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Monday, October 02, 2006

differences

Celebrating Ramadhan and Eid here is a bit different from home. To start with, there is no television slot where they announce when the Ramadhan will begins. Thus, we have to rely via other means to find out the actual date. Either YM or go to the nearby mosque for confirmation. Usually there is not much different from the calendar :)

There are occasionally conflicts between few Islamic organisations deciding the date though. Last year for example, there are arguments when is Eid. Therefore, few people celebrate one day later than the rest. This scenario is normally happens when there is no central authority in a county.

The third obvious difference is the presence of Ramadhan markets. Back at my home country, every evening in the month of Ramadhan, there are always market being established where many people sell various delicious yummy foods and drinks for iftar. Here, none whatsoever. For iftar, we usually cook on our own and most of the time, the dinner is nothing special.

Nevertheless, we try to celebrate as much the coming of Ramadhan since the months of Ramadhan is a blessing for all Muslims. I still remember when the Eid clashes with the exam period. How busy we are at that period. To study and to celebrate in the same time. A memory that I treasured till today :).

All in all, it does not matter where you are in the month of Ramadhan. Whether you are in a country that celebrate Ramadhan extravagantly or in nation that the mood of celebration is hardly noticeable. The important matter is to ask our own iman whether this month of Ramadhan has bring any positive differences in our own action and thinking.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven ."

[Sahih Bukhari 32: hadith no 1893]
How sincere we are with our fasting this year?

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