest and encouragement and enable us to live up to
the trust that has been placed in us.
We bring you this special Ramadan issue brimming with
inspiring reminders and articles, news from across the Muslim
Ummah, Ramadan recipes and fitness tips, introducing new
columnists and a new children’s section. May Allah accept our
efforts for His Sake alone and continue to guide us at every
step to use this platform with wisdom and sincerity to bring
benefit.
May Allah accept all our duas and acts of worship in this
blessed month and grant us all a life-changing Ramadan,
whose benefits we continue to reap for the rest of our lives.
DISCLAIMER
Information published by us on the
magazine is supplied by Muslim
Ink and, where indicated, by third
parties. We take care to ensure
that information published is
accurate, but we cannot guarantee
its accuracy. We may also report
news or publish articles that we do
not necessarily support, agree with
or author purely for information
and related purposes. We are
also prone to error and welcome
constructive criticism to help us
become better. Readers are advised
to take appropriate steps to verify
information before acting upon it.
Ameen!
Contents
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> CONTENTS
06
49
78
RAMADAN AROUND THE WORLD
RAMADAN RECIPES by Fauzia M. Afif
HUG THAT CHANGED MEDICINE
Contents
81
52
56
INTERVIEW WITH THE FOUNDER OF
THE MUSLIM SHOW
3 THINGS TO STAY HEALTHY THIS
RAMADAN by Mubarakah Ibrahim
RAMADAN IN HISTORY by Abdul Hakim
Quick
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3
04
SEASON OF CHANGE by Zainab Chinoy
06
RAMADAN AROUND THE WORLD
32
MUSLIM UMMAH: Our news from around
the world
33
IRISH PAPER FULL OF PRAISE FOR
MUSLIMS’ REACTION
34
RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE
EMBRACE ISLAM IN DUBAI
34
OMAN EXHIBITS MESSAGE OF ISLAM
IN JAPAN
37
RAMADAN ON @TWITTER
38
BOSTON SUBWAY ADS EXPOSE
ISRAEL’S CRIMES
39
ROHINGYA MUSLIM REFUGEES
ABUSED, EXPLOITED
40
BATTLE OF CHALDIRAN PART 2:
COMING TO A COUNTRY NEAR YOU?
42
NO MUSLIM COUNTRY IN TOP 10
HALAL MEAT EXPORTERS
44
DA’WAH AT WORLD CUP
45
GAZA 4.0 STARTUP WEEKEND FOR
ENTREPRENEURS
47
IN SYRIA, MANNEQUIN PARTS BECOME
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS
49
RAMADAN RECIPES BY FAUZIA’S
KITCHEN FUN
54
5 THINGS MUSLIM WOMEN SHOULD
NEVER DO IN RAMADAN
59
WHY WE FAST?
61
PREGNANCY, NURSING AND
RAMADAN
63
REMEMBERING DEATH AND RAMADAN
65
HUNTING FOR THE RAMADAN SPIRIT
69
PICMIC SPOT – PHOTO COMICS
71
RAMADAN FATAWA
74
HOW DID THE PROPHET r & SAHABAH
CELEBRATE EID?
77
THE AMAZING CREATION
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Season of Change
When winds become soft and gentle, when sunshine changes from heat to warmth… when
rain is more cooling than ever before… when clouds move calmly dressed in peaceful
white… when the rustling of trees is like a familiar chanting… when whispers of
prayer fill the earth, when mountains stand motionless echoing Divine praise…
when a lull of serenity lingers in the air and Mercy embraces the earth, the
Awaited Beloved graces us: Ramadan—the season of change.
~ Zaynab Chinoy
To disrupt this beauty would be ever
unwise,
With our human faults, sins and lies
How perfect if we were to harmonize,
With the rest of nature when Ramadan
arrives!
It trades perfumes of forgiveness if you
repent from vice
If you can
sacrifice your sleep,
To stand through this one
night and weep
Allah promises to forgive all your sins
If you beg for forgiveness and surrender
to Him.
Full of forgiveness, mercy and wealth,
And sweetness of faith for restrained eyes.
Blessings, happiness and health,
A breath better than the smell of musk,
Ramadan changes, Ramadan revives
For fasting sincerely from dawn to dusk
Our rushing yet meaningless lives.
It gifts robes of respect for honesty,
Ramadan closes the gates of Hell
And jewels of Jannah for a little in charity.
For constant glorification of Allah,
A face that shines brighter than the stars!
It reveals the treasures of Paradise
To those who pray in its blessed nights.
Its most special gift is the Night of Power
With immense reward in its every hour.
Contents
And shows us the Paradise where we
could dwell,
But this Beloved is soon going away,
With the end of a mere 30 days…
To come back after almost a
year,
When maybe neither I…
nor you are here.
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RAMADAN
around the world
Contents
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Museum of Islamic Art set against a beautiful skyline in Doha, Qatar.
QATAR
ITH the advent of
Ramadan in Qatar,
the working hours
are reduced, which makes
the streets, shopping malls,
markets and entertainment
centers quite crowded.
Qatari women purchase and
store special spices for this
month, prepare milk and rice,
and produce clarified butter
from the milk of cows and
sheep, which they distribute
to their friends, family and
neighbors.
W
Qatar lodges millions of
residents from various
Arab and Muslim countries,
who try to replicate the
distinctive customs and
traditions of their homelands
in the month of Ramadan.
Qatari citizens, on the
Contents
Cannons being fired to indicate iftar time.
other hand, revive their age-old
traditions and customs.
Another distinguishing feature of
Ramadan in Qatar is the sound
of cannons being fired to indicate
the time for breaking the fast.
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However, the profession of AlMusahhir (the man who used to
wake up people to eat Suhoor
before daybreak) has completely
vanished.
Masjids usually witness an
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overwhelmingly large number
of worshippers and religious
discourses are held either before
the time of breaking the fast or
after Taraweeh prayer.
Traditional Qatari food
Qatari citizens prepare for
Ramadan by buying various
traditional food and drinks such
as Al-Harees, which consists
of mashed wheat mixed with
meat, clarified butter and ground
cinnamon.
Other essential items on the menu
in Ramadan are Ath-Thareed,
which consists of tiny pieces of
bread with gravy poured over it
and Al-Machboos, which is a spicy
meat and rice dish.
Al-Muhallabiyyah, which consists
of rice and milk topped with
saffron and cardamom; AlMadhroobah and Al-Luqaymaat
(sweet dumplings), which is similar
to Luqmat Al-Qadi (featured in
Contents
Machboos
Thareed
Kuwait page); and Al-’Awwamah
are other popular sweets.
Immediately after the Taraweeh
prayer, the men meet together
for the midnight meal called AlGhibqah and the women also
meet after Taraweeh for leisurely
soirees lasting a few hours. During
Al-Ghibqah, special dishes are
served like Al-Mehammar, which is
a dish of fried fish and rice cooked
with sugar, in addition to AlHareesah and Al-Madhroobah.
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Charity in Ramadan
In Qatar, about 250,000 needy
people gather around what Arabs
call “the tables of Ar-Rahmaan”,
which the wealthy prepare for
the poor throughout the country.
Besides, when the time of Iftar
approaches, a variety of snacks
are distributed among the fasting
people on the road who are unable
to reach their homes in time to
break their fast.
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Sultan Mosque in Singapore
SINGAPORE
VERY year during the
month of Ramadan, the
Geylang Serai (Malay
Village, a replica of traditional
Malay houses of olden times)
comes alive with street bazaars
after Taraaweeh prayers. Most
of the Muslims live or gather
here so it is always filled with
large crowds. The street bazaars
and night market are called
‘pasar malam’ and are filled with
people selling festive items. You
can buy new carpets, clothes,
bags, nasheed CDs and general
household items.
E
A wide variety of food is also
sold at the bazaar. This includes
kueh -mueh (Malay cakes and
pastries), otah-otah (grilled fish
paste in banana leaves), cakes,
buns, breads, curry, noodles and
delicious curry puff pastries.
During the night, the whole
place is lit up with glittering
lights and decorations, giving
Contents
the area its much-cherished
ethnic flavor.
Geylang Serai or Jalan Sultan to
bring home to eat to break their
fast or at Sohoor (pre-dawn)
The Jalan Sultan area of the city time. Both Muslims and nonis another hub of activity during Muslims enjoy these seasonal
Ramadan. The oldest Mosque in street feasts.
the city, Sultan Mosque, which
is a national monument, is
One dish which is only served
situated here. The whole area is during Ramadan is a rice
decorated with bright lights and porridge which is cooked in
a wide variety of food is sold.
every Mosque to give out to the
Muslims after Asr’ (afternoon)
Most Muslims buy food in
prayers.
Kueh-mueh
Otah-otah
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Stockholm Mosque
SWEDEN
S
WEDEN is just one
of the Scandinavian
countries where Islam is thriving
and spreading at a fast pace.
Although Islam is new there in
comparison to countries like
France, where the Muslim Arabs
emigrated a century ago, it has
become the second largest
religion after Christianity.
Swedish laws grant Muslims
complete freedom of religion
to perform their religious
obligations.
The routine of Muslims does
not change considerably in the
month of Ramadan, due to
the small number of Muslims
there. There is a great deal
of debate over the sighting
of the new moon and the
beginning of fasting, in view
of the differences among the
Islamic blocs over the method
of verifying the sighting of the
crescent, and the differences
Contents
in the countries they follow in
determining the beginning of
the lunar months, and the time
of abstention (from food and
drink) and breaking the fast. Just
before the month of Ramadan,
Islamic associations distribute
handouts featuring the times of
abstention (from food and drink)
and breaking the fast, and give
information about opening the
mosques for people to perform
the Taraweeh Prayer in places
where a number of Muslims
gather such as the Central
Mosque of Stockholm.
Arab, Persian and Turkish
restaurants and stores sell
a variety of traditional foods
and sweets that are popular in
Ramadan.
Fittja Grand Mosque in Stockholm, Sweden
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The Mother Mosque of America, built in 1934, is the longest standing mosque in North America
USA
N America as well as
other non-Muslim
countries, the mosque
performs a different function
than it does in Muslim countries.
It is more than a place for prayer
and the Friday sermon; the
Islamic center is the hub of the
entire Muslim community. It is
a meeting point for friends and
the center of the excitement
during Ramadan. Thus, many
break their fast in the mosque
rather than at home.
I
The Muslims of America are a
cultural melting pot, in which one
community might contain people
from every continent. This
creates a truly multicultural, truly
Islamic feeling, not to mention
making a truly international
Iftar. Meals usually consist of
everything from cuisine of the
Indian subcontinent to American
casseroles; form Far-East Asian
cuisine to Arabic food.
The last few years have been
tense years for Muslims living
in America trying to clarify what
Islam teaches and defining
their place in a foreign land.
Ramadan is a time for reaching
out to non-Muslims in an act
of Da’wah (calling to Islam),
perhaps inviting non-Muslims
to join in their Iftar or contacting
the media for positive coverage
on the month.
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Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque of Mostar
THE BALKANS
ASJIDS in the
Balkans witness
great crowds in
the days of Ramadan as
Muslims visit them from
everywhere whether they
are used to praying or
usually abandon prayers.
Yards and playgrounds, like
the commercial hub in the
middle of Sarajevo, witness
a great number of people
praying.
M
Masajid in Bosnia witness an
unparalleled attendance of youths
and adolescents, with young
people occupying the first rows
when performing the five prayers
In Mostar, Muslims pray
in thirty-seven different
places. The Mufti of Mostar
leads the worshippers in
prayer in the cultural center
of the University of Mostar.
In Zvornik, the Mufti of the
Eastern province of Bosnia
leads people in prayer in the
largest Masjid in the region.
Contents
and Taraweeh. Many people
have Iftar at the masjids before
performing the Maghrib prayer.
Afterwards, they go to their
homes or collective Iftar centers.
Men have a chat at the main mosque in old Sarajevo
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A family breaks the fast in the courtyard of Badshahi mosque in Lahore
PAKISTAN
T
HE excitement starts
when people first catch
sight of the Ramadan moon.
There is a hustle and bustle in
the streets deep into the night
as people start preparing for the
month of fasting by stocking
up on essentials. The men head
to the mosques for Taraweeh
prayers, while the women start
preparing the Suhoor (predawn) meal.
fried orange spirals soaked in
sugar syrup) in milk are also a
favorite. Whatever the choice of
breakfast, it is always followed
by tea.
Normal working hours change
in Pakistan so that people go to
work earlier than normal in order
to return in time for Iftar. School
children love Ramadan because
classes finish early.
Food shops and restaurants
generally open during Suhoor
time then close for the day, only
re-opening around at sunset.
Preparations for the evening’s
Iftar meal begin as early as
mid-day. Every home is sure to
have pakoras (fried vegetable
To wake everyone up for Suhoor
a man tours the neighborhood
before dawn, banging on an
empty tin. The noise is loud
enough to rouse people. The tin
he uses is a cheap replacement
for the more traditional drum.
Most Pakistanis prefer
something substantial for
breakfast, such as paratha
(buttery flaky flat bread)
eaten with a curried dish of
their choice. Jalebis (crisp
Contents
A food stall in Karachi
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fritters) to open the fast, in fact
Iftar would be incomplete without
them! People also enjoy fruit chaat
(spiced fruit salad) dhai bhaley
(spicy dumplings in yoghurt), and
samosas are very popular with
everyone.
Restaurants also have special
menus for Sohoor and Iftar, so
many people go out to eat during
Ramadan. After the Iftar meal the
men go to pray Taraweeh prayers
at the Mosques, while women
might gather in a local house to
pray together. Everyone returns
home to finish the day with tea.
A man sells the traditional Pakistani food “Phayonian”.
DITIB Central Mosque in Cologne, Germany
GERMANY
HE Muslim community
in Germany, estimated
at 4 million, celebrates
the month of Ramadan like the
majority of the Islamic world.
In most German cities, there
are no apparent signs of the
advent of Ramadan. Often,
work conditions do not allow
T
Contents
people to eat the Iftar meal in
congregation during the month
of Ramadan, which makes
the days in Ramadan similar
to other ordinary days in this
aspect.
It is difficult to determine
the first day of fasting in the
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absence of a unified decisionmaking process and most
Muslims prepare for Ramadan
based on their cultural
differences and purchase the
necessary materials and foods
to prepare the traditional
homemade dishes, and decorate
houses.
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Larabanga Mosque, one of the oldest in Ghana
GHANA
HE days of Ramadan
begin early in the
morning. Around 4.00
am drummers walk round
the village from house to
house playing their drums and
singing to wake everyone up.
Then people begin preparing
the Sohoor (pre-dawn) meal
- everyone’s favorite is soup
with “tuo zafi”, a soft meal
made from maize flour. The fast
begins from dawn till sunset.
T
like this until thirty days have
passed.
Eid drums
At the end of Ramadan they
celebrate Eid. The Eid prayer
is held in an open field where
Muslims from the nearby
villages and towns gather. After
the prayers, the chiefs ride
majestically on horseback while
the people follow them playing
drums and singing Muslim songs
through the streets until they
reach the chief Imaam’s house.
Everyone gathers at the Imaam’s
house to make supplication
and share some food and drink
together.
Before leaving for home, people
Fruit for the fasting
Just before sunset people
gather in Mosques and read the
Qur’an as they wait for the the
Athaan (call to prayer) to mark
the end of the fast. People bring
fruit and water to the Mosque
to share with each other. In
Ramadan they like to invite
friends and relatives to their
houses where they share a meal
after sunset. The days continue
Contents
Tuo Zafi
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visit the poor and sick and give
them food and money so that
everyone can enjoy the day of Eid
- rich and poor.
Children in a mosque
of the elders gather the children
together in the middle of the
village to tell stories. Sometimes
they recount religious stories
about the Prophet r, his
Story time
companions y and famous
scholars
and
other
times
they
Later on in the day children put
tell traditional stories about
on their best clothes and visit
their tribes and where they
people in the village. Everyone
came from, their history and the
likes to give them food, money
and sweets. After nightfall, a few battles they fought in the past.
World Islamic Mission Mosque in Oslo, Norway
NORWAY
M
to twenty hours, due to the
geographic location of Norway.
and attend discourses and
lectures during Ramadan.
Another problem the Muslims
face during the summer days
is the length of the day in the
country. The day is so long
that fasting there may extend
The Muslims celebrate the
month of Ramadan by engaging
in acts of worship; participating
in social functions and preparing
traditional meals. Muslims
invite Imaams (religious leaders)
and Shaykhs (scholars) from
Islamic countries and prepare
the mosques to receive a great
number of Muslims, who come
to perform the Taraweeh Prayer
The month of Ramadan also
witnesses charitable services,
where the mosques organize
charity dinners in order to
develop greater religious fervor
in Muslims, especially in the
younger generation. Stores
owned by Muslims provide
traditional food for fasting
people throughout the holy
month.
USLIMS in Norway have a
difficult time determining
the beginning of the holy
month, due to the widespread
fog and snowfall. Thus, they
follow other countries and most
fast together, unlike in other
Western countries.
Contents
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Tunisians pray in the Great Mosque of Kairouan, established by Uqba ibn Nafi in 50 AH (670 CE)
TUNISIA
T
HE glorious month of
Ramadan is special
in Tunisia, where life takes a
different course, marked with
special customs and traditions.
The families decorate the front
of their houses and those caring
for Mosques give them an extra
coat of paint and light up the
minarets with lamps.
The Tunisian family is reunited
and strengthens its bonds
during this month, which the
Tunisians call the “Month of
Meeting”, because members
of each family find themselves
around the same table every
day at Iftar (end of the fast).
The bonds of solidarity and
fraternity consolidate and
people visit family and friends
frequently.
Many families residing close
to a Mosque offer worshippers
milk and dates before prayer
Contents
and the Iftar meal after. In the
cities, caravans of solidarity are
organized to provide Iftar for the
poor and needy.
the ‘Asr (afternoon) prayer, but
also to take part in the circles
of “Thikr” (Remembering and
supplicating Allah) and religious
seminars organized daily in
the Mosques after the ‘Asr and
Maghreb (sunset) prayers.
During the month of Ramadan,
thereis a large increase in
the number of worshippers
in Mosques throughout the
The Mosques are frequently
country. Thousands of citizens
overflowing, they are so full that
hasten each day not only to pray men, women and young people
Overflowing on streets for Friday prayers
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have to pray in the streets and
neighboring public spaces.
One particularly noticeable
phenomenon in the last few years
has been the large surge in the
number of young people, boys
and girls, who go to the Mosques.
Observers refer to this as “rebirth
of the faith”, which impregnates
Tunisian society during this
glorious month. Tunisian families
begin their preparations for
Ramadan, on the moral and
material levels, especially the
women who are to prepare meals
for Iftar.
They prepare “hlalem”, a kind of
traditional paste used for the daily
soup, “bssissa” a very nutritious
mixture containing corn, coriander,
chick-peas, sugar, olive oil and salt
and the “brik, a triangular wafer
stuffed with eggs, meat or fish and
fried in oil.
The majority of cities organize
various cultural and artistic
activities during the long
evenings, where a convivial family
atmosphere prevails.
Iftar at Prophet’s Mosque
MADINAH, SAUDI ARABIA
Al-Madinah AlMunawwarah (the
Lighted City) becomes
livelier during the month of
Ramadan. During this blessed
month, all the markets and
shopping centers around the
Prophet’s Mosque are crowded
with visitors and are opened till
late at night.
R
Ramadan in Madinah, the
blessed city of the Prophet r
is truly amazing. Imagine this,
everyone around you tries his
Contents
utmost to be as nice as possible, all day long. All this signals the
as generous as possible.
arrival of the blessed month of
Ramadan. Then, in the evenings,
Muslims standing at the gates
the most beautiful recitations
of the Prophet’s Mosque inviting emanate from the sacred
strangers to break the fast with mosque for Taraweeh prayers.
them, others handing out water
and dates to those leaving the
Finally, every night, in the
Mosque, people telling each
other that they love them for the last ten nights of Ramadan,
everyone joins the night prayer
Sake of Allah.
at the sacred mosque striving
to have their sins forgiven, and
Quran is heard from all corners
hoping to catch the Night of
of the city: from offices, from
stores, from homes, from cars,
Decree (Laylatul-Qadr).
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The historic Charminar is seen as Muslims pray outside Makkah masjid.
HYDERABAD, INDIA
AMADAN in Hyderabad,
India, ranks among the
most festive times of
the year. The homes and the
streets are filled with a hustle
and bustle that is different
from the usual grind of daily
life. Ramadan there has a flair
that is lively in the evenings and
quiet and almost lulled during
the day. In fact, most shops and
restaurants close during the
day, only to open a few hours
before the Iftar (fast-breaking)
time.
R
In Hyderabad, men and women
have distinct roles. While men
spend their days visiting the
Masjid for each of the five
prayers, the Taraweeh prayer
and even spending a few nights
in I’tikaaf (to seclude oneself
in the Mosque with the pure
intention of worship), women
spend their time in worship
within the confines of their
Contents
homes; they are busy cooking
the special Iftar, Suhoor (predawn meal), and dinner meals, in
addition to extra care they spend
preparing for the upcoming Eid
festivities. Ironically, though
Ramadan is about abstaining
from food and drink during
the day, much of the day could
be spent preparing meals and
making accommodations for the
Eid celebration, which includes
grand feasts of elaborate dishes
and sweets. Actually, in some
households, preparations for
the Eid festivities begin with the
start of the month.
