Ramadan 2017 by Londra Gazete

Is the holy month better spent Exclusive: inReligious Turkey Turkish Page 20 Foundation or theUK UK?

CONTENTS 4.

Ramadan 2017: Key information to know

Ramadan 2017 Timetable

UKAY Catering’s exceptional sauces to glorify your tables

Eid is for solidarity and reconcililation

10. “We are what we eat” – AYTAÇ Foods Ltd. 12. Mark your calendars: London’s Eid Festival 2017 14. A natural journey of the Mediterranean taste : Bodrum! 16. Prophet Muhammad’s last sermon stll enlightens today 20. Turkish Religious Foundation UK wishes you a Ramadan Mubarak! 22. Fasting is good for the soul and body 26. Fasting healthier in Ramadan during summer terms

Welcome to Londra Gazete’s annual Ramadan supplement

Ramadan mubarak R

amadan is the month of solidarity, reconciliation, togetherness and celebration of faith. Each year, we proudly come up with our Ramadan supplement, celebrating the holy month through exclusive interviews, editorials, healthy tips for fasting, prayers and many more. Here at Londra Gazete, we pride ourselves on being a pioneer unit for Turkish Speaking Communities in London and in wider UK. We are devoted and dedicated to be the voice of our community regardless of any political, personal or religious aspects – we are simply there for our readers and we love what we do. In an era when the practice of discrimination and xenophobia is worryingly common, our primary target is to be a true representa-

tive of our cultural heritage, and undoubtedly Ramadan is one of them. While preparing this special supplement for you, we have taken our diverse reader scheme into account which means that either you are celebrating Ramadan or just scrolling the pages to learn more, this is a true guide for you. As Londra Gazete, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to the creation of this special edition. From our main sponsor Turkish Religion Foundation UK to businesses that are featured and the political leaders who took time to share their customised Ramadan messages with us. We do hope you enjoy this supplement as much as we have enjoyed making it. Ramadan Kareem and a joyful Eid al-Fitr! Londra Gazete

28. The one book enlightens your way: Quran 34. Ten important Ramadan Prayers 36. “Islam will be the largest religion by 2070”

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Published by: Londra Gazete Ltd. Ramadan Supplement

Editor: Onur Uz Design: Huriser Ezgi Ece Reporter: Egemen Arkut Web: www.londragazete.com/ilave-arsivi/ Email: news@londragazete.com tel: +44 (20) 8889 5025 177 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London N13 4UR

“Muslim faith are there, binding our public services”

“Importance of compassion, hospitality and charity”

Jeremy Corbyn Leader of the Labour Party

ay I wish all those who are observing Ramadan a month of mercy, forgiveness and freedom. At the heart of your faith lie the values of peace, responsibility and humanity these are ideals I and the vast majority of British people share with you. One hundred and twenty seven years ago the first purpose built Mosque was opened in Woking. Today there are now over 1000 places of worship across the UK, reflecting the increasing size and influence Muslims play in our multi-cultural society. Britain’s Muslim community makes a huge contribution to the

fabric of our society. Walk the corridors of our hospitals, our local authorities and many of our schools and you see how those of the Muslim faith are there, binding our public services together, and bringing cohesion to our communities. No town or city in our country has not felt first-hand the benefit of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Muslim community. From fashion to communications, from retail to publishing, your community has invested to provide the jobs people and communities need. I wish all of you all peaceful Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem to you all.

“Collective efforts to bring to an end the refugee crisis”

David Burrowes MP for Enfield Southgate

t is excellent to be the given the chance of give my Ramadan message on Londra Gazette. I really very much respect this holy festival. It is an opportuntity for prayer and fasting but also an opportunity for compassion and togetherness. What is special about Ramadan

Ramadan Ramadan kareem kareem “Compassion, tolerance and supporting”

Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Leader

s-Salamu Alaykum Today I join the many Muslims in the UK and across the world in welcoming the Holy Month of Ramadan. We in the UK are privileged to have in our society the benefit of many religions and many cultures, that have weaved over several decades, in a rich tapestry of friendship and togetherness. I know that for all of these communities, and especially for Muslims during Ramadan, the refugee crisis is at the forefront of our thoughts, with Ramadan

reminding us all to remember the daily struggles of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. As we make collective efforts to bring to an end the refugee crisis, let us hope that when the moon appears for Eid-ul-Fitr in a month’s time common humanity will compel more of the nations’ leaders to do more. As the month of Ramadan begins, may the special message and the celebration of these holy days uplift each of you and add to the vitality of our community. Thank you and Ramadan Kareem.

and what I have observed from the Turkish community is that the traditions highlights the importance of compassion, hospitality and charity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Turkish speaking communities in London who are thriving to offer a better World. Ramadan Mubarak!

