Welcome Ramadan Kareem!

The Holy month of Ramadan will start from 23th of August in Pakistan,Inshallah. The central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held a meeting with Chairman Mufti Nunib-ur-Rehman in chair to sight the moon of Ramzan of 1430 of Hijri calendar. Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman announced that no witness came forward with the evidence of sighting moon. Ramadan mubarak to everyone living in UAE, Saudia, and Europe who have 1st ramadan tomorrow, 22nd August 2009.

Lets prepare:We have one more day to prepare for this blessed month which happens only once a year. I know by preparation a long list of grocery and shopping will come to our minds. That is also important in way because if we finish all these tasks before the start of ramadan then we can use maximum time in prayers.

By preparation I meant the mental preparation to change my way of life in accordance with the teachings of Islam. Unfortunately these changes are reversed on the eid day! But we hope and pray that its a permanent change. We have to be ready physically and mentally for a challenging month where espacially women will start their days before dawn and end late at night after isha prayers.

The duty to make two wholesome meals should be made simple by women. Lets plan healthy and energy giving early morning meal (Sahoor in Arabic). In pakistan we think only parathas can give us energy for the whole day but simple things like fruits, milk, yogurt, cereals and other oil free foods will ensure active daily routine.

Iftaar is the real testing time. If woman waste all day is preparing special iftar dishes and get no time for their religious activities then we should prepare some short cuts. Time consuming things can be prepared and stocked in a freezer. Iftaar here in Pakistan will be after 7:30 pm then why not prepare a simple meal and skip the Iftaar party which includes samosas, pakoras, dhai bhaley, channa chat and all chat pattay snacks. I am planning to eat simple salan (curry) roti. Simple cooking will give some relief to our domestic servants too.

Spiritual Preparation:To help condition your heart for this blessed month, intensify your worship before Ramadan begins. Just a small, consistent amount is enough. The Prophet, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam told us:“The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.”

During Ramadan make an effort to cut short all the plans of shopping, watching tv, going out and replace them with some raka’ahs of prayers, recitation and understanding of Quran and zikr. Try and catch on even 5 spare minutes and read a few ayaat from the Glorious Quran.

Give charity to the poor. I am not in the favour of encouraging professional beggers nor do we trust our government for the distribution of zakat. Best way is to find about the poor people who are struggling in life and are not begging on the streets. We can find hundreds of such people with a little effort. Ask people around you.

Just make a small sincere intention to make the best of this Ramadan; we may not get the next one. So, we will ask Allah to forgive our sins, save us from hellfire, make us stronger in our emaan. May we all reach the night of alqadr- the night that is more in its benefits than 84 years of worship or as said in verses : better than 1000 months . Ameen.

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