Women begin preparing the
meals and the clothing for Eid
even as Ramadan has just
begun. Part of this is because of
Preparing for Iftar
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an old tradition, when resources
were scarce and needed to be
stockpiled, and part of it is just
sheer excitement of an upcoming
blessed holiday.
Women and girls may spend a
great deal of time deciding what
they will wear for Eid, gathering
cloth, jewelry, etc., in anticipation
of the big day. Also, the threeday Eid festivities require a great
deal of food, especially when
one intends to feed extended
family and friends, and send
food and sweets to neighbors
(as is the custom in Hyderabad)
.Therefore, many households in
Hyderabad bustle with cooking
and cleaning processes all month
long, not just from the day-today meal preparations, but from
the upcoming Eid celebration that
could be nearly weeks away.
the month traveling from one
local Masjid to another, ensuring
that they witness and participate
in as many Taraweeh prayers as
possible. So, as each Masjid is
ending its Quran recitation and
Taraweeh, a man will attend that
Masjid and over the course of a
week, he will have participated in
multiple Khatem-e-Qurans (end
of the Quran recitations). This is
significant and very meaningful
for Hyderabadis (and a tradition
that continues for many even in
America).
As far as the younger generation
of Hyderabadis goes, the gender
gap remains. Mostly young men
attend Masjid and young women
stay at home. However, during the
Eid prayer, the youngest girls are
permitted to go to the prayer, as
well. During the festivities after the
prayer, though, the entire family
But let not the Hyderabadi’s
participates and the three days
appreciation for good food and
of Eid are spent feasting on foods
dress fool you; their worship and
like biryani and sheerkorma (sweet
dedication are just as energetic and milk with vermicelli).
vibrant as their biryani (a rice pilaf).
In Hyderabad, culture plays a large As it should be, the primary
role in how Ramadan is spent.
focus for all Muslims in Ramadan
Many men will spend the end of
is worship, including prayer
and fasting. Interestingly, one
Hyderabadi now living in America
remarked that a true Hyderabadi,
be he “good or bad, rich or poor,
will always fast and will always go
to Friday prayer. That is something
Buying bangles
Contents
Dua before Iftar
that we are taught to do and that
is something that everyone will do,
no matter what else they do that is
wrong or bad.”
Charity is also something that
Hyderabadis seem to honor and
uphold. Apparently, according
to some accounts, shopkeepers
actually make and keep clothing
and other articles specifically
intended as charity for the needy.
During the last days of Ramadan,
the shopkeepers distribute the
clothing in front of their shops for
free to the needy as Eid gifts (as
a form of charity). These acts of
worship (charity, prayer, fasting)
during Ramadan are what keep
the blessings of this holy month
flowing. Let us all remember to
share the joys of Ramadan with
our own neighbors and friends.
Night before Eid
PAGE
19
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Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Aqsa, Occupied Jerusalem
PALESTINE
R
AMADAN in Palestine
looks to be bleak for a
population under the miserable
conditions they are undergoing.
At the beginning of Ramadan,
purchases are restricted to
mostly basic needs such
as vegetables and meat –
traditional Ramadan sweets
like dates and pastries are to be
carefully rationed to be able to
last through the month.
Ramadan in Palestine, as in
other countries, is a time of
fasting from dawn to dusk
and piety. It’s also a festive
month, with family meals after
sundown, social get-togethers
and new clothes for everyone.
We ask Allah that Ramadan in
Palestine this year will be free
from incursions and sieges, and
all Palestinians will have the
opportunity to perform prayers
at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
For most of the people,
shopping has become akin
to begging due to the level of
debt that they have already
accumulated.
Gaza’s children used to light
colorful lanterns to celebrate
Ramadan. But this year, many
parents can’t afford even the
small toys, as Gaza sinks deeper
into poverty and readies for the
bleakest Ramadan yet.
Contents
A Palestinian girl holds a traditional Ramadan lantern in Jerusalem’s old city.
PAGE
20
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Taraweeh prayers in Marrakech
MOROCCO
HE majority of
Moroccans like Ramadan
because of its sacred
nature and the congenial
atmosphere it engenders.
The people spend their days
and part of their nights during
this month of prayer in the
Mosques.
T
The evening after Maghreb
prayers, families and friends
break their fast in a cheerful and
relaxed atmosphere. Ramadan
is the only month when the
members of the family meet,
every evening, around a table of
delicacies.
The housewives prepare
special dishes such as harira,
the national soup. Typically
Moroccan, this soup is very rich
in calories and spices, and is
generally used to break the fast.
It is usually followed by dates or
honeycombs chebbakia (wafers
Contents
coated in honey) or briouates
(layers of pastry stuffed with
fresh cheese and soaked in
honey. Other delicacies include
baghrir (Moroccan pancakes)
m’semmen (wafers) coated
with honey and butter, harcha
(containing semolina), sellou (an
almond mixture ground with
flour and other ingredients),
caab ghzale (horn of gazelle
Harira
cake in stuffed layers of ground
almonds) briouate stuffed
with shrimps or meat and the
national drink:typically Moroccan
mint tea.
For the Moroccans, Ramadan
is a month of piety, meditation
and spirituality and also a festive
period, especially after Iftar.
Chebbakia
PAGE
21
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Moroccans as the rest of Muslims regard the last 10
days of Ramadan as highly blessed – especially the
27th night, the Night of the Decree, Laylat Al-Qadr,
the night when the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet
Mohammed . This is the night on which children
are initiated into fasting. And after the breaking of
the fast, the boys and young girls dress in beautiful
traditional clothes.
bouzekri and feqqass) with tea and dine on the
national dish. For many pious Moroccans, this period
is marked by a particular spiritual intensity: they spend
their nights reading the Qur’an.
Finally on the last day of Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr(the
festival at the end of the fast) the joy goes hand in
hand with the joy of Muslims throughout the world of
distributing Zakaah to the needy so they can celebrate
the festive season as well.
In the evening after breakfast most people eat
dry fruits (fakiya: dry almonds, nuts, grapes, dates
Muslims pray in Rome’s Piazza Venezia Square
ITALY
RADITIONAL meals are
prepared in the month
of fasting, for which
the Muslim-run restaurants –
especially the Arab ones – are
especially famous. Muslims
attend religious discourses
organized by the Islamic
centers in different mosques,
and receive scholars, who make
special visits to non-Muslim
countries in the month of
Ramadan.
T
Community Iftar meals allow
people to invite family and
friends and are widespread in
Italian society, which is wellknown for strong family ties.
in the main mosque of Rome,
which is also frequented by
women who come with their
Ramadan dishes and sweets.
This shows the simplicity and
community spirit when having
Iftar. The vendors of traditional
food and drink, also enjoyed by
the Italians, spread their wares
in the courtyard of the mosque.
The stores surrounding the
mosque sell different kinds
of dates and sweets, incense,
traditional food and Arabic
bread.
This atmosphere strengthens
the feeling of intimacy among
the Muslims regardless of their
The Muslim community gathers nationality. Many Muslims are
Contents
PAGE
22
eager to perform the Taraweeh
Prayer, recite the Quran and
attend the religious lectures
and sermons delivered before
the Maghrib and after the
‘Ishaa’ prayers.
However, in recent times,
Muslims have come to face
difficulties in Italy in Ramadan,
due to restrictions religious
assemblies and the long
distances between the mosque
and residential areas. Italy has
not yet recognized Islam as
a religion like other religions,
although it is the second
most practiced religion after
Catholicism there.
www.muslimink.com
In Khartoum
SUDAN
EING the largest country
in Africa with a rich
culture reflecting a
loose association of hundreds
of tribes, Sudan is a continent
in microcosm. Customs and
traditions are as diverse and
extreme as the country’s
climate which ranges from
barren deserts in the north to
lush rain forests in the south.
The people are united in using
Arabic as a common language
but their cuisine is a blend of the
many backgrounds and ethnic
groups as well as the foreigners
who influenced the country’s
history.
B
Ramadan is eagerly awaited in
Sudan and preparations begin
weeks in advance and rise to a
fever pitch in the last few days
before the month begins. Apart
from prayers, religious classes
and open-air Iftar parties,
works of charity, alms and other
Contents
voluntary fund-raisings are
common during the month. Life
is completely transformed in the
country over 30 million where
Muslims are the overwhelming
majority.
The tradition of hospitality is
as important in Sudan as it is
in other Arab countries but it
is especially prominent during
Ramadan. The concern and
respect shown to a guest is no
greater anywhere and communal
Iftar is still widely observed
throughout the country.
People prefer to take their
sunset meals outside in open
grounds. The male population
of a neighborhood or village
assembles in a designated
location — usually outside the
home of the eldest person or
the tribal chief — for Iftar and to
Preparing for Iftar
PAGE
23
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spices added. Salt, pepper and
lemon are the main seasonings.
The meal is considered incomplete
without shatta — a hot spicy
condiment made of crushed red
pepper with lemon juice and garlic;
it is served with every meal.
Aseeda & Mulah – traditional Sudanese food
perform congregational Maghreb
prayers.
If someone in the neighborhood
dies, the neighbors, relatives and
friends of the bereaved family
bring food and take their Iftar
meals where people gather to
offer condolences. Condolences
are usually offered for three days.
This tradition of open-air Iftar
is deeply rooted in the society
and according to some elders, it
was originally intended to attract
travelers and other guests who
happened to be passing at sunset.
“In the past people traveled by
camel and donkey; some were
small traders carrying their goods
from one place to another, others
were travelers going to visit
families and relatives. It helped
bring village people together,” said
73-year-old Khalifa Al-Faki.
of meat with the country being
very rich in animal wealth and
a major livestock exporter. The
favorite meats remain lamb and
chicken with fish (Nile perch) very
common among city dwellers.
The most common dishes are
mulah waika (cooked dry okra)
and mulah rob (curdled milk) taken
with kisra (omelet-like pancake
made of millet or sorghum). The
way kisra is prepared differs from
one place to another with people
in the western part of the country
preferring porridge over the thin
layers of kisra common in the
north. There is also salatet zabadi
(cucumber/yogurt salad), shorbet
adas (lentil soup) and kofta (ground
meatballs).
Unlike Asian cuisine, Sudanese
cooking is usually simple with few
Unfortunately, the tradition is
slowly dying out in big cities.
“People have become more and
more self-centered. Nowadays,
everyone is living in a villa or flat
and are confined to their homes.
Even the type of food people eat
during Ramadan is no longer the
same; traditional dishes are giving
way to foreign food,” lamented AlFaki.
Ramadan has its own special
dishes and some of these are
found in virtually every household.
A Sudanese meal is seldom free
Contents
Dates at Ramadan market
PAGE
24
Some families serve mahshi
(stuffed tomato/cucumber with
chopped meat) during Ramadan
but this is not common. In the
northern provinces, people prefer
gurrasa (thick pancake of wheat
flour) taken with mulah bamya
made of okra lamb stew.
There may be several dishes at
the meal but usually no forks and
knives are used although spoons
are provided. Meals are usually
eaten from a common bowl,
especially in the case of kisra,
porridge and gurrasa.
A very common Ramadan soft
drink is abreh which may be either
red or white. This is a slightly
sweetened, refreshing drink made
of thin flakes of sorghum flour.
Other drinks include lemonade and
fruit juice with guava, grapefruit,
orange and mango available in
abundance throughout the country.
Because of the hot weather, abreh
is served throughout the year.
The Iftar meal would not be
complete without tea and coffee.
Usually loose tea is used and
is infused until it is a deep red.
Cinnamon is then added. The
Sudanese have their very distinct
way of preparing coffee — and
this gave the country some of its
fame. Known locally as jabana,
coffee is prepared by first frying
the beans in a special pot over
charcoal and then grinding them
with cloves and certain spices. The
coffee is boiled in hot water and
served in tiny cups from a small
clay kettle known as aljabana. It is
from this word that the process of
drinking coffee took its name.
www.muslimink.com
Blue Mosque during Ramadan in Istanbul
TURKEY
I
N Turkey, a typical
day during Ramadan
starts with Ramadan
drummers walking around the
neighborhoods with big doubleheaded drums to wake up
people for Suhoor (pre-dawn
meal). They beat out a variety
of rhythms and sing some
Ramadan rhymes. Here is a
common Ramadan rhyme they
sing:
Uyansana, uyansana
Ne bulursun bu uykuda
Al abdesti, kil namazi
Cennet mekan olsun sana
Which translates to:
Come on wake up
What do you find in this sleep?
Contents
Make Wudhoo’, perform you
prayers
May there be a place in Paradise
for you
Usually, the lady of the house
wakes up first and prepares
a light pre-dawn meal and
wakes others up. Suhoor meal
is usually an early breakfast
with typical breakfast food,
good bread and Turkish tea.
Most TV channels and radios
have special Suhoor programs
at this hour and it is not
surprising to be able to watch
“The Message”- an Islamic
film- right before Fajr (dawn).
During the day, people go back
to their daily routines and there
is no special scheduling at the
work place during Ramadan.
However, the rush hour usually
starts earlier during Ramadan
because everybody tries to
go back home early for Iftar
PAGE
25
(breaking fast).
When it is the exact time for
breaking fast, cannons are fired,
and the Athaan (call for prayer
( starts simultaneously from
thousands of minarets, most
strikingly in the big cities like
Istanbul, as if a giant switch
had been turned on, and the
whole city is galvanized. The
big mosques with more than
one minaret are illuminated at
night and sayings are written
on the ropes stretched between
the minarets of mosques. It is
a Ramadan art in Turkey called
“Mahya”. Some examples of
these sayings are: “The Sultan
of 11 months arrived”“Welcome
Ramadan”“Islam is good
manners”.
Restaurants that have been
sleepy all day come to life.
Some 5 star hotels, renowned
restaurants, and even fast
www.muslimink.com
food restaurants offer special
Ramadan menus. Around the big
mosques, hundreds of vendors
start serving cotton candies,
sweet corn, roasted chestnuts,
pastries, and herbal teas to fasting
people. At the courtyards of big
mosques like Sultan Ahmed, you
can find enormous book fairs
where Turkey’s leading religious
publishers present their newest
books.
In the time of the Ottoman Empire,
Pashas, government ministers,
and rich people held Ramadan
Iftar in their homes throughout the
month, and these were opened to
the public to enable the poor to
be fed. Today, however, Ramadan
tents are set-up in the big squares
of the cities and long lines appear
in front of these tents near Iftar
time. Philanthropic and charity
foundations also set up their
own Iftar tents and host fasting
Muslims.
During Ramadan, there is often
more frequent food shopping than
usual. Even though there is no set
menu for Ramadan, there are still
a few special items associated
with it. Dates, for example, which
Turkish people are oblivious to
most of the year, start to be
displayed everywhere in great
piles. Another Ramadan special is
the “Ramadan Pide Bread” in the
bakeries. This is special flat bread,
sprinkled with black seeds. It is
very soft and rich bread. People
wait a long time in lines in front
of bakeries to get this bread right
before the Iftar.
A typical Iftar menu of an ordinary
Turkish home starts with olives or
dates to break the fast. There is
always a small breakfast plate to
start with. Warm Ramadan bread
accompanies the soup. Then come
rice, meat and vegetables. Iftar
ends with dessert, mostly Gullac
and Turkish tea.
Contents
Gullac
Pide Bread
Ramadan is a time that people
try to read Quran more than
usual. Housewives especially get
together everyday for small study
circles and read at least one part
of the Quran everyday. They also
perform more voluntary prayers.
Even people who don’t perform
prayer five times a day start doing
that during Ramadan.
Even people who don’t fast during
Ramadan observe this celebration
and attend the Eid service. It is
always a good idea to stay in
the mosque from Fajr to the Eid
prayer because there is usually not
enough space there for everybody,
especially in big cities. There are
always some who have to perform
prayer outside the mosque.
After the Eid prayer and sermon,
There are also more religious
everybody meets in the courtyard
programs on TVs and radios.
of the mosque and embraces each
Some TV channels have daily
other. During the Eid days, the
Quran teaching hours. On the
shops are closed but the buses are
evening news, TV channels give
free for three days as everybody
the exact times of Iftar for all the
begins the round of visits to family
major cities. People think about
and friends—a tradition which
the needy more in Ramadan and
lies at the heart of the Turkish way
most people give their Zakaah
of Eid celebration. Even people
(obligatory charity) during
who were not on talking terms
Ramadan. Children are encouraged are brought together during the
to fast as much as they can and
Eid. Children kiss the hands of the
they go to the Taraweeh prayer
adults as an act of respect and get
with their parents. Mosques are
money from them to get Eid gifts
full for Taraweeh every evening
for themselves. The elderly give
and beautiful sermons are given
handkerchiefs and Turkish delights
in mosques. On the 27th night of
to the kids. All kinds of sweets are
Ramadan, which is seen as the
served to the guests and this goes
most probable night of Laylat Alon for three days until the end of
Qadr, mosques are even more filled the Eid.
with people and they stay awake
all night worshipping.
That evening, high above the
minarets of the mosques, Mahyas
Eid is very special for everyone,
read: “Elveda Ramazan (Farewell
practicing or non-practicing alike.
Ramadan)”.
PAGE
26
www.muslimink.com
Children’s row in Taraweeh prayer
MALAYSIA
ALAYSIA is one of
the greatest Muslim
countries. The Malaysian
Muslims receive the month
of Ramadan with great joy
and unequalled happiness.
They change their style of
living during this honorable
month. Reciting the Glorious
Quran, remembering Allah and
staying at mosques are their
main concerns. On the few last
days of Sha`baan, Muslims of
Malaysia prepare themselves
for receiving Ramadan. They
prepare mosques for prayer and
buy their necessities of food.
On the 29th night of Sha`baan,
the Ministry of Religious Affairs
tries to sight the new moon.
When the sighting is confirmed,
the ministry declares it via
mass media. Muslims exchange
M
Contents
congratulations on the advent
of Ramadan. On this great
occasion, the local authorities
sprinkle streets with water,
prepare clean yards and public
squares and hang electric lamps
in the main streets.
As for the way of receiving
Ramadan in the countryside,
Muslims there celebrate the
occasion through gathering at
mosques and congratulating
one another, and exchange Iftar
meals.
The rich and well-to-do traders
normally make feasts for
providing Iftar at mosques and
in the streets.
Truly, the Malaysian community
is distinguished with special
PAGE
27
kinds of meals.
Mostly, all family members
attend prayers in the mosque
regularly. Schools for teaching
the Quran are widespread
all over the country. The
government encourages these
schools which intensify their
courses during this month.
They teach Fiqh (Islamic
Jurisprudence), Tafseer
(Interpretation of the meanings
of the Quran), the Islamic
Creed, the Arabic language
besides the Glorious Quran. The
Malaysians conclude the month
of Ramadan with completing
reciting the Honorable Quran
in mosques, schools, TV, Radio,
etc. Then, they make other
celebrations for receiving the
blessed `Eed Al-Fitr.
www.muslimink.com
Juma Masjid in Durban
SOUTH AFRICA
HEN the sun sets on the
first day of Ramadan,
the friendly Muslims of
South Africa will gather together
in huge groups to eat elaborate
Iftar, dressed up in their best
attire. Many are able to enjoy
eating Iftar out, since there is an
abundance of Halaal restaurants
especially in Durban Capetown
and Johannesburg.
W
Most of the Muslims living
in South Africa are of Indian
descent, because colonists
brought their ancestors over
from Gujurat and other regions
of India to work on the sugar
cane plantations and as
laborers.
They have been in South Africa
for so many generations; their
Iftar is no longer just traditional
Indian dishes, but is a mix of
everything from pasta to curries
to brownies.
Contents
Other Muslims came from
Indonesia and Malaysia to reside
in the Capetown area, where
their traditional spices and
cooking have found their way
into mainstream Capetonian
cuisine. The salty, seaside
breezes of the Waterfront
cape remind believers of the
Greatness of their Creator.
Although the new government
has been in place for more
than a decade, one remnant of
apartheid still remains. Mostly,
everyone in South Africa has
been brought up surrounded by
his or her own kind of people, so
communities still tend to keep to
themselves, including Muslims
from different backgrounds.
Those of Indian, African, and
Southeast Asian descent are
slow to branch out and mingle
with one other—an issue
needing more attention, time
and effort.
In Cape Town
PAGE
28
www.muslimink.com
KUWAIT
R
AMADAN in Kuwait
has its own set of
distinctive customs and
rituals kept alive by the
people. Numerous traditional
Kuwaiti practices have gone
out of existence, such as
the day of Al-Kareesh. This
name (Al-Kareesh) was
designated for the last day
before Ramadan, which was
the last day the family would
meet for lunch before they
started fasting. The next day,
they would all be waiting
for the sound of the cannon
to announce the time for
breaking the fast.
the neighboring houses. Lunch
used to be served immediately
after Thuhr (the afternoon prayer),
and neighbors would exchange
dishes with each other minutes
before lunch. After the Thuhr
prayer, all the family members
In bygone days, when
houses were of mud and
bricks, one could smell the
pleasant odor of traditional
Kuwaiti food coming from
Contents
would gather around a table that
included a variety of dishes that
were either cooked at home,
or presented by neighbors and
acquaintances. During this family
meeting, people would joke over
the meal, reminding each other
Grand mosque of Kuwait
PAGE
29
www.muslimink.com
that this would be the last meal, as
they would be fasting the next day
and would not be eating during the
day.