Joan Ryan Enfield North MP

send my warmest regards and best wishes to all Muslims in Enfield, across the country and around the world, as you observe Ramadan. This holy month provides an important time, not only, for Muslims to reflect upon the teachings of Islam, but also for our society as a whole to recognise the fantastic contributions Muslims make to our way of life. The Islamic values of compas-

sion, tolerance and supporting the community are principles that we should all hold dear. And I have the utmost respect for the Muslim community’s charitable work and services to the poor. As you gather with your family, friends and loved ones to fast, pray and perform iftar, I hope you all have a peaceful and happy Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem

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Ramadan 2017:

Key information to know Turkish Religion Foundation England - Ingiltere Turk Diyaet Vakfi has compiled a prayer timetable with timings applicable for London, as well as local variations. Muslims often give to charities during the month, and mosques and aid organisations organise free meals for the public every night.

amadan is a month in the Islamic calendar and it’s dates vary each year because the Islamic calendar uses the lunar cycle. It’s the 9th month in the calendar and in Arabic its name is said to mean “burning” or “scorching heat”, because the month tends to fall into the hotter period of the year in that part of the world. According to Islam, it was during this month that the Quran - the holy book of Islam , was revealed to the prophet Muhammad by Allah (God). In this article, we have compiled useful information you will need to know about Ramadan 2017. A GLANCE AT RAMADAN Ramadan is an important time for Muslims all over the world. Muhammad received Allah’s message during Ramadan. Allah revealed the Quran, to prophet Muhammad during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims strengthen their faith and Ramadan is a holy ritual that brings the religion closer together. If a Muslim is asked, what they appreciate about Ramadan, they would give similar answers, they will mention the spiritual strength they feel as they fast and pray but also the imprints go giving and helping those indeed. Muslims believe that the gates to heaven are open during Ramadan: Good deeds are richly rewarded and it is easier to enter paradise than other times of the year: Simultaneously the gates of hell are closed and all devils chained up behind them. In Ramadan the devils are not loose to lure people into trouble,

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so it is especially easy to do good deeds instead of the bad ones. True believers pray more than usual during Ramadan. According to Islamic teaching, prayer functions as a way of fulfilling the needs of the spirit, just as food, water and exercise fulfils the needs of the body. Prayers put believers in touch with Allah , aiding them to remember his greatness and think of ways they can develop good qualities in themselves. Prayer is an opportunity to think about one’s life and see how one’s actions meed with Allah’s desires. Adult Muslims are expected to fast during daylight hours during Ramadan and are only permitted to eat during the dark. They eat a light meal before dawn, then go without food or drink all day until sunset. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a festival called Eid-ul-Fitr “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast” which end Ramadan every year. Before the Eid festival, everyone gives money to charity and there are special prayers held at the mosque. Muslim families feagather and give each other gifts, a special fair is held for the community. WHAT ELSE DO MUSLIMS DO DURING RAMADAN? Prayer is a key part of the month, Muslims are encouraged to do so five times a day. Turkish Religion Foundation England - Ingiltere Turk Diyaet Vakfi has compiled a prayer timetable with timings applicable for London, as well as local variations. Muslims often give to charities during the month, and mosques and aid organisations organise free

meals for the public every night. However Muslims Scholars maintain that food and drink is not just the only things that should be abstained from sexual intercourse between spouses is off-limits during the day, Muslims also need to be mindful of their behaviour and fighting, wearing, gossiping even road rage are discouraged. WHEN DOES RAMADAN END? Ramadan lasts for a four-week period and will draw to a close on the evening of Saturday, June 24. The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid al-Fitr, which culminates in scenes of merriment and thanksgiving to Allah, with families and friends gathering to exchange gifts, enjoy an array of foods and sweets all set with festively decorations in their homes. This is not just a time to get within their own family an friend but Ramadan is a time to focus on those who are less fortunate, helping their community and charity around. FASTING Muslims believes that fasting will allow them to understand and endure true stuffing that other experience and also a means of abandoning their greed, lust and therefore one will be strip bear to Allah and reconnect with their religion. During Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours (from sunrise until sunset) - but it’s not just food that Muslims abstain from during this time. Fasting during Ramadan also includes abstaining from drink, sex, smoking, swearing, gossiping or other acts which are considered sin-

ful. And fasting is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the mandatory acts that form the basis of the religion. Prayer, faith, charity and the pilgrimage to Mecca are the other four pillars. IFTAR AND SUHOOR Every evening during Ramadan, when the sun goes down, Muslims gather to break their fasts at Iftaar, which literally means ‘Break Fast’. Iftaar occurs in a number of different ways, with one of the most common being eating together as a family. Some people also eat at the mosque where donations will often be made and some Muslims even partake in iftaar parties, where money is usually raised for charity. Before sunrise Muslims wake for Suhoor meaning ‘Pre-Dawn Meal’, this is the meal that will prepare and power them for the daily fast. WHEN IS RAMADAN IN 2017? Ramadan is expected to start on May 27, 2017, and last until June 24, 2017. Eid will then be on June 25, 2017, as the next month (Shawwal) begins. WHY DOES THE DATE VARY? The Islamic calendar is based on the cycle of the moon, but the Gregorian calendar largely used in the western world is based on the sun. Because the two calendars don’t align exactly, the Islamic dates move back by 11 days a year.

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Ukay Catering’s exceptional sauces to glorify your Ramadan tables

s a leading company and connoisseur Ukay Catering is known for its unrivalled quality for diverse condiments like; Tomato sauce, Ketchup, Brown sauce, Bbq, Vinegar and many more sauces, always ready to enhance your Ramadan tables with its rich tastes. Established in the early 1970’s Ukay Catering’s modern and highly efficient technology has shaped a true brand with distinctive blends and a variety of sauces which have steadily expanded over the years. The family-run business incepted by Isık Vedat, with its next generation members of the family Alper Vedat and Isın Vedat leading the business forward. Tying ten thousands of businesses together in the food sector, Ukay Catering is undoubtedly a top choice for businesses to strengthen their quality with an “extra spicing this up”. Priding itself in using mostly natural ingredients when creating their sauces and sides not only does it offer a flavourful option but a healthier one. Their establishment is highly capable of accommodating to customer requirements, as they provenly are versatile and can undertake altering their unique recipe to meet customers’ needs. This is not just limited to what is inside the bottle but Ukay Catering even offer various alternative packaging proposals varying from 300ml to 10 ton bulk purchases by also exporting products to Greece, Italy, France and Belgium. SAME QUALITY AND TASTE FOR 50 YEARS Producing a range from 450 ml to 900 ml amount of Ketchup, Brown and Barbeque sauces and many many more, Ukay Catering is offering their wide range of products to countless takeaways, restaurants, cafes and other food sector-based organisations. Not just offer you products with amazing flavour but customised services based on customers’ taste. The brilliant service given is why customers keep coming back time after time, and

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under the tastes of cultural identifications. We have also established a ‘British’ ketchup for them although we have had many inquiries to produce some spicy ketchups but we have never produced any. Even then, our partners carry on using our plain ketchup to create their own spicy ketchups.”

“People tastes vary upon where they live and the culture they are raised with. For example, ketchups in Turkey are more proximate to our salça sauce whereas Spanish taste likes it more salty. This is all under the tastes of cultural identifications. We have also established a ‘British’ ketchup for them although we have had many inquiries to produce some spicy ketchups but we have never produced any. Even then, our partners carry on using our plain ketchup to create their own spicy ketchups.”

without doubt why new customers keep pouring in. Having substantial record of success and respect throughout the UK, Isık Vedat says they do know the significance of their enterprise and Ukay Catering Works always really hard to make it always better than before. He also told this story of an experience that he says he’ll never forget: “One day I was visited by a rival company’s sales executive. The one thing he said that although he desperately tried to get our customers to even try their own products, no one actually went for trying any-

thing but Ukay Catering products – so he had come to ask me why and how.” KETCHUP VARIES UPON THE CULTURE Stating that one of the inevitable tastes on our tables, ketchup has a rich story, Isık Vedat remarks the cultural sides to the ketchup taste: “People tastes vary upon where they live and the culture they are raised with. For example, ketchups in Turkey are more proximate to our salça sauce whereas Spanish taste likes it more salty. This is all