The Kuwaiti people exhibit their
generous nature and spend large
sums of money in charity by
serving Iftar meals in the Masjids
for the needy. During the nights
of Ramadan, the markets become
crowded with people, as all the
shops open after prayer, and
relatives and friends exchange
visits.
Children celebrate the firing of the
cannon to break the fast at sunset,
which is called Al-Waaridah. Abu
Tabeelah (the drummer) was
a person who would awaken
people to have their Suhoor (the
pre-dawn meal before daybreak)
every night. He would go around
the neighborhood saying, “[There
is] No god worthy of worship
but Allah, and Muhammad is his
Messenger,” to motivate people
to wake up and have their Suhoor.
Some people would serve him
dishes like Al-Harees and AtTashreeb, and so on, until the
end of Ramadan. In the end,
he bid farewell to the month
in a melancholic tone, saying,
“Farewell, farewell Ramadan,
farewell the month of fasting!”
Popular Ramadan fare is AlHarees, Al-Jareesh and AtTashreeb, which is a yeast bread
Luqmat Al-Qadi
cut into small pieces, with gravy
containing gourd, potatoes and
dry lemons from Oman. Special
sweets are made such as Luqmat
Al-Qadi, which is made of milk,
cardamom, butter, saffron and
fermented dough cut into small
bite-size balls and fried in boiling
fat until they redden, then placed
in sugar syrup or molasses. In
the past, the Kuwaiti people used
to serve special dishes in their
Ramadan soirees, particularly in
the divans that stay open till the
late hours of the night called AlGhibqah. Nowadays, the Ghibqah
has fatty food, and it is served
very late, close to the time of AsSuhoor. In contrast, the Ghibqah in
the past was served not later than
ten in the night, and contained
popular snacks like Al-Bajillah,
An-Nakh-khi, Al-Mehallabeyah,
Khubz Ar-Ruqaaq and special
Kuwaiti sweets like Az-Zalabyah,
Al-Luqaymaat, Al-Ghurayyibah and
Baydh Al-Quttah.
The Grand Mosque
The Grand Mosque is the largest
mosque in the State of Kuwait
located on Arabian Gulf Road. Its
area spans 45,000 square meters,
out of which the building itself
covers 20,000 square meters.
The Grand Mosque can
accommodate up to 10,000 men
in the Main Prayer Hall and has
a separate ladies’ prayer area for
female worshippers.
R a m adan Di s co u n t
Subscribe
Contents
for just
PAGE
30
$1 /mo
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Muslim
Ummah
Our news from around the world
A Palestinian girl peers out of a damaged home after it was hit by an Israeli missile
in Gaza city recently. – AP
Unity sends strong message
to Israel, say Palestine groups
In a solid show of unity, Palestinian
factions joined Palestinian
Unity Government ministers
and members of the Palestinian
Legislative Council (PLC) in Gaza on
Thursday to denounce the violent
military operations against civilians
in the West Bank, and warned of
revolution.
The Israeli assaults, targeting
former ministers and members
of the PLC, university lecturers,
students, human rights activists
and ex-detainees, have seen 280
civilians detained in the last six
days, more than 200 of them
members of Hamas.
“We will defend ourselves
against this violence by all means
possible, and we call on Arab and
Muslim leaders and international
organisations to stand up to the
escalating aggression, and put
pressure on Israel to abide by
international law,” said Dr Ahmed
Bahar, Speaker of the Gaza PLC.
It is increasingly perceived that
the three missing settlers are but
pawns in Netanyahu’s political
game; providing an opportunity
for Israel to crack down on Hamas
to distract attention from hungerstriking Palestinian prisoners;
split the unity government and
incapacitate Hamas as a political
force.
Since April, Hamas and Fatah have
pushed ahead with reconciliation
and announced a unity government
for the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
ISRAEL TO BUILD 1,500 NEW SETTLEMENTS
Israel’s Housing Ministry announced plans to build another 1,500
settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, in a move that Minister
Uri Ariel said was a response to the formation of a Palestinian unity
government between Hamas and Fatah.
AUSTRALIA CHANGES STANCE ON OCCUPATION
The Australian government is under intense criticism from its opposition
and Muslim countries worldwide after it changed its stance on East
Jerusalem from being “occupied” territory to “disputed” territory.
Contents
PAGE
31
James Harding, right, the BBC’s director
of news and current affairs, joined staff
members and colleagues from other
news organizations in a London protest
against jail terms given to three Al Jazeera
journalists in Egypt.
Film on Aussie Muslims to
promote understanding
Produced by the International Centre for
Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding
at the University of South Australia,
‘Young Muslims Behind the Headlines’
is a short documentary that looks at the
experiences of four young Australian
Muslims: Asma, Yassir, Khaled and
Mohamad. The film aims to challenge
the simplistic assumptions that
dominate today’s media headlines
about Islam and Muslims. This project
is supported by funding from the
Australian Government.
www.muslimink.com
Ukraine mufti: Stay out of war
The Muslim leader of Ukraine, Said
Ismagov, has urged Muslims to
stay out of the Ukraine crisis amid
reports of the developing civil war
attracting both pro-Russian and
pro-Ukrainian fighters. Ismagoc,
who is the head mufti of the
Committee of Muslims of Ukraine,
wrote on Facebook, “There is
nothing to do in Ukraine!”
fight against us,” he conluded.
“Everything is good in Ukraine,
you cannot even imagine how well
things are here! We all find a place
in the sun and ground under our
feet. We never faced any Muslim
massacres, murder of imams or
ethnic cleansing. We built mosques
anywhere we wanted and they
were never destroyed,” he added.
Earlier this week, Chechnya
president Ramzan Kadyrov
dismissed reports that he was
sending pro-Russian fighters from
the mainly Muslim North Caucasus
Republic, but did not deny that
some individuals had gone to
eastern Ukraine on their own
accord.
“The Holy Quran and its
translations were never banned.
We published Muslim newspapers,
expressing our opinion without any
censorship,” Ismagov noted.
However, on June3, Chechnya
President Ramzan Kadyrov told
REN TV that he is ready to send
74,000 Chechens to Ukraine if
ordered to do so.
“Muslims in Ukraine are an integral
part of the country, part of its
common history. We feel like home
in Ukraine. It is our homeland.”
As of 2012 an estimated 500,000
Muslims lived in Ukraine and about
300,000 of them were Crimean
Tatars. Today Islam is the largest
minority religion in Ukraine after
various forms of Christianity.
“We were free to practice Islam,
perform prayers and fast during
the Holy Ramadan. Moreover, there
is plenty of ethnic Ukrainians who
converted to Islam. Everything is
good in Ukraine. Don’t come here to
Oil struck in Pakistan
A major oil reserve has been discovered
near Jhelum in Punjab, Pakistan, opening
up a new area for exploitation of
hydrocarbon potential. With an estimated
production of 5,500 barrels per day, the
Ghauri X-1 oil well is expected to be the
country’s largest oil-producing well.
According to the Clerical Board of
Ukraine’s Muslims there were two
million Muslims in Ukraine as of
2009.
Moore on Iraq conflict
As conflict between militia men and
Iraqi government worsens, controversial
filmmaker Michael Moore had the
following to say on June 11:
The Iraqi government we “installed”,
has now lost Fallujah, Ramadi, Mosul
and other large swaths of the country
we invaded at the cost of thousands of
American lives, tens of thousands of
Iraqi lives and a couple trillion dollars.
One more maddening day in this 11year illegal, immoral, greedy and stupid
war. Today in Mosul, that Iraqi Army
YOU pay for, freaked out, threw down
their guns, and literally RAN away. I
have friends and acquaintances who
lost sons in all three of those cities. I
can only imagine what they’re feeling
tonight. FOR WHAT? FOR WHAT! Last
week, Richard Clarke, Bush’s former
head of counter-terrorism, said he now
believes that his fellow members of the
Bush administration committed “war
crimes.”
Saudi minister defends Shariah law in Washington
Saudi Justice Minister Mohammed
Al-Eissa defended Shariah law and
its punishments while speaking to
American lawyers and academics in
Washington recently.
“Islam is a religion of wisdom,” the
minister said. “Islam sympathizes
Contents
with the victim, not the criminal.”
On beheading, cutting off hands
and lashing, he said: “These
punishments are based on divine
religious texts and we cannot
change them.”
He said Islamic laws had reduced
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32
crime in the Kingdom and that
other religions have instructed
similar punishments.
“If it was not a good religion, it
would not have lasted for more
than 1,400 years and won millions
of followers around the world.”
www.muslimink.com
Irish paper full of praise
for Muslims’ reaction
Muslims are often characterised in the west as extreme,
unreasonable and untrustworthy. That was the stereotype
which Pastor McConnell mistakenly voiced.
In this instance it is the Islamic community who have
behaved with the most consistent moderation and
integrity. That is something we should all remember if we
hear our Muslim neighbours criticised again.
Liam Clarke of the Belfast Telegraph wrote a positive note
about Muslims in Ireland during the controversy James
McConnell, a pastor, raked up with his unruly, anti-Islam
comments, which were supported by Northern Ireland’s First
Minister Peter Robinson. Excerpts:
The people who emerged with most credit in the
aftermath of Pastor James McConnell’s incendiary
comments are the members of Belfast’s Muslim
community, both secular and observant.
The Islamic Centre, and Dr Raied Al-Wazzan, its
executive secretary, reacted to the whole situation with
a combination of grace, dignity and political astuteness.
They got the very best out of what could have been a very
bad situation by helping Peter Robinson off the hook he
had publicly impaled himself on.
Mr Robinson took days to realise the full extent of the
offence he had caused ordinary Muslims, even to ones
who were not particularly devout.
4000 challenge racists at Belfast City Hall.
How Muslims Helped
Ireland During Famine
His apparent endorsement of Pastor McConnell’s
incendiary comments was a mistake.
In mid 19th century, Ireland was engulfed in a terrible
famine. One million people lost their lives. The plight
is now commonly referred to as ‘The Great Hunger’.
Foreign aid played a vital role in providing assistance
to the afflicted. One of the most noteworthy donors
was the Muslim Ottoman Caliph, Abdul Mejid, who is
reported to have pledged £10,000 in aid. However, after
being warned about the danger of sending more money
than the £2000 Queen Victoria of Britain donated to
her own Kingdom, the Muslim Caliph reduced the aid to
£1000.
It made many people, from surgeons and doctors in our
hospitals to the men attacked on Parkmount Street,
feel that distrust of them ran to the top of our political
establishment.
At first Mr Robinson tried to brush off criticism and explain
away his defence of Pastor McConnell’s outburst, then he
offered a qualified private apology. That was never going
to be enough.
“Words and actions,” Dr Al-Wazzan demanded, and that is
what was needed.
The Caliph understood that the limited aid he had
sent would not be effective enough. Thus, he also
sent 3 ships full of food and additional monetary
funds in secret, which the British officials blocked.
After being refused entry into the ports of Dublin
and Belfast, Ottoman sailors secretly unloaded the
food in Drogheda, a small town North of Dublin. To
commemorate this act of kindness, the Mayor of
Drogheda, Alderman Frank Goddfrey, paid tribute to
Caliph Abdel Mejid in May 1995 and erected a plaque
in his honour. The appreciation is further exemplified in
the crest of the Drogheda United football club, which
features a star and crescent moon. [Source: Islam21c]
Mr Robinson made his original remarks in public and
yesterday he had the courage to apologise in an equally
public way. He showed respect to our Muslim community
and acknowledged that offence was caused.
Muslim are the ones who have come out of this best. It
was a Christian cleric who made the harsh and intolerant
comments which sparked the crisis and it was an Imam,
Ibrahim Noonan, who responded charitably.
A convert to Islam, Yvonne Ridley, even spoke up for
Northern Ireland and the friendliness of its people to her
fellow Muslims in Pakistan.
Contents
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33
www.muslimink.com
Record number of
people embrace
Islam in Dubai
More than 1,000 Dubai residents of
different nationalities have reverted
to Islam over the past few months
at Dar Al Ber Society, making a
record in 2014.
“About 205 of them embraced Islam
in January, 238 in February, 237 in
March, and 383 in April,” Rashid
Aljunaibi, an official at Dar Al Ber,
said.
Since the start of 2014, hundreds
of people have visited the center. By
May, the number of reverts reached
1,063 resident from different
nationalities, according to a senior
official at the Centre.
Over 250 people of various
nationalities reverted during
the Dubai International Peace
Convention.
Oman exhibits message of Islam in Japan
For the first time in the far-east
country, a Japanese university
at the city of Kyoto has hosted
an Omani exhibition of the
message of Islam, introducing
Japanese people to an approach
of coexistence and tolerance as
embedded in the exhibition’s
message.
“The Japanese public is open to
learn new things. The Japanese
are interested in learning about
Islam,” Professor Katashiro
Kohara, the director of the Centre
for Monotheistic Studies, said
in a speech about the Exhibition
Islam grows in free Malawi
cited by the Oman Observer.
Kohara was speaking as the
forty-sixth edition of the
“Message of Islam from Oman”
Exhibition was inaugurated at
Doshisha University.
The event is organized around
the world by Oman’s Ministry of
Religious Affairs.
Japan today is home to a thriving
Muslim community of about
120,000, among nearly 127
million in the world’s tenth most
populated country.
LILONGWE – Tasting the fruits of freedom after decades of
oppression in the southern African nation, Malawi Muslim
community has hailed the impact of multi-party democracy
which has allowed the growth and expansion of Islam.
Until 1993, Malawi was under a dictatorship that
imposed crippling restrictions on the entire population
including Muslims.
“The dawn of democracy in 1993 has provided avenues for
the growth and expansion of Islam in this country. We have
been able to construct schools, health care facilities and
madrassas,” Malawian Muslim scholar, Dr. Imran Shareef
told OnIslam.net.
“The new political dispensation has also provided equal
opportunities between Muslims and Christians to worship
without any form of restrictions,” he said.
Contents
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34
www.muslimink.com
WHAT WENT VIRAL
Hail man’s idea of charity
HAIL, Saudi Arabia – Sometimes, making a difference
can be shockingly simple. A man living in the city of
Hail, Saudi Arabia, came up with a brilliant idea to feed
needy people in his neighborhood while sparing them
the “shame” of begging.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, installed
a refrigerator on the street in front of his house and
invited neighbors to donate their extra food, so that
hungry people could come and eat.
The idea gained international attention after religious
scholar Shaikh Mohammad Al Araifi praised the act
of charity on his Twitter account with a picture of
the fridge. “I’ve always said the people of Hail are
generous. A man puts a fridge outside his house for
leftover food; an indirect act of charity for the needy,”
he said, in a translation provided by the BBC. “Oh how I
love you, Hail!”
World’s poorest prez
offers to house Syrian
refugees in official
summer retreat
British Muslim’s
kindness becomes
an inspiration
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay —
The United Nations’ refugee
commission has expressed
gratitude that Uruguay
is preparing to provide a
new home for 100 children
orphaned by Syria’s civil war.
A British Muslim man’s story of
responding to racial abuse from
a homeless man by finding him
a job and a home went viral last
month.
Senior regional UNHCR official
Michelle Alfaro said there are
more than 2 million Syrian
refugees in all, and Turkey,
Lebanon and Jordan can’t
handle them all, so the agency
hopes to relocate 30,000 this
year. Germany took 5,000
Syrian refugees last year and
has agreed to take another
5,000 this year. Brazil has
granted humanitarian visas to
2,000.
Contents
President Jose Mujica’s offer to
take 100 children “is a drop in
the ocean, but each effort by
each country is very important
and welcome,” Alfaro said.
Mujica said the orphans could
be housed at first at the
presidency’s summer retreat, a
mansion and riverfront estate
surrounded by rolling pastures.
Mujica is world’s poorest
president because he donates
90% of his salary to charity.
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35
In May, Aminur Chowdhury
was racially insulted by Ben
Gallon, who was homeless at
the time. Instead of responding
to aggression with even more
aggression, Mr. Chowdhury invited
Mr. Gallon for a chat.
After speaking with Mr. Gallon
for 15 minutes, Mr. Chowdhury
returned the next day to tell him
he had been offered a job as a
phone operative. He also helped
him to find a rented apartment.
www.muslimink.com
1 million sq. m
Makkah complex
dedicated to Prophet r
Called the “Peace be upon the Prophet” project, the
center will include an exhibition, university, electronic
gate center, library, translation center, hotels and other
facilities.
Saudi Arabia has designated a one million square meter
vicinity in Makkah to build a complex dedicated to the
Prophet Muhammad r and his teachings.
Called the “Peace be upon the Prophet” project, the
center will include an exhibition, university, electronic
gate center, library, translation center, hotels and other
facilities, the Saudi Gazette reported recently.
Due to be built on the Haram boundaries along the AlHaramain Expressway, it will also serve as a printing
press house for a new 500-volume, 350,000-page
encyclopedia about the Prophet Muhammad r and his
companions.
Women call to
end headscarf
ban in Tatarstan
The Union of Muslim Women
in Russia and Tatarstan have
called on the Russian Education
Ministry to remove the headscarf
ban in schools in the Republic of
Tataristan, Russia.
In the ‘Women Representatives of
Peace’ meeting, which hosted 324
delegates including those from the
Russian republics of Bashkortistan
and Mordovia, speakers called for
the ban on the headscarf to end.
Even though there was no official
law on the headscarf, schoolgirls
were being forced to remove it, said
Naile Ziganshin, head of Union of
Muslim Women in Russia.
Contents
At the re-opening ceremony
Mosque reopens in Cyprus after 51 yrs
said Talip Atalay, head of Turkish
Tahtakale Mosque in the Greek
side of Cyprus opened its doors
Republic of Northern Cyprus’
to Muslims on June 3 after having religious affairs.
remained closed for 51 years.
The re-opening ceremony was
Tahtakale region is one of the
also attended by Father Savvas
first areas Turkish Cypriots had to
of Greek Orthodox Church
leave amid the inter-communal
Archbishop Hrisostomos.
clashes in 1963. Cyprus has
remained divided into Greek and
Father Savvas said expressed
Turkish parts since 1974.
gratitude to the Turkish Cypriot
government for opening certain
“The two peoples, who lived for
centuries in peace, must find the Orthodox churches to the use of
charities.
ways to have a future together,”
PAGE
36
www.muslimink.com
Ramadan on @twitter
Twitter has joined Ramadan this year with special icons, instant iftar times, and an
interactive map. Ahmad AbouAmmo, Twitter’s Head of Media Partnerships for the MENA
region, announced the new features in a blog post:
1. Special ‘Hashflags’
2. #Imsak
& #Iftar
time with
@AlArabiya
3. Interactive
Tweet Map
Checked at US airport
just for being Muslim
Contents
“So I’m on my way to Michigan
and I go through security check.
The security talks to me in
Spanish and let’s me by without
anyone even touching me. I had
no clue what he said but he then
saw a Muslim man dressed with
his traditional cultural clothes and
mumbles ‘oh sh*t, he’s definitely
getting checked’.. I couldn’t believe
what I heard! All he was looking
at was the Muslim guy, he literally
let EVERYONE Infront the Muslim
guy go through security check
without even looking at them
until he got to the Muslim guy,
he stopped him. The Muslim man
went through security check and
NOTHING rang, but the security
PAGE
37
said he has to give him a ‘random
security check’, the man was
confused. I felt so bad because
his family had to see this happen.
They checked his bag, then they
put on gloves and put him aside
and checked his whole body. He
was smiling because he knew
that Allah was with him! I find it
so messed up and disgusting for
what they did to him. It’s 2014
and people still look at Muslims
as ‘terrorists’, if anything the
security was the terrorist for
terrorizing him. All the man did
was smile and not even say a
WORD!”
— Adam Saleh, actor, FB post
www.muslimink.com
Boston subway ads expose Israel’s crimes
B
OSTONIANS have been
checking out the “ONE
WORD” campaign in their
subway system, describing
Israel’s crimes against
Palestinians. The ad campaign
was launched this week by Ads
Against Apartheid (AAA), a local
Boston-based nonprofit.
The ads are currently running in
Boston’s downtown State Street
Station where they can be seen
by upwards of 13,000 riders
per day. AAA’s website states
they are “challenging Israel’s
commitment to peace”.
The ads have already made
headlines– in Palestine and Israel
that is. Both WAFA Ads against
Apartheid Launches Campaign
Questioning Israeli’s Commitment
to Peace and Ynet, MBTA
approves pro-Palestinian ads
in Boston subway quote Chadi
Salamoun, the President of Ads
Against Apartheid, and Richard
Colbath-Hess, the NGO’s cofounder:
“The ads simply state the facts
and are backed up with citations
from credible human rights and
international organizations,
Contents
including the United Nations,” said
Chadi Salamoun, the president
of Ads Against Apartheid,
who added that “if the ads are
shocking, that’s because the
reality on the ground is shocking.”
Richard Colbath-Hess, a JewishAmerican faculty member at the
University of Massachusetts,
and the co-founder of Ads
Against Apartheid, noted that
“American tax dollars help the
Israeli government maintain
an incredibly brutal military
occupation, which has denied
the Palestinian people their basic
rights for decades. These ads
show what Israel’s occupation
and apartheid really look like, and
it is important for Americans to
PAGE
38
see that.”
Colbath-Hess told me that the
ads featuring one word per ad–
HOMELESS, VIOLENCE, and
STOLEN– each represented an
aspect of Israel’s “unrelenting
injustice towards Palestinians.”
IMHO, the “ONE WORD” approach
is in your face, educational and
very effective:
Ads Against Apartheid is planning
to expand the campaign to
other cities all across America.
The campaign has other hard
hitting ads up on their website
too. Instructing readers to “Stop
Talking, Start Acting” and support
spreading the campaigns.
www.muslimink.com
Rohingya Muslim refugees abused, exploited
GENEVA – The thousands of
Rohingya Muslims still flooding out
of Myanmar’s Rakhine state two
years after violence erupted there
are facing increasing abuse and
exploitation, the UN refugee agency
warned Tuesday.
Two waves of deadly communal
violence between Buddhists and
Muslims in Rakhine in 2012 left some
200 people dead and around 140,000
displaced, mainly Rohingya.
“Two years after inter-communal
violence erupted in Myanmar’s
Rakhine state, thousands of people
are still leaving by boat from the Bay
of Bengal,” UNHCR spokesman Adrian
Edwards told reporters in Geneva.
“Reports of abuse and exploitation
as people seek safety and stability
elsewhere are meanwhile increasing,”
he said.
He said the desperate refugees
faced abuse and exploitation from
smugglers and traffickers en route,
but also once they reached countries
like Thailand and Malaysia.
The UNHCR estimates that more
than 86,000 people have left the
area by boat from the Bay of Bengal
since June 2012, including 15,000
between January and April this year
alone.
“People who have made it to
Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia
have told UNHCR staff about
overcrowded boats that sometimes
lost their way or developed engine
problems,” Edwards said.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MYANMAR [video]
Boats sometimes ran out of food and
water, and people who died along the
way were said to have been thrown
overboard, he said.
Some of those who reached Thailand
told the UNHCR they had been
taken to overcrowded “smugglers’
camps” in the jungles or hills near the
Thailand-Malaysia border, where they
were kept for months — “sometimes
in cages” — until their families could
pay for their release, Edwards said.
“They recount daily beatings and that
some people died,” he said, adding
that “they spent their days sitting in
confined spaces and nights sleeping
upright or in foetal position due to the
lack of space.”
The stateless Rohingya are
considered by the UN to be one of the
world’s most persecuted minorities.
Many of the displaced have gone
without access to health care
and other help after attacks on
international humanitarian groups by
Buddhist extremists earlier this year.
— Worldcrunch
Contents
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39
www.muslimink.com
Battle of Chaldiran Part 2: Coming to a country near you?
by Kamraan Siddiqui
T
HIS year sees the 500th
anniversary of the Battle
Of Chaldiran - an important
moment in the history of the
muslim world, and one that kicked
off the Ottoman-Persian Wars.
These wars put the Ottoman
empire up against the various
Persian dynasties and descended
into a series of bloody Shia- Sunni
conflicts for control over the
regions of Turkish Anatolia, Iraq
and the Caucasus.
The outcome of these wars has
shaped these regions and heavily
influenced the political thinking of
the Middle East.
Today as we approach the 'end
game' in Syria and look at the
'post conflict' Iraq, with the recent
strategic alignment of Iran with
the West and the Iraqi shia 'call
to arms' against sunnis, I thought
it would be worth reflecting on
the legacy of Chaldiran and its
relevance today, 500 years on.
On that day, (23 August 1514 )
the bravery of the Persian horse
archers was no match for the
cannon and matchlock rifles of the
Ottoman Jannisaries under Sultan
Selim, and a crushing defeat
deeply traumatised the Persians
and forced them to re-organise
their entire military system. The
battle marked the boundary
between the two empires with
Ottomans taking northwest Iran.
The centuries that followed saw
Persians embarking on an endless
series of wars with the Ottomans
for control of what is now the
regions of Iraq and the Caucasus.
Much of the shia- sunni wars were
Contents
focused on Baghdad, for example
when in 1624 the army of Persian
Shah Abbas captured Baghdad
and proceeded to massacre the
sunni population in an attempt to
make it a shia city. It was a point of
honour for the Ottomans to recover
this city and the Sultan Murad IV
himself took to the field to do so.
Finally the Ottoman victory in
1639 saw the persians lose Iraq,
forever - a region that had been
part of the ancient persian empire
for thousands of years. The peace
treaty that followed marked out
the western border of Iran Iraq and
Turkey to this day.
The relentless attacks by the
Persians was the major distraction
that prevented the Ottomans
from overrunning Europe, draining
Ottoman resources and forcing
them to halt their European
campaigns to avoid a fight on 2
large fronts.
The following Ottoman - Persian
(sunni- shia) wars took place:
PAGE
40
Battle of Chaldiran 1514: Ottoman
victory - Ottomans take northwest
Iran
War of 1532-1555: Ottoman victory
- Ottomans gain large parts of Iraq,
kurdistan, and parts of Armenia and
Georgia
War of 1578-1590: Ottoman victory
- Ottomans take Azerbaijan and
caucasus region
War of 1602-1618: Persian victory
- Persians recover Baghdad, Tiblisi,
caucasus and eastern anatolia
War of 1623-1639: Ottoman
victory - Ottomans take Iraq and
Persians lose Baghdad for ever
War of 1722-1727: Draw Ottoman control over parts of Iran
and caucasus
War of 1730-1736: Persian victoryPersians recover Iranian territory,
and take Armenia and Georgia
War of 1743-1747: Draw - no
territorial changes
www.muslimink.com
War of 1775-1776: Persian victory
- Basra taken by Persians
War of 1776-1779: Ottoman
victory- Basra retaken by
Ottomans
War of 1821-1823: Draw - no
territorial changes
So it is of great significance
that today we see Iraq - and in
particular the city of Baghdad - a
city that has been in sunni control
for 370 years - transforming
to shia control. In Iraq its easy
to understand the sense of
dread and foreboding felt by
the sunnis as well as the sense
of triumphalism of the shias
after decades of brutality under
Saddam. A tectonic change is
happening in this region.
With the conflict in neighbouring
Syria, this means that the
Gates, IDB to set up
$2.5b fund for poor
boundaries too are likely to
change to reflect the shia- sunni
struggle for domination. The
involvement of the West to tip the
balance in favour of the shias is
also ominous.
Turkey is viewing this situation
with growing alarm, but its
Ottoman legacy has long gone.
One wonders - will the sunnis see
another Chaldiran today?
Study on why Muslim
world lags behind
JEDDAH – Islamic Development
Bank (IDB) and Bill Gates plan
to set up a $2.5 billion fund
for the poor, especially to fight
diseases like malaria and polio.
TORONTO, Canada – The 57
countries that form the Organization
for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) account
for 23% of world population, yet less
than 11% of the world’s GDP.
Gates, co-chair of the Bill &
Melinda Gates foundation,
praised IDB’s achievements.
“It’s amazing what they’ve
(IDB) contributed to global
development over the last 40
years,” he remarked.
A study from the University of
Toronto’s Rotman School of
Management and the Saudi-based
Madinah Institute for Leadership
and Entrepreneurship compared
Muslim countries with the rest of
the world. The study showed that as
a group the OIC countries:
He said: “When you look at the
picture of children dying across
Muslim countries, you find a
mixed picture; some countries
have made huge gains, but
there are others where far too
many children are dying, not
just from violence that you see
most on the news, but often
from diseases that we can cure
with very little money.”
He said: “That’s a tragedy that
we can take positive steps to fix,
right now, so my foundations
are collaborating with partners
across the Middle East to fix
these global challenges in
health and agriculture, many of
which affect the Muslim world
particularly.”
Contents
UAE’s Ramadan plan:
Water for 5m poor
DUBAI – Dubai Ruler Shaikh
Mohammad Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum has launched a UAE
Water Aid campaign to provide
access to fresh drinking water
for more than 5 million people
across the world.
“As usual we welcome the
generous month of Ramadan
with charitable initiatives and our
hands extended to needy people.
We ask Allah Almighty to accept
our worship and good deeds,”
said Shaikh Mohammad.
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41
* have average incomes which are
less than half the world average;
* rank below global averages on
institutional development, including
voice and accountability, political
stability, government effectiveness,
regulatory quality, rule of law and
control of corruption;
* rank unfavorably on the ease of
doing business;
* lag world averages on education,
particularly among females;
* not only significantly lag developed
markets on R&D efforts, but also lag
other developing nations.
www.muslimink.com
Lulu plans Halal-only
outlets in Malaysia
DUBAI – UAE-based supermarket
chain Lulu Group said recently it
plans to invest $200m on Halal-only
outlets in Malaysia in the next two
years ahead of expanding into other
south Asian markets.
Afghanistan becomes net
meat importer due to war
Despite being a traditional livestock
country, Afghanistan is no longer
self-sufficient due to more than
three decades of conflict, and is now
dependent on meat imports.
Muslims in Canada crack
down on fake Halal food
Canada’s growing Halal food
industry has made it an attractive
target for fraud – something
that leaders in Canada’s Muslim
community hope to end.
One particular investigation involved
a quail abattoir that produced Halal
meat exclusively for a single client.
Knowing this, a distributor began
sticking his own “Halal” labels on
non-Halal meat leaving the abattoir.
“Next thing you know... lo and
behold, that stuff is there and people
are buying it,” said Omar Subedar,
official spokesperson of Halal
Monitoring Authority.
The investigation led to the
formation of the HMA, which
maintains a comprehensive listing of
Halal-certified businesses.
The next step Subedar says is to
create an official, national governing
body to regulate Halal certification.
Contents
Ramadan decorations at Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai. – Khaleej Times
No Muslim country in top 10
Halal meat exporters
Pakistan’s newspapers have
reported quoting Malaysian
officials that no Muslim country
features among top 10 halal
meat exporters. The market
is dominated by companies in
Western countries.
A team of officials from
Malaysian department of Islamic
development visited several
abattoirs in Lahore recently to
inspect and ensure that the
meat being exported to their
country was halal and safe for
consumption.
Some months ago, Malaysia’s
Halal food fest in China
XI’AN – Malaysian Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently
officiated the 3rd Malaysia-Xi’an
Halal Food Festival Week.
“This is the 3rd time we organize
Halal Food Festival here, and
Malaysia is the only country that has
been granted the opportunity to hold
the event at the historic [Muslim
Street],” said Malaysian Ambassador
to China Datuk Iskandar Sarudin.
PAGE
42
state minister for religious affairs
and domestic trade Haji Abdul
Malik Kassim, while on a visit, had
stated that Pakistan can play a
major role in the global halal meat
industry. Halal meat contributes
about 16 per cent of total world
trade of the commodity.
It is only in recent years that
Pakistan has begun to realise the
importance and export potential of
halal food. The volume of overall
halal products, which was $635
billion dollars in the year 2010,
is estimated to have reached $2
trillion.
Mexico seeks Malaysia’s
help for Halal Industry
KUALA LUMPUR – Mexico is seeking
Malaysia’s expertise to develop
its halal industry, said Mexico’s
ambassador to Malaysia Carlos Felix
Corona recently.
“If we have the certification from
Malaysia, we can expand operations
to the rest of the world,” he said.
www.muslimink.com
What’s
Driving Gulf
Cash To
European
Holdings
FRANKFURT — Once upon a time,
buying an expensive German car
was enough to make a rich sheikh
happy. Lately it seems a car doesn't
quite cut it, though a sizeable stake
in an entire German car company
may do nicely, thank you.
Four years ago, for example, at a
Volkswagen general assembly, a
man was sitting up on the stage
who didn’t look like the others
there from the VW family dynasty.
The man's name was Hussain Ali
Al-Abdulla, and he was a board
member of the Qatar Investment
Authority (QIA) that owns 17% of VW
after acquiring most of Porsche’s
share options.
Seventeen percent of the common
stock of one of the world’s largest
automakers is a great deal. But since
the Porsche and Piëch families (via
Porsche Holding) own over half of
VW stocks and the state of Lower
Saxony holds a further 20%, this 17%
gives the QIA a strategic right to
make its voice heard quite clearly —
if not direct power.
Still, it seems that direct power is
not necessarily what Gulf investors
are after. They want one thing
above all: to see their investments
multiply. That appears to be the
strategy driving the 1.75 billion euro
investment in Deutsche Bank this
week that shook financial markets.
At Volkswagen competitor Daimler,
which unlike VW is not a company
with large family shareholdings, the
Contents
Kuwait Investment Authority holds
some 7% of shares. Again that
doesn’t sound like a lot, except that
it means that they are Daimler’s
single biggest shareholder.
The amount of money involved
is indeed formidable. QIA boasts
an estimated $200 billion, which
means they’re not too choosy with
their investments as long as they
bring in high returns. The firms on
the Qatari shopping list include
the Merck Fink, Credit Suisse and
Barclays banks, the Paris SaintGermain soccer club, Siemens,
the beleaguered manufacturer of
photovoltaic products Solarworld,
Royal Dutch Shell — but also
Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton, the London
stock exchange, Lagardère and
German construction company
Hochtief.
What such portfolios show is that
Gulf investors tend not to limit
themselves to specific kinds of
companies, and certainly not to
individual countries.
The investors from the Emirates
are welcome guests in business
circles: they have a reputation
for being reserved and discrete
— unlike hedge fund folks, for
example. Sometimes they arrive
as a figurative white knight to
rescue companies, as was the
PAGE
43
case with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad
Airways, which now owns 29.2%
of German’s second largest airline
company, Air Berlin. As a large
shareholder, it helped out to the
tune of 300 million euros and is
betting on long-term recovery of
the airline.
Sometimes the Arab investors
court Western companies in their
quest to acquire shares; these
state investment funds have
billions to manage, and the market
for high-yield investments is
limited.
And so this is the context in which
the recent Qatari investment in
Deutsche Bank arrive. The Arabs
are keen on investing in Germany
in general and investing in German
firms in particular. In any case,
international investors tend to
go for German stocks when the
financial markets are in crisis. And
German shares are comparatively
popular tangible assets when the
objective is profiting from growth
prospects.
According to a recent study by
professional services firm Ernst
& Young, over the past 10 years
the number of foreign investors
in the 30 large companies listed
on the Frankfurt-based Dax stock
index had grown from 44% to
www.muslimink.com
54% by the end of 2013. Most
of the investors were European,
followed by North American
funds. Asian and Arab investors
were still a minority, but rising
sharply.
Through various funds, the
American asset manager holds
3% or more of all Dax company
shares, and BlackRock is often
listed as the largest shareholder
in individual companies.
Unlike Chinese
Unlike Qatar, at Volkswagen
BlackRock holds over 5% of
preferential stock and is thus
the largest shareholder. It only
holds 0.15% of the strategically
important common shares which
are mostly in the hands of the
Porsche families and not on the
Dax.
When some of the European
Union's peripheral countries were
strongly affected by the crisis two
years ago, there were even more
foreign asset managers focused
on Germany. At the height of the
crisis they accounted for 58%
of foreign Dax investors. The
largest shareholder in Dax-quoted
companies is still BlackRock.
In October 2012 Daimler boss
Dieter Zetsche learned just how
fast-moving business with foreign
investors can sometimes be.
When it began in March 2009, the
alliance with the Abu Dhabi-based
Aabar Investments was supposed
to last for decades — the sheikhs
had bought a 9% share for two
billion euros.
But after only three and a half
years, they sold. Eastern investors
are anything but romantic
when it comes to their Western
investments. And unlike Chinese
investors, they’re not overly
interested in technology. They
mainly just want to take their
petro-billions, and make billions
more.
Maulana Yusuf Islahi
A Muslim personality from
Pakistan few know about. He was
asked to lead the janazah of Abul
A’la Maududi, 20th century Islamic
thinker, in 1979.
He migrated to America in 1979 –
sponsored by Shaykh Bin Baz, the
late Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia.
Da’wah at
World Cup
The iERA team from the UK and the
WhyIslam team from the US have been
doing a noteworthy job in giving da’wah
to soccer fans gathered in Brazil for World
Cup 2014. Their Facebook pages are full
of pictures and stories. Here is one video
among others of a man embracing Islam.
Contents
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44
www.muslimink.com
Gaza 4.0 Startup Weekend for entrepreneurs
S
TARTUP WEEKEND GAZA 4,
June 19-21, was the fourth and
largest SW held in Gaza.
Startup Weekends are 54-hour
events where developers, designers,
marketers, product managers and
startup enthusiasts come together
to share ideas, form teams, build
products, and launch startups.
The first Startup Weekend in Gaza
was launched by Google, SADAF
Technologies, Mercy Corps, PalTel,
and many other partners. This
year, organizers brought together
investors from abroad, coaches, and
corporate partners.
With a total population of around
1.7 million in Gaza, the startup
scene is relatively small, but you
would never know it from the frenzy
surrounding mentorship and tech
education events there.
Kicking off the fourth and largest
Startup Weekend Gaza, a group
of eight international mentors
from Copenhagen to Dubai and
Poznan to Portland joined the
local ecosystem at the first
Meet the Gazans event where
we each shared a tidbit of
expertise with the packed room
of local innovators and business
stakeholders. Presentations
ranged from UX design to lean
startup methodology, and VC
investment to the power of
emotion in your startup.
Later that evening, local leaders
gave us a warm welcome,
including the president and
vice president of the Islamic
University of Gaza who are pulling
together support programs and
educational specialties to support
entrepreneurship in the Gaza Strip.
On the morning of the big day, we
each met with some of the more
advanced startup entrepreneurs to
workshop their major challenges
one on one before SW Gaza began.
Startup Weekend itself kicked off
late in the afternoon, organized
by the team led by Iliana Montauk
at Gaza Sky Geeks, Mohammed
AlAfranji of SADAF for Technology,
the Google Developers Group in
Gaza, and the Business Technology
Incubator (BTI) of the Islamic
University in Gaza (IUG).
More than 150 participants and
50 partners and attendees packed
into the Roots Hotel Seaside to
share startup pitches and form
teams around the top ideas. Over
70 participants made their way to
the stage to offer a one-minute
pitch, many having prepared their
ideas for weeks before sharing
them with the group.
Hala Eid Naji, 26, and her team were the winners of the event. Their pitch was an app called Lilac,
which helps users calculate how much furniture they can buy within a particular budget.
Contents
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45
With so many ideas to choose
from, the participants and mentors
www.muslimink.com
took about half an hour to vote for
their favorite concepts, running
around to pin voting stickers and
show their support for their favorite
ideas. As the selection panel
reviewed the results, participants
ate dinner anxiously, hoping their
idea received enough votes to
advance.
In the end, 25 ideas were selected
(16 led by women) and teams
began to form. SW Gaza was
officially underway.
Although many international judges
and mentors unexpectedly had to
leave before the second day began,
many of the teams continued to
reach out online for mentorship
and advice throughout the second
day. The international judges panel
joined local judges via Skype on the
third day to select the winners of
SW Gaza 4:
* First place winner Lilac for
Innovation Design is building a
platform for virtual interior design
modeling. Their prize includes
incubation at the Business and
Technology Incubator (BTI) in
Gaza, complete with workspace
and mentorship, as well as a
$2,500 USD grant tied to specific
milestones.
* Second place went to Fun Lab,
a virtual platform for chemistry,
biology, physics, and computer
science education for young
students led by Eyas, the event’s
youngest participant (aged 14
years). The team wins incubation
at the University College of Applied
Sciences Incubator in Gaza.
* Third place winner Wmd offers
a mobile app that allows users to
purchase in-store products via a QR
code and barcode reader. They also
win incubation at the University
College of Applied Sciences
Incubator.
Contents
Best B2B Product, and Best
Validation. Here’s a look at the
winners in these categories:
* Best Women’s Team award
went to Bzzra, a social network
and portal for those interested in
gardening. The prize of incubation
at BTI and a grant of $2,500 is
awarded to the top startup with at
least 50% female team members
and with women in leadership roles.
Eyas, 14 years old only, came second for his
startup idea Fun Lab. a virtual platform for
education for young students.
Last year’s
winner Mariam
successfully
launched her
taxi-ordering
app... 120 rides
have been
booked so far
This year, attendees also had
several new categories to compete
in, including: Best Women’s Team,
* Best B2B Product winner Kateb
offers consultancy services for
organizations and individuals in the
technical or creative writing field.
They receive incubation at BTI and a
startup grant of $1,000.
* Best Validation winner Smart Cart
offers smartphone users shopping
suggestions based on their
purchase history as well as virtual
mapping for shopping centers and
products. They were able to best
validate their product over the 54hour event. Smart Cart also wins
incubation at BTI alongside a grant
of $1,000.
Last year’s winner Mariam
Abultewi, 25, successfully launched
her taxi-ordering and carpooling
app Wasselni four months ago.
Over 1000 people have registered
and 120 rides have been booked so
far.