“SWEET KETCHUPS WOULD DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH” Criticising some brands like Heinz, in collaboration with McDonald’s, Isık Vedat refers to those brands as “too sugary” and “acidic”. “We have established a brand that is widely sough after not only because our products taste very good but also we care about health. We strive to create our products to meet people’s health despite some other big brands which are proven to be damaging human health. There was a customer once even that she told us until they discovered our products, she had no idea what she was giving to her kid to eat.” QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR EVERYONE Isık Vedat, also remarks the fact that Ukay Catering is proud to be working with many companies, people and establishments that represent different segments of the cultural heritage of the UK. “We continually thrive to maintain ongoing excellent business relationships with existing customers. Our level of courtesy towards to new customers gives the assurance of a high degree of ease and confidence. We have been comfortably producing up to 12 tons of sauces on a daily basis. We work extremely efficiently under pressure especially to meet expectations from our customers who are all from different backgrounds, and we just enjoy the whole process.” If you too are looking for the ultimate quality and richness in taste to enrich your dinner table or products, Ukay Catering is there to take your taste buds or business a step further: 020 8520 5999 www.ukaycatering.co.uk

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Eid is for solidarity and reconcililation The new place to be in Stoke Newington

n the Bayrams, which is known as Eid, are defined as days of happiness and means to breaking resentments, especially in the family. Eid means happiness and tranquillity. Eid festivities are exceptional periods that blend faith, worship, history, culture and civilization in an atmosphere of jubilation and carry Muslims to the future giving them continuity and added that Eid is a symbol that always keeps alive the sense of staying Muslim. President of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in Turkey Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez remarks the importance of Eid as a spectacular phase in the year. President of Diyanet Görmez said Eid festivities are divine presents that consolidate fraternal bonds, and repair resentments and added “the Eid we are about to celebrate

and bring them prosperity. Eid al Fitr is the valuable period that marks the birth of Islam with the revelation of the Quran and the divine mission granted by Almighty Allah as an envoy to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Eid al Adha on the other hand is the valuable period that marks the birth of the nation of Islam and gives them a notion of history. “The Eid we are celebrating is a river of benediction for the salvation of humanity which is suffering a great drought…” is a river of benediction that will be the salvation of humanity which is suffering a drought. The fact that Muslims in different geographies, who speak different languages, who belong to different races, who are of different colours, who come from different cultures congregate around

“the Eid we are about to celebrate is a river of benediction that will be the salvation of humanity which is suffering a drought. The fact that Muslims in different geographies, who speak different languages, who belong to different races, who are of different colours, who come from different cultures congregate around the same joy offer a great new hope for humanity to wear the cloak of benediction that is suffering a great drought.”

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the same joy offer a great new hope for humanity to wear the cloak of benediction that is suffering a great drought.” Saying today the nation of Islam is celebrating the Eid of pain President of Diyanet Görmez went on to say; “Eids are the divine presents that unite us around the same religion and the same faith that consolidates our fraternal bonds and repairs resentments…” MUSLIMS ARE ALWAYS IN ONE BODY Eids are the divine presents that unite us around the joy of sharing the same religion and the same faith that consolidates our fraternal bonds and repairs resentments. Eids are the real stages where the brotherhood of faith is displayed. Eids are days of worship with the Eid morning prayers that are attended by huge masses, where joy and jubilation is in abundance, with the chants of Allah is great that offers tranquillity to people, with prayers and sermons to bless the unity, solidarity and cleansing of the souls

EID PRAYER IS DONE WITH THE TRIBE Since this prayer comes only once a year, there is often confusion about how to perform this prayer. Here is how to do it: In general, when praying any Salah, always follow the Imam in prayer. Do not make your movements (i.e. bowing, prostrating, etc.) before he does or different from him. Eid prayer consists of two units (Rakat in Arabic, singular is Raka). The main difference in the way this prayer and any other prayer of two Rakat is performed is the number of Takbirs that a3re done. Takbirs is the Arabic word referring to when “Allahu Akbar” is said and the hands are raised to the ears. ALL MUSLIMS ARE FELLOWS Holy Quran suggests that “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. He never wrongs him nor makes him devoid of his support. There is no greater offense for a Muslim than despising his Muslim brother” (al-Bukhārī, “Adab,” 57–58; Muslim, “Birr,” 28–34).