Full house
PAGE
46
www.muslimink.com
In Syria, Mannequin Parts Become Artificial Limbs
DOUMA — Thousands of Syrians
have lost limbs during the
country’s three-year war. Here
in the Damascus suburbs, two
men have opened a workshop
where functioning prosthetics are
fashioned out of found materials.
When Omar al-Ahmad celebrated
his 13th birthday this year, he
didn’t mark the milestone by
shopping for new clothes with his
father in downtown Damascus,
coveting — as he would have
done before the war — the
uniform of his favorite soccer
team on a mannequin in a shop
window.
Instead, his gift was the right
arm of a mannequin, fished out
of rubble by his father and his
father’s friends.
Omar and his younger brother
both lost their arms six months
ago, when their street, in the
opposition stronghold of Douma,
was shelled by government
forces.
“We were forced — because of
the siege laid on the city for over
a year and a half – to come up
with ways to provide for ourselves
from the things we find around
us,” says the boys’ father, Ibrahim.
“A few months ago, I heard that
Hajj Abou Salah opened a small
workshop to make prosthetics for
the residents who have lost their
arms or legs, either due to shelling
or due to the lack of medication
that made amputation inevitable.”
Ibrahim went to Salah to ask him
to make an arm for his elder son.
But Salah was out of material, and
suggested carving a wooden arm,
or fashioning one out of metal.
Contents
It costs us about $200 to make one
of these prosthetics. We use local
material and do not receive any
payment — all of the prosthetics we
make are offered for free
Heavy materials
the Damascus suburbs increases.
“Either would be difficult to use
because of its weight, and would
have tired Omar,” Ibrahim says.
“That’s how the search for a store
window mannequin began, given
that it would fit Omar’s height.
Someone told us that we might
find one in the rubble of destroyed
stores.” They managed to find
an undamaged arm, and Salah
turned it into a prosthesis for
Omar’s birthday.
“I was visiting one of my injured
friends,” he says. “The doctor
had recommended he walk every
day to heal better, but he didn’t
have any crutches. Some of his
neighbors and friends would
take turns helping him walk, but
he always felt ashamed asking
for help. I thought of making
him crutches, but there was
no material available. So I put
together a crutch made of durable
plastic pipes.”
Salah, 57, decided to start a pro
bono limb workshop nearly a year
ago, as government shelling of
PAGE
47
Word spread among Ghouta’s
residents, who, like more than
www.muslimink.com
200,000 other Syrians in besieged
areas, have been largely cut
off from professional medical
assistance. Salah gathered
associates, “working with
whatever was available, and at
our personal expense.”
He joined forces with Abou
Rushdi, a blacksmith before the
war, and opened a workshop. “We
started making crutches, then
wheelchairs. We tried making
prosthetic limbs but we couldn’t
figure out how to mold the joints.”
In December, a man killed by
shelling had a prosthetic foot.
They were allowed to take the
foot, disassembling the piece in
order to study how the joint was
fitted. “To our surprise,” Salah
says, “our own methods were
very close to the ready-made,
high-end prosthetics. And we
were able to improve.”
An overwhelming demand
receive any payment — all of the
prosthetics we make are offered
for free while Salah and I cover
the expenses.”
The 49-year-old Rushdi says
the duo used mannequin pieces
to make their early prosthetics,
but were soon overwhelmed by
demand. They switched to plaster,
which also ran out, then to wood
and metal, which proved too
heavy for proper mobility.
The duo hopes to keep working
until money runs out, but fellow
locals are rising to the task.
They’ve begun donating what
they can to the workshop, he
says, such as raw materials like
plaster, mannequins and even
water tanks.
So far, Salah and Rushdi have
fitted 54 patients for limbs. “An
industrial prosthetic used to cost
anywhere between $250 and
$600, depending on its quality,”
Rushdi says.
With materials at a premium,
they’ve been forced to be creative.
The two are now using the firm,
sturdy plastic from unused water
tanks to construct prosthetic
arms and legs. “I don’t know what
will happen when we run out of
those,” Rushdi admits, “but I’m
sure we will find another way.” —
Worldcrunch
“Today, it costs us about $200 to
make one of these prosthetics.
We use local material and do not
Experts restore rare manuscripts in Yemen
The pictures show experts repairing
manuscripts at a governmentrun restoration centre in Sana’a
recently.
The centre, which was established
in Yemen in 1980, has about
16,000 manuscripts and 20,000
parchments of the Quran dating
back to 622-719 CE.
Contents
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48
www.muslimink.com
ramadan recipes
Fauzia M. Afif
Fauzia is founder of the popular blog Fauzia’s Kitchen Fun. She is known as, “Just your average girl, tinkering
around her kitchen.” She and her friend Fozia (same name just spelt differently) partnered up to develop the blog
“where you and your loved ones can discover or re-kindle your passion for cooking.”
INGREDIE
Sweet Lassi
• 1 c u p p l a i n yo g
hurt
• 1/2 cup chilled
Amazingly delicious. Aside from the
numerous health benefits of having
lassi, this refreshing drink is ideal to
revitalize the body after a long day of
fasting or during warm summery days.
milk
• 3-4 tbsp sugar
/icy
or
o t a s t e)
• 1 / 4 t s p . ro s e sy
rup
(o p t i o n a l )
h o n e y (o r t
NTS
• p i n c h o f c a rd a m
e l c h i p owd
om/
er
• p i n c h o f s a f f ro n
(o p t i o n a l )
• 1 / 4 c u p i ce c u b
es
• a l m o n d s l i ve r s
fo r
garnishing
DIRECTIONS
Add the yoghurt, milk, sugar/honey, rose syrup, cardamom powder and saffron strands into a
blender and blend until smooth. Pour the lassi into the glasses filled with ice cubes, garnish with
some almond slices and saffron strands. Serve and enjoy!
Contents
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49
www.muslimink.com
Seekh
Kababs
Spicy kababs made from
a smooth minced mixture.
They can be either grilled
over a bbq or baked in
the oven or pan-fried on
the stove-top, and are
commonly served with a
salad, fries, naan or pita
bread and a variety of dips.
• 1 kg b e e f o r l a m
W
ASH and then squeeze out any excess
moisture from the mince. Set aside. Peel and
chop the onions roughly, then grind them to
a rough texture. Remove and squeeze out any excess
moisture from the onions, then put them back in the
grinder, add the chopped coriander, chillies, lemon juice,
ginger and garlic pastes. Grind again to combine.
m i n ce
b
• 1 egg, lightly b
eaten
• 2 medium onio
ns
• 1 - 2 s l i ce s o f b r
ead,
d crumbled
• 1 tsp. lemon ju
i ce
• 4 tbsp. choppe
d
co r i a n d e r
toasted an
Put the beef/lamb mince into the processor with the
onion paste mixture, and grind together. Turn this
mixture out into a bowl, add the salt, black pepper
powder, cumin powder, beaten egg, butter and 2 tbsp.
of the breadcrumbs. Mix thoroughly, kneading the
mixture well to ensure everything is properly combined.
I normally knead the mixture for about 5 minutes
and find this helps tenderise the mince and results in
perfectly smooth seekh kababs. If the mixture feels a
bit sticky, add 1 more tbsp. of the breadcrumbs.
NTS
• 1 tsp. melted b
utter
• 2 tsp. salt
• 4 g re e n o r re d
chillies
• 1 tsp. black pe
p owd e r
pper
• 1/2 tbsp. garlic
paste
• 1/2 tbsp. ginge
r paste
• 1 tsp. cumin po
wd e r
to give them a great
colour just before serving, so don’t
worry. Overcooking them in the oven will result in them
hardening and we want them to retain their moisture.
Remove them from the baking tray and if you want,
you could smoke the kababs using a lit coal with a drop
of oil to give them a good bbq aroma. You can also pack
and freeze the kababs at this point.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
When ready to shape the kababs, grease a baking tray
lightly with oil.. If you want to make this authentic
seekhi shape and do not have flat skewers, lightly oil
the stick end of a wooden spoon, grab a small handful
of the mince mixture and shape it over the stick,
making sure to smoothen it so that no cracks form.
Then gently slide the kabab off the stick onto the tray.
Keep going until all are shaped.
Then just before serving the kababs, warm a frying
pan and add a small drizzle of oil. Add the kababs on
it in batches and keep turning them using tongs to
get an even colour on every side. Remove them on
to a plate and serve them juicy and sizzling hot with
accompaniments of your choice.
TIP: You can also simply grill or fry these seekhs in an
oiled nonstick grill pan or heavy frying pan on the stove
top until cooked through if you do not want to bake
them in the oven.
Preheat over to 220C. It needs to be a HOT oven when
you place the tray in. Bake/grill for about 10 minutes,
then turn them over and give them another 5 minutes.
At this point the kababs will still be slightly light in
colour, but that is ok. We shall finish them off on a pan
Contents
INGREDIE
Enjoy!
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50
www.muslimink.com
Paneer Tikka
An Indian dish made from
cubes of paneer (cottage
cheese) marinated in
spices and then grilled with
capsicum and onions. It is
a vegetarian alternative
to chicken tikka. The trick
in grilling these amazingly
delicious skewers is to
ensure that the paneer,
whilst perfectly succulent
and tender, should also
have a slight crisp singe
on the surface. This dish is
normally served with mint
chutney.
P
UT the yoghurt in a clean cloth and hang it for 30
minutes to an hour so that any excess water drips
out and it gets thick and creamy.
• 2 5 0 g m p a c ke t
paneer, cub
ed
• 1 re d c a p s i c u m
• 1 onion, cubed
• 1 g re e n c a p s i c u
m
• 1 / 2 c u p yo g h u
rt
• 1 tsp. lemon ju
i ce
• 1/2 tsp. garlic
paste
• 1/2 tsp. ginger
paste
Then, in a bowl, mix together the thick yoghurt,
powdered spices, ginger, garlic, lemon and oil. Stir well
until combined. Now add the cubed paneer, capsicum
and onion. Mix gently so that everything is well
combined.
TIP: If your paneer is crumbly, mix it in half the
marinade separately and mix the veggies in a different
bowl with the remaining marinade to avoid the paneer
from falling apart during mixing.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight
if possible. This will ensure that the flavours seep into
the paneer giving you tastier results.
NTS
• 1 t s p . re d c h i l l i
p owd e r
• 1 tsp. tandoori
p owd e r o r
chaat masa
• 1/2 tsp. turme la
ric
p owd e r
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
p owd e r
• 1 t s p . s a l t (o r t
o t a s t e)
• 1 tbsp. oil
around 15 minutes, turning
them occasionally for even grilling. You can
even bake these in the oven, preheat to 200 C and
place the skewers on a greased tray. Bake for about
8-10 minutes per side. Brush the skewers lightly with
oil OR melted butter midway during baking/grilling to
prevent the paneer from hardening.
Before you are ready to grill the paneer, if you are using
wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30
minutes. This will prevent them from burning.
Skewer the paneer cubes alternating with the coloured
capsicum and onion. Grill on a bbq gril for a total of
Contents
of
INGREDIE
Serve with mint chutney.
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51
www.muslimink.com
01 STAY HYDRATED
3 Things
You MUST
Do to Stay
Healthy This
Ramadan
Ramadan will occur during some of the longest and hottest days of the
calendar year. We will have a very short period of time to get in both food
and drink when we are fasting for 15-17 straight hours. Being diligent and
purposeful is going to be important in balancing food and drink during the 3
or 4 hours we will have awake and not fasting.
BY MUBARAKAH IBRAHIM
The best way to stay hydrated is to drink water through out the evening.
The body of the average person has the ability to absorb only 8-10 ounces
of water very 20 minutes. (This amount goes up or down with body size)
That means when you drink more than 10 ounces of water at one time, the
body expels the additional water, hence the urge to urinate when we drink
a lot of water. So the best plan is to drink smaller portions throughout the
evening and you will be able to get plenty. It’s easy to remember if you
connect your water with your prayers. Here is a sample routine.
Break fast with 10 ounces of water before praying Magrib
Drink 10 oz. of water after the prayer with your meal
Drink 10 oz. of water before praying Isha
Drink 10 oz. of water Before praying Tawarih
Drink 10 oz. during the Tawarih Break
Drink 10 oz. After Tawarih and Before Bed
Drink 10 oz. Right Before Fajr comes in.
Contents
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52
www.muslimink.com
02 TAKE YOUR VITAMINS
With such long fast even the heftiest
eater is going to find it hard to get all
the micronutrients they need. That’s
when a good “food-based” multivitamin will come in handy. The
body needs 13 essential vitamins
to function properly. To regulate the
crucial performance of the body, it
has to have vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K,
B12, and the 7 B-complex vitamins.
For example fat-soluble antioxidant
vitamins, like the Vitamin E, works to
neutralize harmful free radicals in the
body.
It also maintains healthy skin through
protection of cell membranes, blood
circulation, heart, nerves, red blood
cells, and muscles. Vitamin C fights
infection, boosts the immune system
and is vital in collagen formation,
wound healing, and formation of bone
structures, capillaries, and teeth.
Majority of these vitamins are
obtained by our body through the
food that we eat, however during
Ramadan our foods are significantly
decreased and when we eat many
times the meals are not always
balance nutrition. So the quantity and
the quality of our food change during
the month of fasting.
Taking a multi-vitamin made from
whole food sources is the halal
insurance policy for your health.
“Food-based” multi-vitamins are
made from dehydrated foods, making
the micronutrient more bioavailable, in
other words you body can actually use
them. To make sure you have the right
type of vitamins look at the nutrition
label. If it has a list of the names of
vitamins and does not list actual foods
like, carrots, beets and broccoli in the
ingredient list then its not food based.
Contents
03 SCALE BACK YOUR WORKOUT
Despite how fit you may be or how long you have been working
out fasting 15-17 hours a day for 30 days will take a physical toll
on your body. Going a day or two fasting may not phase your
fitness routine but after a couple of weeks your body will not have
the nutrients it need to recover from an hour of heavy weight
training followed by a spin class. After workouts the muscles look
for macronutrients (Fats, Carbohydrates and Proteins) to build and
repair muscle fibers.
This process happens throughout a 24 hour period, which is the
reason why outside of Ramadan fitness enthusiast eat every 3-4
hours to keep a consistent flow of nutrients to the muscles to
pre-pare them for the next workout. Without this consistency
your body will begin to cannibalize itself and eat away at the
precious muscles and strength you have worked all year to build
up.
So the intense workout that you are pushing yourself to achieve
to prove your “Ramadan Fitness” will actually work against you in
the very near future by making you weaker long term.
Mubarakah Ibrahim is the author of “The Ramadan Survival Guide: Practical Health and
Fitness Advice For Observing Fast During the Summer” and owner of BALANCE Fitness
Studio for Women in New Haven, CT. She is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness
Counselor and Authorized Oasis in the Overwhelm® Trainer. She has appeared on The
Oprah Winfrey Show “Thirty-something in America”, is a contributing expert to Prevention
Magazine on fitness for women over 40, appeared on the covers of the Hartford Current,
New Haven Advocate and Chicago Tribune. Mubarakah lectures, promotes and conducts
workshops on alternative health, fitness and healthy living throughout the World. She can
be contacted through her website www.FitMuslimah.com
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P
ancakes and syrup, even the all-natural
Maple syrup from the tree, are simple sugars
that’s going to give you an insulin spike then
a crash. The little bit of energy you would have
had until 12-noon will be cut short and you will
find yourself feeling fatigue and brain fog earlier
in the day.
01
Eat Pancakes For Sahoor
In addition pancakes have minimum nutritional
value during a time when we should be focused
more than ever on the quality of our food instead
of the quantity. If you are only going to have time
to eat two full meals then you need to make them
nutrient dense meals to stave off hunger and
fatigue as long as possible in the day.
5 Things
02
Muslim women
should NEVER
do in Ramadan
R
amadan is a time for spiritual renewal
and development. Often times,
women in particular, spend hours in
the kitchen each night making extravagant
3 course meals for their family or for their
guest. Although there is blessing in feeding
the fasting person and of course we want
our families to eat well after such long days,
this reduces the amount of time that we
spend doing traditional Ibadah which gets
more blessings. And Yes, there is an Ibadah
hierarchy. It is reported by Ibn Masood that
the Messenger of Allah r was asked which
deed is most loved to God and he said,
“Prayer in its time. Then I said, “then what,”
and he said, “Being good to your parents.”…..
(Agreed Upon) So ditch the, I need to be
“Ramadan Betty Crocker” routine, plan some
crockpot meals and set a goal to make
more Salah with Kushoo (Concentration and
attentiveness).
By Mubarakah Ibrahim
Contents
Cooking 3 Course Meals For Iftar
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03
Keep the Same Daily Routine
D
espite the fact that we love being
Muslim and for us the spiritual
benefits far exceed the physical
challenges of fasting it’s still hard
sometimes, and that’s okay. Although,
Christians and Jews fast as a part of their
spiritual ritual, the Islamic fast is the most
strict and extensive of all the Abrahamic
faiths. There are unavoidable physical effects
of fasting, especially since we
will be fasting with no food or
drink for 15-17 hours a day.
You will get weak towards
the end of your day due to
lack of food. The speed and
clarity in which a fasting
person thinks towards the
end of the day is reduced due
to the drop in insulin level.
Physical fatigue is a real problem after a
couple weeks due to dehydration.
04
These things are real, but fasting is obligatory to
every Muslim so we have to adjust and plan around
it. Try to do your most physically and mentally
taxing work earlier in the day if you can. If you have
a job or a co-worker that may change shifts with you
for a month so you can work earlier or the night shift
when you are not fasting.
Offer to work on Christmas and Easter and other
holidays for them. If changing your shift isn’t
possible, don’t be shy to have a heart to heart with
your boss and co-workers. Let them know you will
be fasting and may feel a little fatigued some days
but will do your best to maintain the same quality
of work and professionalism you do the rest of
the year. Most of the time non-Muslims are very
respective and helpful. It fascinated many of them
that we would and could fast the way we do and
they will offer to take a project or give you lighter
assignments.
05 Use Fasting as a Weight Loss Diet
Exercise While You Are Fasting
E
P
very year I cringe when people tell me they
are going to use Ramadan as a time detox
or diet. The first problem with this is a
spiritual one. Every action
is judged for it’s intentions
and if your intentions are to
make your fast a diet then
you have just voided all
spiritual benefit. Secondly
“detoxing” and dieting
can have negative side
effects that can make you
physically ill and unable to
fast. It’s not uncommon for
people to “detox” and have
flu-like symptoms the first
few days. If this happens
then you have basically
sabotaged your own self
and missed the blessing of fasting that day. Yes,
you can make it up later if you are sick but in
addition to not being able to fast, if you are sick
you probably won’t be able to do other forms of
Ibadah with focus if at all. Ramadan is a time for
spiritual cleanse not physical cleanse. It’s a time
for a diet of Nafs (the lower desires) not a food
diet.
lease drop the “Fit Ramadan” routine.
Fasting 17 hours a day is no joke and it
doesn’t make you a fitness queen when
you workout while you are fasting. In fact it
does the opposite. After a workout our body
looks to our nutrients to build and restore
muscles. This is the reason a well thought out
fitness plan includes post-workout snacks.
Building and maintaining muscle is absolutely
vital to every fitness goal. If you want to
“tone up”, muscle is what creates that tight
and toned look. If you want lose weight, for
every pound of muscle you gain you boost your
metabolism 50 calories a day which helps you
not only lose weight but keep it off as well. If
you want to get arms like Michelle Obama,
yeah that’s muscle too. When you exercise
while you are fasting you leave a critical
nutritional window immediately following your
workout open and empty so in response you
body will begin to cannibalize it’s own muscle,
leaving you with a slower metabolism, less
tone and less strength. So if you insist on
workout during the month of Ramadan, scale
back the intensity and workout in the evening.
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Ramadan in History
By Abdul Hakim Quick
The Prophet r passed through
approximately nine Ramadans after
the Hijrah. They were filled with
decisive events and left us a shining
example of sacrifice...
M
ANY Muslims today have a
misconception about fasting and the
activities of a fasting person. They go
into a state of semi-hibernation, spending most
of their daylight hours in bad. If they fear Allah,
they wake up for prayer, but then return to sleep
immediately. This unnatural sleep makes them
become lazy, dull-witted and often cranky.
Almighty Allah separated truth from falsehood at
the Great Battle of Badr. The Prophet r and 313
of his companions set out to intercept a caravan
of their own goods that had been left in Makkah.
It was led by Abu Sufyan himself, and estimated
at 50,000 dinars. They were met, instead, by a
well-equipped army of the nobility of Quraish,
intend on putting out the light of Islam. Despite
being outnumbered three to one and appearing
weak and unseasoned, the Muslims defended
their faith with a burning desire to protect the
Prophet and meet their Lord through martyrdom.
Allah gave them a decisive victory on this day of
Ramadan, that would never be forgotten.
Ramadan is actually a time of increased activity
wherein the believer, now lightened of the
burdens of constant eating and drinking, should
be more willing to strive and struggle for Allah.
The Prophet r passed through approximately
nine Ramadans after the Hijrah. They were
filled with decisive events and left us a shining
example of sacrifice and submission to Allah.
In 6 A.H., Zaid ibn Haritha was sent to Wadi alQura at the head of a detachment to confront
Fatimah bint Rabiah, the queen of that area.
Fatimah had previously attacked a caravan led
by Zaid and had succeeded in plundering its
wealth. She was known to be the most protected
woman in Arabia, as she hung fifty swords of her
close relatives in her home. Fatimah was equally
renowned for showing open hostility to Islam.
She was killed in a battle against these Muslims
in the month of Ramadan.
In the first year after the Hijrah, the Prophetr
sent Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib with thirty
Muslim riders to Saif al Bahr to investigate
three hundred riders from Quraish who had
camped suspiciously in that area. The Muslims
were about to engage the disbelievers, but they
were separated by Majdy ibn Umar al-Juhany.
The Hypocrites of Madinah, hoping to oppose
the unity of the Muslims, built their own masjid
(called Masjid ad-Dirar). The Prophet r ordered
this masjid to be destroyed in Ramadan.
By Ramadan of 8 A.H., the treaty of Hudaibiyya
had been broken and the Muslim armies
had engaged the Byzantines in the North.
Muhammad r felt the need to strike a fatal
On the seventeenth of Ramadan, 3 A.H.,
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blow to disbelief in the Arabian Peninsula and
conquer the city of Mecca. Allah has declared
His Sanctuary a place of peace, security and
religious sanctity. Now the time had come to
purify the Ka`bah of nakedness and abomination.
The Prophet r set out with an army having more
armed men than al-Madinah had ever seen
before. People were swelling the army’s ranks
as it moved toward Makkah. The determination
of the believers, guided by the Will of Allah,
became so awesome that the city of Makkah
was conquered without a battle, on 20
Ramadan. This was one of the most important
dates in Islamic history for after it, Islam was
firmly entrenched in the Arabian Peninsula.
During the same month and year, after smashing
the idols of Makkah, detachments were sent to
the other major centers of polytheism and alLat, Manat and Suwa, some of the greatest idols
of Arabia, were destroyed.
Such was the month of Ramadan in the time
of the Prophet r. It was a time of purification,
enjoining the good, forbidding the evil, and
striving hard with one’s life and wealth. After the
death of the Prophet r Muslims carried on this
tradition and Allah used the true believers to
affect the course of history. Ramadan continued
to be a time of great trials and crucial events.
Ninety-two years after the Hijrah, Islam had
spread across North Africa, Iran, Afghanistan,
Yemen and Syria. Spain was under the tyrannical
rule of King Roderic of the Visigoths. Roderic had
In Ramadan of that year, Tariq and
Musa succeeded in liberating the whole
of Spain, Sicily and parts of France. This
was the beginning of the Golden Age of
Al-Andalus...
forced his six millions serfs and persecuted Jews
to seek the aid of the Muslims of North Africa
in order to be delivered. Musa ibn Husair, the
Umayyad governor of North Africa, responded
by sending his courageous general Tariq ibn
Ziyad at the head of 12,000 Berber and Arab
troops. In Ramadan of that year, they were
confronted with a combined Visigoth army of
90,000 Christians led by Roderic himself, who
was seated on a throne of ivory, silver, and
precious gems and drawn by white mules. After
burning his boats, Tariq preached to the Muslims
warning them that victory and Paradise lay
ahead of them and defeat and the sea lay to the
rear. They burst forth with great enthusiasm and
Allah manifested a clear victory over the forces
of disbelief. Not only was Roderic killed and his
Contents
forces completely annihilated, but also Tariq
and Musa succeeded in liberating the whole
of Spain, Sicily and parts of France. This was
the beginning of the Golden Age of Al-Andalus
where Muslims ruled for over 700 years.
In the year 582 A.H., Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi, after
battling with the Crusaders for years, finally
drove them out of Syria and the whole of their
occupied lands in the month of Ramadan. The
Muslim world was then destined to meet one of
its most frightening challenges.
In the seventh century A.H. the Mongols were
sweeping across Asia destroying everything that
lay in their path. Genghis Khan called himself
“the scourge of God sent to punish humanity
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for their sins”. In 617 A.H., Samarkand, Ray
and Hamdan were put to the sword causing
more than 700,000 people to be killed or made
captive. In 656 A.H., Hulagu, the grandson
of Genghis Khan, continued this destruction.
Even Baghdad, the leading city of the Muslim
world, was sacked. Some estimates say that as
many as 1,800,000 Muslims were killed in this
awesome carnage. The Christians were asked
to eat pork and drink wine openly while the
surviving Muslims were forced to participate
in drinking bouts. Wine was sprinkled in the
masjids and no Azan (call to prayer) was allowed.
In the wake of such a horrible disaster and with
the threat of the whole Muslim world and then
Europe being subjected to the same fate, Allah
raised up from the Mamluks of Egypt, Saifuddin
Qutz, who united the Muslim army and met the
Mongols at Ain Jalut on 25th of Ramadan, 458
A.H. Although they were under great pressure,
the Muslims with the help of Allah, cunning
strategy and unflinching bravery crushed the
Mongol army and reversed this tidal wave of
horror. The whole of the civilized world sighed
in relief and stood in awe at the remarkable
achievement of these noble sons of Islam.
impossible challenges. It was a time of intense
activity, spending the day in the saddle and the
night in prayer while calling upon Allah for His
mercy and forgiveness.
Today, the Muslim world is faced with drought,
military aggression, widespread corruption and
tempting materialism. Surely we are in need
of believers who can walk in the footsteps of
our beloved Prophet r the illustrious Sahabah,
Tariq ibn Ziyad, Qutuz, Salahuddin and the
countless heroes of Islam. Surely we are in need
of believers who are unafraid of the threats
of the disbelievers, yet kind and humble to
the believing people; Muslims whose fast is
complete and not just a source of hunger and
thirst.
May Allah raise up a generation of Muslims who
can carry Islam to all corners of the globe in a
manner that befits our age, and may He give us
the strength and the success to lay the proper
foundations for them. May Allah make us of
those who carry out our Islam during Ramadan
and after it, and may He not make us of those
who say what they do not do. Surely Allah and
His Angels invoke blessings and peace upon our
Prophet Muhammad. O you who believe, send
blessings and peace to him forever.
This was the spirit of Ramadan that enabled
our righteous forefathers to face seemingly
Today, the Muslim world is faced
with drought, military aggression,
widespread corruption and tempting
materialism. Surely we are in need
of believers who can walk in the
footsteps of our beloved Prophet r the
illustrious Sahabah, Tariq ibn Ziyad,
Qutuz, Salahuddin and the countless
heroes of Islam
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Why
We
Fast
?
by Umm Muhammad
O
NE might wonder why
our Creator would
require us to fast for
a month out of every year,
given that He is all-powerful,
self-sufficient and not in
need of anything from His
servants. Indeed, He does
not gain any benefit from His
servants’ worship, nor is He
harmed by their refusal. So
why do we fast?
The Qur’an tells us: “O you
who have believed, fasting is
decreed upon you as it was
decreed upon those before
you that you may become
righteous.” (2:183)
We notice in this verse
that the purpose of fasting
is stated: “that you may
become righteous.” So
fasting is a means to refine
the soul and attain taqwā,
which means righteousness,
piety and consciousness of
our Creator. We don’t wait
to become better people
before we fast, because
righteousness is the outcome
and result of fasting. Yet, it is
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59
not the reason we fast.
The answer to this question
can only be: We fast in
obedience to our Lord. For He
said: “The month of Ramadan
is that in which the Qur’ān was
[first] sent down, as a guidance
for the people and clear proofs
of guidance and criterion. So
whoever witnesses the month,
let him fast it...” (2:185) “And
eat and drink until the white
thread of dawn becomes
distinct to you from the dark.
Then complete the fast until
the night.” (2:187)
In addition to the great
rewards alluded to in
prophetic narrations, there
are a number of secondary
benefits obtained in this
world for those who fast.
But while physical and moral
benefits are definitely among
the positive results of fasting,
they cannot be the cause of
it or the incentive for it. For a
believer, not one of them may
be cited as the reason for
fasting.
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The Muslim’s primary objective
must be to fulfill his obligation
to his Lord, to show servitude to
Him, and to obey His command.
If done for any other reason, the
fast will not be accepted. In a
hadith qudsi, Allah said, “Fasting is
for Me, and l [alone] reward it. (AlBukhāri)
The performance of righteous
deeds is not an end in itself, but
it reflects consciousness of Allah,
who is aware of every action,
word, thought and intention;
and this motivates the believer
toward honesty and precision
in everything he does. Fasting
reminds us of our subservience
to Allah and demonstrates our
submission to Him. Although
one has the ability to indulge his
physical desires, he refrains out of
willing obedience. The Messenger
of Allah r told us, “Whoever fasts
Ramadan with faith and seeking its
reward will have what preceded of
his sin forgiven.” (Ahmad)
We are living in an age of
immediate gratification, where
human needs and desires expect
fulfillment almost as soon as they
surface. From a psychological
perspective, the ability to detach
themselves from physical
desires gives fasting people
the knowledge that they have
a degree of control over their
bodies. The ability to postpone
gratification and practice patience
is an important skill. It facilitates
abstinence from sins and from
many of the addictions that have
become part of modern life.
But this is not why we fast.
Fasting has been shown medically
to be beneficial to both bodily
and mental health. It cleanses
the body of accumulated toxins
and wards off many dietContents
related illnesses. It improves
health, sharpens the intellect
and enhances powers of
concentration. It trains the body
to face conditions of scarcity and
fight disease.
But this is not why we fast.
Fasting gives training in
endurance and acceptance. It
develops courage, strengthens
resolve and conditions a person to
cope with difficulties in all aspects
of his life. And it helps develop
the qualities that successful
people possess: willpower,
strength and capability.
But this is not why we fast.
Fasting gives lessons in
punctuality as one has to adhere
to a strict schedule of time in the
observance of a fast. It provides
a sense of mental, physical and
spiritual discipline.
But this is not why we fast.
Fasting teaches us patience, selfcontrol and appreciation of the
provisions and pleasures we often
take for granted. Being hungry
helps us to adjust our perspective
about food. It should make
us more appreciative and less
wasteful.
But this is not why we fast.
Fasting develops moral character
and cultivates in us a sense of
humbleness. It helps us control
evil thoughts and trains us to
overcome stinginess and greed.
The effort required to endure
hunger and thirst is extended to
conquer anger and resentment.
It teaches us to become more
tolerant through our own
discomfort.
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60
But this is not why we fast.
Fasting helps believers detach
themselves from physical desires
and reduces their intensity.
It enables them to develop
an attitude of insignificance
toward the present world and a
preference for the Hereafter.
But this is not why we fast.
Fasting provides nourishment
for the soul and has the effect
of softening hearts. It produces
compassion and generosity
toward those less fortunate who
cannot always relieve their pains
of hunger at the end of the day
and endure difficult conditions in
their lives.
But this is not why we fast.
Fasting is about detoxification
of the mind, body and soul. It
creates the desire to become
a better human being, and
Ramadan is a great opportunity
for believers each year to repent,
amend themselves and thus
change their destinies.
But this is not why we fast.
So why do we fast?
Only for our Creator... while
awaiting our return to Him,
hoping for His forgiveness and
seeking His acceptance. For He
has told us: “Allah intends for you
ease and does not intend for you
hardship, and for you to complete
the [fasting] period and to glorify
Allah for that to which He has
guided you; and perhaps you will be
grateful.” (2:185) May Allah grant us the favor of
fasting this month of Ramadan
and accept it from us.
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Pregnancy,
nursing
& Ramadan
by Stacey Greaves-Favors
I
T’S that time of year again,
Ramadan has arrived,
alhamdulelah. Families make
plans to hostiftars. Grocery stores
bring in special foods. People
look at their homes and consider
decorating changes. Parents
remind their children that we are
fasting. Everyone has prepared for
the arrival of the blessed month of
Ramadan.
Fasting during Ramadan is
obligatory upon all able-bodied
adults. There are, however, a few
exceptions. Allah, The Most High
says :
((And whosoever is sick or is upon
a journey; then the period is made
up from other days…)) [Soorah AlBaqarah: 185]
Women who are pregnant or
breastfeeding are included here
and may opt not to fast. Every
year I get phone calls, emails, or in
person requests for information
about fasting while pregnant or
breastfeeding a baby. Pregnant
mothers are always wondering
if fasting will be harmful for
them or their baby. “Will I have
enough energy?” “Will my labor
start early?” “Will I or my baby
lose weight? Or will we get
sick?” Breastfeeding mothers
wonder, “Will I have enough milk
for my baby?” “Will my health
be affected?” They wonder how
they can be sure to take care of
their babies and themselves. They
Contents
ask all sorts of questions because,
let’s face it: Moms tend to worry!
One thing is for certain, each
woman, in fact each pregnancy or
nursing experience, is different.
It is important for each mom
to weigh her current situation
individually. Sometimes a mom
will feel pressure from a loved
one or friend. Her auntie might
say, “I fasted the entire month of
Ramadan while pregnant. Three
times. Why can’t you do it?” A
friend might advise, “When I was
breastfeeding my son, I was scared
I would lose all my milk. So I didn’t
fast the entire month.”
Personally I have fasted while
pregnant, while breastfeeding,
and while breastfeeding during a
pregnancy. I have also not fasted
at those times. I have done it all.
However, I would never advise a
mom to fast or to not fast based
on my experiences. All I can do is
to give her the needed information,
support her in her decision, and
trust that she knows how her body
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61
feels and what her baby needs.
A pregnant mom may have
less energy and often feels
fatigued. She may be dealing with
morning sickness or any of the
other numerous side effects of
pregnancy. She must first decide if
any of these symptoms will make
fasting difficult for her. A mom who
suffers from nausea may find that
eating small meals, fairly often
settles her stomach. In her case,
she may not fast for fear of being
sick for a whole day. If a mom has
trouble gaining weight during her
pregnancy, she might find fasting
to exacerbate her problem. These
moms would have to think twice
about fasting. If you are in doubt
as to whether or not you are able
to fast, consult a doctor.
Fortunately, some mothers are
able to escape these pregnancy
related ailments (either because of
where she is in her pregnancy, or
because she simply isn’t troubled
by these things). These women
might choose to fast. If this is your
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case, go ahead and try to fast for a
day. If you are able to get through
the day easily, wonderful; if not, it
might be best to break your fast.
Some mothers find they are able to
fast one day, but not the next. So,
she might choose to fast, then skip
a day, then fast, then skip a day
again. One year when I was eight
months pregnant, I discovered that
I could fast for three days in a row.
If I tried a fourth day, I felt weak and
was miserable. So I fasted three
days on, one day off for the whole
month. Some women may fast
for two days on one day off. Any
number of combinations of fasting
and skipping days may work for a
pregnant woman. The key is for her
to discover what works for her at
the time.
irritable, than normal and there
is no other cause, consider that
your supply has been affected.
Observing Baby’s output is an easy
way to check if he is getting enough
milk. What goes in, must come
out. Have you noticed a change in
Baby’s diapers? Does Baby have
the same elimination pattern that
was established before fasting
began? Be aware of changes in wet
(urine) or soiled (bowel movement)
diapers. If Mom does believe
Baby is not getting enough milk,
she can check Baby’s weight for
confirmation.
Studies have shown that complete
fasting during the daylight hours
(the fast of Ramadan) does not
Fruit or vegetable juices are also
good. Sugary and/or caffeinated
drinks should be limited.
One solution for fasting moms who
are pregnant or nursing is to eat a
meal in addition to suhoor and iftar.
(A fasting mom should be sure not
to skip suhoor.) Some women will
eat a late dinner, hoping to replace
what she missed out on during
the day. Mom should concern
herself with eating well-balanced
meals when fasting. Include plenty
of fruits and vegetables in your
diet. For the pre-dawn meal, Mom
should eat a filling meal. High fiber
and complex carbohydrates are
more filling. Limit your sweets and
opt for fresh fruit instead.
Pregnant and
breastfeeding moms
should be sure to get
plenty of rest. Taking a
nap in the afternoon is
a great way to recharge
Mom’s batteries.
Errands, housework,
anything that might
zap your energy should
be done earlier in the
day when you have more energy.
Toward the end of the day, it may
help to relax, or do easier activities
only. Even on normal days, people
tend to feel tired, irritable, or
hungry at the end of the day. This
is even more true when a pregnant
or breastfeeding mom is fasting.
Personally I have fasted... I have
also not fasted. I have done it all.
However, I would never advise a
mom to fast or to not fast based
on my experiences
After the blessed
event of birth, a
woman is not yet
done nourishing her
baby. When nine
months of gestation
end, months (or years)
of breastfeeding
begin. Breastfeeding
moms are concerned
about their baby’s health and their
milk supply. Mothers often ask,
“Should I fast while I am nursing
my baby?” Well, that is a hard
question to answer. Remember,
every woman’s body is different.
Each nursing baby is also different.
In other words, a mom who
is breastfeeding a second or
subsequent baby may very well
have a different experience from
a previous breastfeeding baby. A
mom may have had no problems
fasting while nursing before, and
still have concerns about fasting
while breastfeeding a current baby.
affect Mom’s milk supply. However,
there is a concern about Mom
becoming dehydrated. If she
becomes dehydrated, her supply
might decrease. Additionally she
may not feel well. Symptoms of
dehydration include: feeling very
thirsty, passing dark-colored and
strong-smelling urine, feeling weak
or faint, or developing a headache
or other pain. If any of these
symptoms are experienced, Mom
should take note and rethink her
decision to fast. It is especially
difficult during these hot summer
months when days are long.
A breastfeeding mother’s concern
is her baby’s health. Will he get
enough milk? Will Mother’s supply
decrease? It is important to be
aware of any changes in your Baby.
If he seems hungrier, fussier, more
In both cases (pregnancy and
breastfeeding), if a woman chooses
to fast, she should pay attention
to what she eats and drinks during
the evening hours. Be sure to drink,
drink, drink. Water is the best drink.
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All in all, a pregnant or
breastfeeding mom can safely
fast if she is up to it. She should
feel no pressure from anyone in
either case. She must decide if
she is able to fast. If you make
the decision to fast, get enough
rest, limit your afternoon activities,
be sure to eat and drink well, and
observe your baby for problems.
Keeping these tips in mind, fasting
during Ramadan while pregnant
or breastfeeding can safely be
accomplished.
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Remembering death
and Ramadan
By Rahla Khan
I
REMEMBER the beginning of Ramadan last year: the festive
supermarkets with their jampacked aisles, the makeshift roadside
stalls outside restaurants selling crisp sambusas and subiya, the
sounds of Adhan emanating from Masajid...
My house overlooked a Maghsalat-Al-Amwaat Al-Khairiyyah (a
charitable organization which prepares bodies for burial in the
Islamic manner), and as I walked home from the neighborhood
supermarket laden with packages of food and other essentials in
preparation of the next day’s fast, I caught sight of a family accompanying
a bier in a hearse. The women huddled together, sobbing quietly, while the men
stood at a distance in somber silence.
It struck me: While I was going home to the comfort of my home and the company of my
family, this person was being dispatched alone, to answer the stern questioning of the grave.
While I would be given the opportunity to fast and perform other deeds as Allah willed, this person,
who had been given the same opportunity in past years, had been deprived of it this year.
Our Imam and Khateeb, may Allah preserve him, used to remind the congregants of the favors of Allah in
allowing us to witness yet another Ramadan, by contrasting our state with those of the people of the graves,
who would gladly give the world and all that is in it if they could, in lieu of the chance to worship Allah a little
more, to add the tiniest good deeds to their scale that would enable them to draw closer to Paradise and take
them further away from the Fire.
In a khutbah, Imam Abdul Bari Al-Thubayti, may Allah preserve him, said: “Whoever remembers death
frequently is honored with three things: hastening towards repentance, contentment and energy in
performing acts of worship; and whoever forgets death is punished with three things: delaying
repentance, lack of contentedness and laziness in acts of worship.”
With disturbing reports of the MERS virus and the resultant panic pouring in from all over the
world, it is no wonder that our thoughts naturally turn to death and dying.
Unlike some belief systems which consider the contemplation of death
“inauspicious” or “macabre”, Muslims are encouraged to regularly remind
themselves and others about the inevitable end of life, and what awaits a
person in the Hereafter.
In the “Book of Remembrance of Death and What Follows It” in
Ihya Uloom-ud-Deen, Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali mentions a
narration on the benefits of remembering death:
The Mother of the Believers Ayesha (may Allah be
pleased with her) asked the Prophet r: “Will
anyone be raised with the martyrs (on the
Day of Resurrection)?” The Prophet r
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replied: “Yes, the one who remembers death 20 times (or more) within the space of a day and a night.”
The Prophet r once stood at the edge of a grave and called out to his Companions: “O my brothers! For
this, prepare yourselves.” (Ibn Majah) and in another narration, he said: “O people! Remember often the
destroyer of pleasures: death.” (Al-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah)
The injunction to “remember death abundantly” is not a command designed to scare us
into righteousness; rather, it is a positive counsel that spurs us to seize every small
and big opportunity to earn the pleasure of Allah, and prepare ourselves for the
Day “when neither wealth nor sons will benefit anyone, except (the one)
who comes to Allah with a clean heart.” (Qur’an, 26:88)
Once a man asked the Prophet r, “Who is the wisest among
the people, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “The one
who remembers death most often and the one who
is best prepared to meet it. These are the truly
wise, honored in this life and distinguished in the
Hereafter.” (Ibn Majah, Al-Tabarani).
The remembrance of death acquires a special significance
with the advent of Ramadan, since it is the season of Hope and
Blessings and an opportunity to earn innumerable rewards that can be
reaped eternally, which is open to everyone equally.
Yet, many of us greet Ramadan with a sense of complacent déjà vu, a “been-there,
done-that” lassitude, that could cost us dearly. Let’s face it: for many of us Ramadan has
turned into a time for socializing with friends and extended family, spending hours preparing
and sampling traditional dishes, watching TV sitcoms from Iftar to Isha – to the extent that we
even spend the precious nights of Ramadan in auto-pilot mode, performing our prayers perfunctorily
before hitting the supermarkets, malls, coffee shops and Internet cafes to shop or while the night away.
Somewhere at the back of our minds is the assurance that there’s always next year – or a succession of
years – to count on, when we will magically have the “Ramadan of our dreams” with plenty of time to read
the Qur’an, stand in prayer at night, seek forgiveness in the early morning hours, serve the ailing and poor, be
hospitable to our neighbors and friends.
However, the sad truth is that as the years pass by, our energy and health dissipates and our
responsibilities and distractions increase exponentially, distancing us from the mirage of the
perfect Ramadan even further... until it may be too late.
The Prophet r advised us: “Hasten to do good deeds before you become busy. Are
you waiting for such straitened circumstances which will make you unmindful
of devotion? Or such prosperity which will make you corrupt? Or such
disease which will disable you? Or such senility which will make you
mentally unstable? Or sudden death? Or the Dajjaal (Anti-Christ),
who is the worst apprehended (sign of the Hour)? Or (are you
waiting) for the Hour? That will be most grievous and bitter.”
(Al-Tirmidhi)
We have no guarantees that we will live to see
another Ramadan, let us seize each blessing
with eagerness and each opportunity to
earn rewards with enthusiasm, to
make this the best Ramadan of our
lives.
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Hunting for the
RAMADAN SPIRIT
Older people go on and on about how
much “nicer” Ramadan was during their
time…Every Ramadan as the years go
by (and I get older) I tend to feel that
something is missing. I can’t put my
finger on it nor can I make a list… but
indeed, it’s not the same. I don’t know
whether it’s me or everyone else that’s
different.
— Rahla Khan
M
OST people my parents’ age would say that
Ramadan is less “family-oriented than it
used to be” and it seems to be the time
where Arabic TV series and game shows dominate.
One thing is for sure, the Ramadan spirit is not what
it used to be, that I can say!’ – a commentator on
waleg.com
instinctively rebels and strives for purity even in
the face of corrupting influences. In recent years,
spontaneous online campaigns have been launched
by youngsters on Facebook promoting a TV-free
Ramadan (dubbed Fasting From TV). Jeddah-based
Islamic speaker Ahmad Al-Shughairi popularized
the ‘One Million Good Deeds’ endeavor, encouraging
Muslims to seize the opportunities for good deeds
throughout the month even if they are seemingly
“trivial” – such as feeding the fasting poor, donating
clothes and household goods or sponsoring medical
treatment for the needy.
A New York Times article on the commercialization
of Ramadan summed up the sentiment nicely with
the headline: “It’s beginning to look a lot like…”
Certainly, the month of fasting, prayer and reflection
has begun to feel quite like the month of indulgence,
entertainment and self-absorption at the hands of
advertisers, traders and broadcasters.
What emerges from the success of these campaigns
– and similar ones around the world – is that the
spirit of Ramadan is revived by self-reflection and
taking oneself to account; focusing on fulfilling
the rights of Allah, His Messenger and our fellow
Thanks to the Fitrah (the sound innate disposition)
upon which humanity has been created, the soul
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Muslims, instead of making
our own self and its whims and
desires the center of our universe.
The Prophet r, his Companions
and the generations that followed
them in Ihsaan (perfecting good
deeds) and Ikhlaas (sincerity)
brought the Ramadan spirit to life
with their actions. Here’s how we
can emulate them:
Acquiring knowledge
Most of us may not have the
benefits of an Islamic education
from our early childhood, and may
still be in the process
of learning about
acts of worship and
the correct manner
of performing them.
the doers of good win and the
doers of falsehood lose!”
Being eager to seize every
opportunity for good deeds
The righteous actions
performed during a single
month of Ramadan may raise a
person’s rank beyond their own
estimation, as is evident from the
story narrated by the Companion
Talhah Bin Ubaydullah (may Allah
be pleased with him):
There were two men from the
tribe of Baliyy who came to the
reached the Prophet, r said,
“Why are you surprised?” They
said, “O Messenger of Allah,
the man who was martyred
was more active in worship, but
the other one entered Paradise
before him.”
The Prophet r said: “Did he not
live for one more year?” They
answered in the affirmative.
“Did he not fast for one more
Ramadan?” the Prophet,
continued, “and prayed suchand-such number of prostrations
in this year?” They answered in
the affirmative. The Prophet r
said: “The difference
between them is
equal to the distance
between the heavens
and the earth.” (Ibn
Hibban: Sahih)
The righteous actions
performed during a single
month of Ramadan may raise a
person’s rank beyond their own
estimation
The good news is
that today, there
are numerous
means besides the
traditional Halaqahs
organized in
Masjids and Islamic
centers by which we can acquire
authentic information: audio
and video lectures, radio and TV
discourses, and the internet by
the scholars of Ahl-Al-Sunnah.
It’s a good idea to utilize our time
before the start of Ramadan
in learning more about the
importance of the month, the acts
of worship that are considered
most meritorious within it, and
the best way to perform them by
consulting people of knowledge.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri used to
say, “Allah made the month of
Ramadan a racetrack where His
creatures compete in obeying
Him to attain His Pleasure. Some
people come first and thus have
won; others lag behind and thus
lose out. How amazing is the
state of the runner who has
cause to laugh on the day when
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Prophet r and embraced Islam at
the same time. One of them was
more active in worship than the
other, and it so happened that he
was martyred in a battle and the
other one lived for one more year.
Talhah (may Allah be pleased with
him) said, “I saw in my dream
that I was at the gate of Paradise
and the two men were standing
there. Someone came out and
gave permission to the man who
lived for one more year to enter
Paradise, then gave permission
to the martyr. He then returned
to me and told me to go back for
permission had not been given to
me yet.”
In the morning, Talhah (may Allah
be pleased with him) related
to the people what he saw and
they were surprised to know
this. When the news of this story
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Aiming high and going
the extra mile
The Prophet r said:
“Allah sets free from
Hell some people at
every breaking of the fast, and
this happens every night.” (Ibn
Majah, Ahmad) Who among
us would not desire to be one
of these fortunate ones? The
Companions of the Prophet used
to step up their efforts with the
advent of Ramadan – be it in their
worship at night, completing the
recitation of the Qur’an several
times during the month, or even
depriving themselves to give food
in charity.
One of our righteous
predecessors said, “Charity
cannot be perfected except with
three characteristics: hastening,
considering it negligible in our
own eyes, and concealing it.”
Surely, this is also true of all acts
of worship – may Allah accept
whatever He guides us to, out of
His Mercy.
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What did the
Prophet r eat
for Iftar?
by Rahla Khan
L
OOKING at the surfeit of food on our Sufras,
the sumptuous Suhoor banquets at fivestar hotels, the mouth-watering Iftar meals
advertised by restaurants, the supermarket trolleys
piled high with goodies and the frequent fisticuffs
that break out outside Fool-Tamees shops during
Ramadan rush hour, it would be understandable if
a stray observer concluded that Ramadan is about
indulgence, not denial.
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It never ceases to appall me how much time,
energy, expense and effort is spent in preparing,
consuming, serving and clearing up elaborate meals
in the name of “maintaining Ramadan traditions.”
It’s no secret that harried housewives and working
women have resorted to outsourcing traditional
Ramadan fare, and rather than going through
the elaborate ordeal of conjuring a multi-course
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homemade meal every single
day, they simply pay someone
to supply it. After all, Ramadan
“traditions” must be maintained,
never mind the cost.
It makes me wonder: Who taught
us the tradition of the over-laden
table and the distended stomach?
It was certainly not our Prophet r
whose Sunnah we are obligated
to follow. Doesn’t it strike us as
hugely ironic, that even as we
make Ramadan resolutions to
improve our acts of worship, and
strive to develop Ittiba’ (practice/
following) in other areas of our
lives, we
tend to
conveniently
overlook this
aspect of the
Prophet’s
life – his
moderation
to the extent
of abstinence
in indulging
his appetite?
look at some of the things the
Prophet r is reported to have
broken his fasts with:
• The Messenger of Allah r used
to prefer breaking the fast with
dates, and if he did not find any,
he would then break it with water.
• Anas Bin Malik (may Allah be
pleased with him) said: “The
Prophet r used to break his
fast with fresh dates before he
prayed. If he did not find fresh
dates then he would use dried
dates. If he did not find that also
he drank a few sips of water.
(Ahmad and Abu Dawood)
He got down and mixed Sawiq for
them.
The Prophet r drank it and then
said, “When you see night falling
from this side, the fasting person
should break his fast.” (Sahih AlBukhari)
There are many lessons to be
learnt from these narrations that
give us an insight into the sublime
character of the Prophet r and
the intended spirit of fasting.
The Prophet r preferred to break
his fast with food that was easily
available, and did not disdain to
break his
fast with
a few sips
of water if
there was
no food.
It was his
custom
to follow
a simple,
macrobiotic
diet and
he did
not order
special
dishes
made to
break the fast with – although
there were some dishes which
were considered delicacies in
those days like Tharid (meat mixed
with bread), Talbinah (a sweet),
soups, vegetables, roasted meat
and dishes prepared with cheese
and refined butter – which he
enjoyed occasionally.
The Prophet r did not make a “tradition” of
indulging his appetite – a fact which should
give his Ummah plenty of food for thought.
Whose “traditions” are we following when
we sit down to our smorgasbords every
day? And whose traditions are more worthy
of being followed?
Are we the
Ummah of
the Prophet
r who said:
“The offspring of Adam fills no
vessel worse than his stomach.
Sufficient for the child of Adam
are a few morsels to keep his
back straight. If he must eat
more, then a third should be for
his food, a third for his drink,
and a third left for air?” (Musnad
Ahmad)
Going by the statistics, which
state that cases of acute
indigestion and a host of other
digestive disorders increase
by almost 48 percent all over
the world at the beginning of
Ramadan, it certainly doesn’t
seem so.
For curiosity’s sake, let’s take a
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• Abdullah Bin Awfa narrated:
“We were in the company of the
Prophet r on a journey and he
was fasting, and when the sun
set, he addressed somebody,
“O so-and-so, get up and mix
Sawiq (a coarse mixture of ground
wheat and barley) with water for
us.” He replied, “O Allah’s Apostle!
(Will you wait) till it is evening?”
The Prophet said, “Get down and
mix Sawiq with water for us.”
He replied, “O Allah’s Apostle! (If
you wait) till it is evening.” The
Prophet said again, “Get down
and mix Sawiq with water for us.”
He replied, “It is still daytime.” The
Prophet said again, “Get down
and mix Sawiq with water for us.”
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The Prophet r did not make
a “tradition” of indulging his
appetite – a fact which should
give his Ummah plenty of food for
thought. Whose “traditions” are
we following when we sit down
to our smorgasbords every day?
And whose traditions are more
worthy of being followed?
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RAMADAN FATAWA
What nullifies the fast
magnify Allah for having guided you...” [Qur’an, 2:185)
Q- What nullifies the fast?
And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “This religion is easy. No one
becomes harsh and strict in the religion without it overwhelming him.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
A- Sexual intercourse; Eating; Drinking; The emission of Mani
(semen) due to desire; Whatever bears the characteristics of food
and drink; Intentional vomiting; The emission of blood due to
cupping; The emission of menstrual and postpartum blood.
So there is no harm in swimming in the pool, just as there is no harm
in taking a shower and other than that; And Allah has the Complete
Knowledge (of all affairs).
– Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-‘Uthaimeen, Islamic Verdicts on the
Pillars of Islam
– Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 524, Fatwa
No.490, Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen - Volume 1, Pages 509-510
Sleeping & resting
Did no make up fasts
Q- I spend my day in Ramadan asleep or at rest since I am unable to
work due to my (experiencing) severe pangs of hunger and thirst, so
does this affect the validity of my fast?
Q- What is the ruling regarding the one who did not make up the
missed fasts of Ramadan until next Ramadan started, without any
valid reason?
A- This does not affect the validity of the fast, (rather) therein is an
increase of reward due to the saying of the Messenger (peace be
upon him) to ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): “Your reward is
according to your hardship.”
A- He is required to repent to Allah and make up the (missed) fasts
in addition to feeding a poor and needy person for every (missed)
day an amount of half a Saa’ [One Saa` is equal to four Mudd, and
one Mudd is equal to the amount held by cupping the two hands
together. It is a measure by volume not by weight] from the staple
diet of the land from dates, wheat, rice or other than them. The
amount is equivalent to one and a half kilograms, and thereafter,
nothing further is required of him in making an expiation (kaffaarah).
This is how a group of the companions, including Ibn ‘Abbas (may
Allah be pleased with him), ruled.
So, the more hardship a person experiences, the more his reward
increases. He should (also) do what he can to reduce the effect of
fasting such as cooling himself with water and resting in a cool place.
– Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 522, Fatwa
No.487, Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen - Volume 1, Page 509
Swimming & fasting
If, however, he was excused due to illness or travel, or if a woman
was excused due to pregnancy or breast feeding thereby causing her
difficulty in fasting, then nothing is required of them except to make
up the (missed) fasts.
Q- What is the ruling regarding swimming in the sea or in the pool
during the day in Ramadan?
A- We say (that) there is no harm in the fasting person swimming in
the sea or in the pool, whether the pool is deep or otherwise, he can
swim as he wishes and immerse himself in the water. However, he
must - to the best of his ability - take care not to allow any water
into his stomach.
– Sheikh Bin Baz, Fatwa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 554, Fatwa No.536,
Tuhfatul-Ikhwaan bi-Ajwibah Muhimmah tata’allaaq bi-Arkan Al-Islaam Page 177Q
Swimming energises the fasting person and assists him in his fast;
And that which energises (a person) in obedience to Allah, then there
is no harm in it because it is from that which reduces the effects of
hardship of worship for the worshipper and makes it easy for him.
Q- What is the expiation for a man who intentionally broke his fast
during Ramadan without a valid reason?
Intentionally broke the fast
A- If the man intentionally broke his fast by having sexual
intercourse, then he must make up (the fast) and also make an
expiation in addition to repenting to Allah. (The expiation is) freeing a
believing slave, and if he is unable to do so, then he must fast for two
consecutive months, and if he is unable to do that, then he must feed
Allah says in the verses related to fasting: “...Allah intends for you
ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants
that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must
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sixty poor and needy people. And the woman is required to do the
same if she was not forced (to have sexual intercourse).
the like, without reciting the Verses they contain, as it has been
authentically reported from the Prophet salAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam that
nothing prevented him from reciting the Qur’an except Janabah. [Abu
Dawud no.229, Ibn Majah no.594 & Ahmad 1:84, 124].
If, however, he broke his fast by eating and drinking, then he is
required to make up (the fast) and repent without making any
expiation.
And in another version narrated by Imam Ahmad, with a good chain of
narrators, he said: ”As for the one who is Junub; no, not even an ayah.”
[Ahmad 1:110]
– The Permanent Committee, Fatwa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 566,
Fatwa No.549
– Sheikh Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 1, p112-113.
Donating blood
Ejaculation after kissing
Q- Is donating blood during the day in Ramadan permissible or does it
break the fast?
Q- Regarding (the husband) if he kissed his wife, or cuddled her and
thereby excreted prostatic fluid, does that invalidate his fast or not?
A- If he donated blood and a lot was taken, then certainly this
invalidates the fast because it is analogous to cupping, and that
would be to draw blood from his vein in order to help the sick or for
safe keeping in case of emergency.
A- According to most of the scholars, his fast is invalidated because
of that.
– Ibn Taymiyyah, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 456, Fatwa No.387,
Majmoo’ Fatawa Sheikh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah - Volume 25, Page 265
As for (drawing) a little such as taking with a syringe for analysis and
examination (purposes), then this does not break the fast.
On flight
– Sheikh Ibn Jibreen, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Pages 466-467, Fatwa
No.403.
Q- If the sun set upon a person and the Mu’azzin called the Adhan
while he was in the airport and he broke his fast. Then after the plane
took off, he saw the sun, should he fast?
Semen without desire
Q- Whilst fasting in Ramadan, I suffer from an intermittent excretion
of semen without having a wet dream or masturbating. So does this
affect my fast?
A- Our answer to this is that he is not required to because the time
for breaking the fast came while they were on the ground. So, the
sun set while they were in a place in which it set, and the Messenger
of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When night falls from this side,
and the day vanishes from this side, and the sun sets, then the
fasting person should break his fast.”
A- If the matter is as you have mentioned, then the excretion of
semen without desire during the day in Ramadan does not affect
your fast and you are (therefore) not required to make it up.
So, if a person, upon whom the sun set, broke his fast while he was
on the ground in the airport, then his day has ended. If his day has
ended, then he is not obliged to fast except on the next day.
– The Permanent Committee, Fatawa Ramadan - Volume 2, Page 451,
Fatwa No.378
Reciting Quran in Menstruation
So, based on this, it is not necessary to fast in these circumstances,
because breaking the fast was only according to a legal evidence,
and it is not required to fast except based upon a legal evidence. And
Allah knows best.
Q- I read books of Tafseer of the Qur’an when I am not in a state of
purity... such as during my monthly period, is there any objection to this,
and am I committing any sin by doing so? Please deliver a verdict, and
may Allah reward you.
– Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-‘Uthaimeen, Islamic Verdicts on the
Pillars of Islam
A – There is no objection to the menstruating woman or the one
who has postnatal bleeding reading books of Tafseer nor reciting the
Qur’an, without touching the Book according to the most correct of the
two opinions held by the scholars.
Q- Is the fast invalidated by tasting food?
As for the one who is Junub, he may not recite the Qur’an at all, until
he makes Ghusl, but he may read the books of Tafseer, Hadith and
A- Tasting food does not invalidate the fast, if a person does not
swallow it. But you should not do it unless there is a need for it;
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Tasting food
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and in this situation, if any of it enters the stomach without your
intending it, then your fast is not invalidated. And Allah knows best.
Friday, then it is better to be in a mosque in which Friday prayers are
established. Fasting is not (a) necessary (part of it).
– Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-‘Uthaimeen, Islamic Verdicts on the
Pillars of Islam
The sunnah is that one does NOT:
• Visit the sick during his I’tikaf
• Accept invitations
• Fulfill the needs of his family
• Witness the funeral (by following it) and
• Go to work outside the mosque.
• Touch a woman (his wife), nor have intercourse with her
• Leave to fulfill a need except what is necessary
Asthma Inhalers
Q- In some of the pharmacies (they sell) inhalers which some of the
asthma sufferers use; Is it permissible for the fasting person to use it
during the day in Ramadan?
A- The use of the inhaler by the one who is fasting is permissible
whether his fast is in Ramadan or other than Ramadan.
This is due to what has been authenticated on the authority of ‘Aishah
(may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: “The sunnah for he who
is in I’tikaf is that he does not visit the sick nor witness a funeral, nor
touch a woman (his wife), nor have intercourse with her nor leave to
fulfill a need except that which is necessary.”
That is because the particles in the inhaler do not reach the stomach,
rather they reach the lungs and cause them to open up thereby
allowing the person to breathe normally.
– The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatawa, Fatawa
Ramadan – Volume 2, Page 862, Fatwa No.848
So, it is not regarded as food nor drink, and that which is known is
that the basic principle is the validity of the fast (is maintained) until
(authentic) evidence from the Book, or the Sunnah, or consensus
(ijmaa’) or valid juristic reasoning (qiyaas) indicates otherwise.
Is I’tikaf restricted to Ramadan?
Q- Does I’tikaf have a fixed time or is it restricted to Ramadan, or is it
permissible in other than Ramadan?
– Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fataawa Ramadan – Volume 2, Page 531,
Fatwa No.502 Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen - Volume 1, Pages 169-170
A – What is prescribed is that it should be in Ramadan only. This is
because the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not make I’tikaf in other
than Ramadan, except what he (peace be upon him) did in Shawwaal,
after having left doing I’tikaf in Ramadan one year, and so did it in
Shawwaal. Yet if a person was to make I’tikaf in other than Ramadan it
would be permissible, because ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: “I vowed to do I’tikaf
for a night or a day in the mosque al–Haraam.” The Messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him) said: “Fulfill your vow”.
I’tikaf
Q- We would like to know what is meant by “I’tikaf” and its ruling?
A- I’tikaf is for a person to confine himself to the mosque in
obedience to Allah so as to separate himself from the people
and free himself (from the chores of daily life) to exert himself in
worshipping Allah. This can take place in any mosque, whether it
is a mosque in which people gather for the Friday prayer or not.
However, it is better (to perform the I’tikaf) in a mosque in which the
people gather for the Friday prayer so that one performing I’tikaf is
not forced to leave the mosque (in which he is doing I’tikaf) to go to
another mosque for the Friday prayer.
– Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fatawa Ramadan – Volume 2, Page 864, Fatwa
No.851; Fiqh al–Ibaadaat libni ‘Uthaymeen – Page 208
Leaving from I’tikaf
Q- When does a person leave I’tikaf, is it after sunset on the night prior to
Eid or after Fajr on the day of Eid?
– Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fatawa Ramadan – Volume 2, Page 861, Fatwa
No.846, Fiqh al–’Ibaadaat – Page 208
Conditions of I’tikaf
Q- What are the conditions of I’tikaf, and is fasting one of them? Is it
permissible for the person in I’tikaf to visit a sick person, answer an
invitation, fulfill some of his family’s needs, or go to work?
A – The person in I’tikaf leaves I’tikaf once Ramadan finishes and
it finishes as the sun sets the night prior to Eid. He enters I’tikaf at
sunset (prior) to the 20th day of Ramadan. This is so as the last ten
(nights) of Ramadan start from sunset of the night (prior) to the 20th
day of Ramadan and ends at sunset of the night (prior) to Eid.
A- I’tikaf is prescribed in a mosque in which the congregational
prayer is established. If the person in I’tikaf is from those upon whom
Friday prayers are obligatory and the length of his I’tikaf includes a
– Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fatawa Ramadan – Volume 2, Page 872, Fatwa
No.859
[Source: Fatwa Online and other books]
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73
www.muslimink.com
How
did the
Prophet r
& Sahabah
celebrate
Eid?
By Rahla Khan
L
IKE Ramadan, Eid
celebrations too are
changing with the times.
On the one hand there is
ever-increasing ostentation,
impermissible celebrations
and extravagance, on the
other many Muslims may
experience loneliness within their
communities or an unfortunate
lack of enthusiasm for Eid. We
may wind up spending the first
part of Eid catching up on lost
sleep, the middle half, cooking
elaborate meals or overeating to
“make up” for Ramadan, and later,
cruising aimlessly through malls
and amusement centers late into
the night, dressed to kill, vacant
eyes asking: “Are we having fun
yet?”
vanities, or felt ‘bored’ or indulged
in impermissible acts on the day
of Eid. How did they celebrate?
I often wonder what Eid was like
in the time of the Prophet r and
his Companions. It’s unthinkable
that they would have frittered
away their time on frivolities and
• The Companions (may Allah be
pleased with him) used to recite
Takbeer during the night of Eid
from sunset on the last day of
Ramadan until the Imam came
Contents
In his book Al-A’yad Fil-Islam,
Sheikh Muhammad Al-Jibaly
defines Eid as “any day of
gathering, from `Aada (meaning
returned), because people return
to it periodically. Some scholars
say that it comes from `Aadah
(custom or practice; plural A’yaad)
because people are accustomed
to celebrating it. According to
Lisan-ul-Arab: “It is called Eid
because it returns every year with
renewed happiness.”
We learn about the Sunan
(traditions) of Eid from various
narrations:
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74
to lead the Eid prayer in the
morning.
• They raised their voices in
supplication and remembrance
of Allah in the marketplaces,
mosques and homes, but the
women did so inaudibly.
• The Prophet would not go out
on Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten
an odd number of dates. (Ahmad
and Al-Bukhari) In Al-Muwatta,
it is recorded from Sa’id Bin AlMusayyib that the people were
ordered to eat before they went
out for prayer on the day of
breaking the fast.
• They performed Ghusl (ritual
bath) and wore their best clothes
and applied perfume. Ibn AlQayyim writes: “The Prophet r
had a special (Yemeni) cloak that
he would wear on the two Eids
and Jumu’ah.”
www.muslimink.com
• The Prophet r would take his
wives and daughters to the two
Eids, and after he prayed and gave
a Khutbah, he went to the women
and admonished them, reminded
them of Allah, and ordered them
to give charity. (Al-Bukhari)
Umm ‘Atiyah reports: “We were
ordered to go out with the single
and menstruating women on the
two Eids in order to witness the
good and the supplications of the
Muslims. The menstruating women
would be separate from the
others.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
• The Prophet and his Companions
paid Zakat Al-Fitr before the Eid
prayer, or even a day or two in
advance.
• After the Eid prayer, they
dispersed by a route that was
different from the one they took to
approach the Musalla.
The Islamic Tarbiyah (upbringing)
imparted by the Prophetic
traditions is not restricted to the
outward aspects of worship, it goes
deeper and teaches us the correct
spirit of celebration.
Contents
Sheikh Muhammad Al-Jibaly writes:
“The major part of the celebration
is not eating or drinking – rather,
it is a prayer that brings Muslims
together...
“Thus the Eid is not an occasion
to take a vacation from Islamic
responsibilities... The Eid is a
chance to multiply good deeds by
bringing happiness and pleasure
to the hearts of other Muslims, by
helping and supporting the poor
and needy, and by getting involved
in pastimes that emphasize...
Islamic character.”
There are several instances where
the Prophet r permitted Ayesha
(may Allah be pleased with her) to
indulge in suitable recreation on
Eid.
Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with
her) said: “The Messenger of Allah,
entered the house and I had two
girls who were singing about the
battle of Bu’ath [a 120-year battle
between the tribes of Aws and
Khazraj that ended with the advent
of Islam]. The Prophet r lay down
on the bed and turned his face to
the other direction.
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75
Abu Bakr entered and spoke
harshly to me, ‘Musical
instruments of the Satan in the
presence of the Messenger of
Allah!’ The Messenger of Allah r
turned his face to him and said:
‘Leave them.’ When Abu Bakr
became inattentive I signaled to the
girls to leave. It was the day of Eid
and the Africans were performing
with their shields and spears.
Either I asked him or the Prophet r
asked if I would like to watch them
[I don’t recall now]. I replied in the
affirmative. At this the Prophet r
made me stand behind him and
my cheek was against his. He was
saying: ‘Carry on, O tribe of Arfidah,’
until I tired. The Prophet asked:
‘Is that enough for you?’ I replied:
“Yes,” so he said: ‘Leave [then].’”
Ibn Hajar writes in Fath Al-Bari,
“It is related that the Prophet said
that day: ‘Let the Jews of Madina
know that our religion is spacious
[and has room for relaxation] and
I have been sent with an easy and
straightforward religion.”’
Perhaps it’s time to rediscover the
balance this Eid.
www.muslimink.com
AMAZING
creation
T
here are more number of stars in the visible universe than all the number
of grains of sand in all the beaches of earth.
T
Contents
he number of synapses in the cerebral cortex (outer layer of brain) alone is
125 trillion, which is the amount of stars that will fill 1500 Milky Way Galaxies.
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76
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Source: gizmodo
What We’re Missing at Night
When you live in a city, it’s easy to forget that we are
surrounded by the greatest show in the Universe: The Universe
itself. This sky comparison chart is the sad proof of that.
Sadly, missing the awe-inspiring show of all those planets, stars,
and galaxies dancing around us is the price humans had to pay for
having observed it in the first place. Because according to Carl Sagan
of the ‘Cosmos: A Personal Voyage’ fame it is the discovery of planets
and how they all revolve around the sun in precise mathematical
laws that has led
Contents
directly to our
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77
modern global civilization.
www.muslimink.com
Hug that
Changed
Medicine
S
HOULD we hug or not?
For some people it
might be awkward,
for others it is just a
cultural norm, but a
special incident (and a
touching story, literally)
proved that it can
save lives. In 1995, a
premature baby saved
her twin by simply
hugging her, showing us
the amazing power of
touch.
When twins Brielle
and Kyrie Jackson were
born prematurely at the
Medical Center of Central
Massachusetts-Memorial,
each were separated by their
own incubators. One was not
expected to live as her condition
was steadily deteriorating. Nurse
Gayle Kasparian fought against the
hospital rules and placed the babies in
one incubator. Then the healthier of the two
threw an arm over her sister, immediately stabilizing
her sister’s heart and temperature. They both left the hospital
healthy. Today they are grownup, young women.
This incident, widely publicized in the media during the time, helped change perspective in the medical
community. The technique, called “double bedding” or “co-bedding,” was rarely used in America; where
twins and other multiple-birth babies are put in the same incubator, simulating their natural state in their
mother’s womb. Doctors used to think that babies should be kept apart to prevent the spread of infections.
Now experts believe that the threat of infection is minimal, and the benefits of the comfort and security
gained by the presence of the baby’s twin far outweigh any risks. More hospitals have since adopted the
practice of co-bedding.
Then the healthier of the two threw an arm over her
sister, immediately stabilizing her sister’s heart
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78
www.muslimink.com
Underground Masjid in Pakistan
A man praying in an underground masjid made out of salt bricks inside Pakistan’s centuries-old Khewra salt
mines (dating back to 320 BC when it was discovered by Alexander the Great’s troops). In recent years the
mines have also opened up an experimental asthma clinic, attracting patients suffering from respiratory
illnesses from all over the world with claims that they can benefit from inhaling antibacterial salt particles to
clear their lung passages.
Underwater Park in Austria
Photos by Marc Henauer
Every spring, melting snow creates a dreamscape in Tragöss, Austria. Green Lake, which for most of the
year is no more than six feet deep, expands with the inflow of snowmelt, swallowing part of the park that
surrounds it: trees, hiking trails, benches, bridges, and all. The lake’s depth reaches some 30 feet and provides
a unique experience for divers—for a few weeks at least.
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79
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OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM
Congratulations to all students who
have passed with (or are expecting) top
grades!
But if you do not have grades to boast
about (despite your efforts), then do not
consider yourself any less.
Do not think that because you have failed
in grades you have failed in life.
Everyone of us has been blessed with
unique talents. We only have to explore
and find out what they are.
Be open to learning and discovering what
you passionately want to do or achieve in
life. And you will succeed In-sha Allah.
25 years of LOL
May 1989 was the first time we saw LOL used to abbreviate
“laugh out loud” (though its use to denote “lots of love” goes back
even further). As The Independent notes, credit for the acronym is disputed.
Linguist Ben Zimmer says the earliest citation is from the May 1989 issue
of the Fidonet newsletter, while a Canadian named Wayne Pearson claims
he first used it on a Canadian bulletin board system in the early to mid 1980s.
Ramadan Di s count
Subscribe
just
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PAGE
80
for
$1 /mo
www.muslimink.com
Quotes
they said it!
If Islamic Countries are not able to lead the world with regard to science and technology,
the very least they should be leading the world in ethics, especially by inculcating on the
necessity of environmental-friendly industrial/working culture into the people which
could guide men to think about environment by considering it to be part of himself and
as a source of his own livelihood. [1]
— Ali al-Qarahdaghi, Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars
Just as it is unlawful to look at what is unlawful, it is unlawful to think about what is
unlawful, because of the verse “And desire not the thing in which Allah hath made some
of you excel others. [2]
­— Qadi Husayn, a Shafi‘i scholar formulated this as a legal maxim
A fasting person is in a state of worship as long as he does not backbite, even if he is
sleeping in bed. [3]
­— Abu Al-‘Aliyah
[1]
Recent statement to Al-Jazeera; translated by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal
[2]
Ibn Hajar al-Haythamī and Yahya bin Sharaf al-Nawawi, Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj bi Shar al-Minhāj, (Beirut: Dār Iḥyā’ al-Turāth al-‘Arabī, n.d.),
7:262. [Via Musa Furber]
[3]
Contents
Al-Imam Ahmad, Al-Zuhd Vol.4 p313. [Via Sayings of the Salaf]
PAGE
81
www.muslimink.com
MEET NOREDINE ALLAM
Creator of
MUSLIM SHOW
I
N another life,
Allam was a
comic book
star in Europe.
His talents were
fought for and he
would be invited
to over 50 press
and comic book
festivals a year.
Until the launch of
the ‘Islamic’ comic,
Muslim’ Show.
Now he is
boycotted.
Contents
R
ead from Indonesia and Qatar to Pakistan and
the United Arab Emirates, Muslim Show is a
humourous account of the daily life of French
Muslims. Yet in the country where it all started, the
collection has not made a breakthrough.
After leaving school at age 17, Norédine Allam, now
36, created the 2HB studio in 1996, in the basement
of a social housing neighborhood in northern Amiens,
where he was born and still has his office. He was quickly
spotted for his graffiti talents and became one of the
youngest artists in France to be commissioned with an
artwork for a public museum –the Picardie museum.
But boredom set in and the young artist discovered the
universe of comics. He was a novice but delved into it,
leaving behind contemporary art. I had a bright future
in store and was making a very good living but I wanted
to discover this new world, he explains. In 2000, 2HB
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82
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became a studio specialized in the colouring of comic books. “This activity
existed neither in France, nor in Europe.” Allam taught himself through books,
rapidly developing his own activities and breaking into the elitist milieu of
comic books : he worked with Dargaud, Europe’s largest publisher, as well
as with the publisher Albert René, and Uderzo in person, winning a 1-million
euro European tender over five years to colour all the Astérix albums. It
was not always easy for him and his colleagues : he recalls that many were
taken aback to see “youth from the neighborhood” in charge of Europe’s and indeed the world’s - largest project of this nature. He insists that their
talent and the quality of their work were recognized. Their profile may have
created ripples in the world of comic books, but Allam can take credit for
“redesigning” the Astérix colors that are still in use today.
FROM GRAFFITI TO COMIC BOOKS
The self-taught artist started to make new friends. He adapted “Léa Parker,”
a series on the M6 TV channel into a comic book that was widely publicized.
He started being invited to festivals, travelling, mingling with artists but
was no more seduced by this universe. Without being non-plussed, he is
not drawn by the spotlight. It was during this period that he started to take
an interest in Islam. “Having a French mother and an Algerian father, I have
always worked in a dual culture and in a dual understanding of the Muslim and
non-Muslim worlds.”
Paternity incited him to address outstanding questions. “Before, practicing
my religion was much more a question of group belonging and social habit,
without any real religious awareness. With kids, you cannot go on living with
these contradictions or unanswered questions.” Allam started studying Islam.
“I had read a lot about all religions, but not about my own. I discovered that I’d
been lied to on everything.” This is how he “fell in love” with this religion that
he had a negative opinion about, notably because of some Muslims who
Norédine Allam with his team Greg Blondin (R) and Karim Allam.
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PAGE
83
I had read
a lot about
all religions,
but not
about
my own. I
discovered
that I’d been
lied to on
everything
preach in awkward ways about an
Islam they know little about, he
regrets.
At this stage, he started wondering
how to draw a bridge between
his skills and his convictions. He
looked for “Islamic” comic books
on the market and found some
storyboards on the history of
Islam published in Lebanon or
Egypt that were “poorly drawn
and incomprehensible.” Another
question then arose : that of the
representation of characters,
unauthorized according to some
Islamic texts: “There are diverging
views on the topic, and I thought
about it for a long time. I respect
both religious opinions. I got started
because I received the backing of
a Muslim scholar”, he says. This is
how the comic Muslim Show came
out in 2009, followed in 2010 by
Bdouin Studios, the first publisher
of Islamic comic books in Europe.
The adventure began on a blog.
Although well known in the field,
Allam kept a low profile.
www.muslimink.com
What is the purpose ? “Telling
the daily life of Muslim people
with humor”. He writes the
scripts, does the coloring
and works on the project
with the support of Greg
Blondin. “We have great
scholars and intellectuals ;
the comic book is just a work
made by a Muslim for Muslims.
It talks about Muslim people,
their doubts, their fears, their
desires, their hopes and their
contradictions. The comic
relates their feelings on all
subjects”, Allam explains.
EDUTAINMENT HUMOR
The first volume of the
comic strip was dedicated
to Ramadan, the second to
The goal is to make people think, to hold up
a mirror... Actually, I constantly think about
quitting this project
marriage and the third to relations with neighbors. Almost every
day, storyboards - original ones or extracts from the books
- are published on social networks. All issues are addressed
: relationships, wearing of the veil, alms for needy people,
children’s education, and most importantly, the denouncing
of bad behavior (good behavior being a key aspect of Islamic
religion). In Neighbor, neighbor, for instance, we discover how
a non-Muslim family maliciously takes advantage of rules
prevailing in Islam on treating neighbors. The wife pretends to
be ill so that her Muslim neighbor will take care of her, while
the husband pretends to have sprained his knee so that his
neighbor will mow the law for him.
Contents
Allam has no particular knowledge or religious qualification
enabling him to pass a legitimate judgment on Islam and its
practices. He is cautious therefore about taking any moral stance
or passing judgment: “The goal is to make people think, to hold up a
mirror; to offend would be counterproductive. Actually, I constantly
think about quitting this project”, he confesses. Underlining that
he does not belong to any school or movement, he says that “the
weight and responsibility from an Islamic standpoint are heavy”. The
texts are validated by a francophone scholar (mufti) who prefers
to keep anonymous. “He fears that such an exception could be
considered as a public fatwa that would be used inappropriately”,
explains Allam.
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84
www.muslimink.com
To meet the expectations of a wide audience, the author, together
with Fateh Kimouche from the Al Kanz site and Professor
Mohammad Patel, created ADABéo as well as avatars used as
“profile pictures” on Twitter and Facebook. These series, depicting
characters with faces that cannot be distinguished, focus more
specifically on the practice of Islam : attitudes in the mosque,
preparation of ramadan, making the pilgrimage to Mecca, but
also racism and relations with non-Muslims, based on the hadith.
“ADABéo works very well in providing an edutainment content ; it is
less effective when it comes to telling stories : identification is less
obvious with faceless characters.”
THEMES THAT CROSS BORDERS
In a national context characterized by strong Islamophobia, this
project has closed doors that were once wide open in France for
Allam, but it has opened doors of dozens of Arab and/or Muslim
countries for Allam. The young man, still surprised by such a
success, is enthusiastic : “In Indonesia, Turkey - a daily newspaper
will publish three episodes weekly. In Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, Qatar - we’ll
also give drawing lessons and produce content ; the comic is available
in more than thirty countries and translated into ten languages - Arabic,
Indonesian, Malaysian, Japanese, Bangla, Russian, Turkish, German,
Urdu, Spanish, Chinese, and soon in other languages !”
What makes the daily life of French Muslims so attractive to
people in faraway countries ? “Our drawings take on a life of their
own. In one case, some have seen a confrontation between Shiites
and Sunnis, in others a confrontation between supporters of the
Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the army.” Although Allam claims
to keep away from politics, he admits that some storyboards take
a engaged stance such as those make a subtle reference to the
Greg Blondin signing a fan’s copy in Indonesia.
Our subjects are
universal and
timeless
killing of Rabea Al-Addawiya. But the recipe for
this success lies elsewhere. “In fact, our subjects
are universal and timeless. Beyond feelings, we
talk about what I consider to be the real clash of
cultures : the opposition between ‘modernity’ and
‘tradition’. Wearing the veil or a beard, modesty,
and respect are considered outdated. We want
to tell Muslims that they can be proud of their
practices and that these are modern”.
INDIFFERENCE IN FRANCE
The Muslim Show team in Indonesia.
We have nearly 270,000
Facebook fans on the
French page... but that does
not translate into sales
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85
What about France then ? “We are working on a
fourth volume dedicated to Islamic finance which
should be released in September 2014, but it is
complicated. Almost 13,000 copies of volume
1, published with Dargaud were sold, of which
12,000 very quickly at the Fnac stores ; for the
next volume, 9,000 copies were sold. The comic is
hardly available anywhere and takes four to five
weeks to receive after ordering from Fnac. Press
and comic book festivals shun us. With Astérix and
Léa Parker, I was invited to fifty festivals a year,
now we are boycotted... Many think that this topic
doesn’t interest a wide audience. Unlike in the past,
www.muslimink.com
we are hardly ever invited anywhere!” However, non-Muslim readers
are also interested. “Sometimes, there is a misunderstanding with the
media and the public : the comic was not created to give a good image
of Islam and promote interfaith dialogue. However, it allows people
from other religions to catch a glimpse of a daily life that they may
not be familiar with. Some readers write to tell us that they recognize
themselves in values such as mutual assistance, solidarity, modesty
and the fight against materialism.”
The situation is not better on the front of Muslim distribution and
publishing networks : according to Allam, they are poorly organized
and not devoid of jealousy. But the author continues to believe in
what he does : he is in talks with a French television channel to adapt
his work into an animated cartoon series. If the project succeeds, a
young audience will discover the adventures of a character in the
Muslim Show, which could be a crucial first step towards access to
European and global channels.
Meanwhile, Bdouin continues to bet on the web to develop its
projects in full independence. A crowdfunding platform is under
construction. But Allam is skeptical. “The behavior of some Muslim
readers is paradoxical: we have nearly 270,000 Facebook fans on the
French page where we post unpublished story-boards and over 7,300
followers on Twitter, but that does not translate into sales. We do not
make our living out of the Muslim Show.” Allam and his colleagues,
however, decided to call for donations. “The idea is to invite readers
to contribute to the making of the Muslim Show by supporting us with
a small donation. One, two or three euros are plenty if everyone chips
in! We want to continue to offer entertainment and move forward,
together”.
[Source: Warda Mohamed, ORIENT XXI Magazine]
Hard copies of the comics in French.
The behavior
of some Muslim
readers is
paradoxical
The Muslim Show characters.
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PAGE
86
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