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“We are what we eat”

ytaç Foods, offers a wide range of products from dry/ frozen food selections to cleaning products is a leading business with approximately 2,500 different products. As the slogan “halal and hygienic product” stands for depicting the true mission of Aytaç Foods, here in this editorial we are opening a door to Aytaç Food’s unchangeable quality of service. Started off its service in Manchester and London depots with an approximate of 150 staff, 23 sales representatives, Aytaç Food excels in delivering same-day delivery in England and Ireland with fast delivery specialties. Additionally, by opening the Leyton and Manchester cash and carry depots to every markets service, Aytaç Foods accepts every market as a part of their family and therefore offering their “urgent needs” service 6 days a week. Talking to Londra Gazete, Aytaç Foods’ director Recep Ercan made a statement on the company’s standpoints, mission and vision. Mr Ercan says that Aytaç Foods’ mission can be stated as “Winning is a must in the competition of trade World however we focus on finding ways on how to be more beneficial, responsive and prompt for our community – our community’s approval and satisfaction comes first rather than any trade-centric aspirations.” “REGARDLESS OF THEIR WHEREABOUTS IN WORLD, WE IMPORT WHAT CUSTOMERS ASK FOR” Ensuring that Aytac Foods is always meeting its customers needs and introduction new products to the market, the sales and marketing teams work tirelessly to keep up with the worldwide market in case of any new trends, demands or interesting products that may be sought or already have been sought by the customers. Mr Ercan extends this matter as follows: “Our mission is to follow every range of products regardless of their whereabouts in the World, if they are wanted and/or requested by our customers. Alternatively, our teams work very hard to follow the latest trend streams, newest products and anything that can be beneficial for our customer base. “We will thrive to carry on our recognised work to be a trusted part to our community by maintaining our values, quality and ‘family vibe’.”

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AYTAÇ IS EVERYWHERE IN LIFE Mr Ercan briefs us on the products variety at Aytaç Foods, and how Aytaç appeals to every aspect of life. AYRAN: As being Turkey’s proud “national drink” Ayran is supplied in 250ml bottles and for many years it has never been replaced by any other drink. Coming from generations ago, as a gem that would sooth one down on a hot Summer day, Ayran is more than just a drink but a representative of our cultural heritage. Ayran means our tirelessly working mothers, grandparents who thrive to pass their wisdom on us. As expats living abroad, in a World where consuming unhealthy drinks like soda beverages, we seem to have forgotten our cultural gem. Mr Ercan states that as a person who has had the lack of culturally sealed aliments like Ayran in his life, he has launched a quest of finding ways to ‘engender’ the true Ayran here in the UK. “Along the way of finding the best way to offer Ayran at affordable prices in the UK market, we have had lots of ups and down. We wanted the best quality for the most affordable price. In the end, thankfully, in the end we have achieved importing our current Ayran from Holland, with the latest technologies of preserving and healthy production but most importantly for just £1.00 for 5 bottles. As Aytaç Foods, we pride ourselves on this amazing achievement and we also see this as our cultural responsibility to offer our community. Through this, we believe that although we don’t know you, we can maybe lead to people coming together, with a glimpse of smile and a touch of togetherness. As we know, joy incites joy and happiness invites happiness, of course, over a good Ayran!”

“TWO NEW AYRAN BRANDS “LARISSA” AND “AYTAÇ” ARE ON THE MARKET Mr Ercan continuous to bring us exciting news on Ayran: “I also would like to state that the regarding Ayran brand is easy to find at our restaurant chains, our takeaway restaurants. I would like to address to my friends in catering products industry: come and let’s strengthen this brand to make Ayran a true drink in the UK, let us earn as companies and as a society. For our English speaking customers we also have created the brand ‘Larissa’ along with the ‘Aytac’ brand for anyone to enjoy.” NATURAL PRODUCTS: We are definitely what we eat and hence our consumptions shape our identity and character. A vast majority of products in the market traditionally have ‘genetically modified organisms’ – meaning that the production process is very artificial and therefore may cause permanent damages in human body. Here, just at this exact moment, Aytaç Natural Foods lending a hand to customers, by its substantial promise of delivering you the best of the best in terms of quality, healthiness and affordable prices. “A DESIRE, A DREAM AND A VISION FOR HEALTHIER LIFE” Extending Aytaç Natural Foods’ healthy realm, Mr Ercan states: “As Aytac Foods Ltd, we continuously provide large variety of premium natural choices, so even more people can enjoy the benefits. While promoting healthy, natural and sustainable living, we aim to improve lifestyle and well-being of individuals. Through Aytac Natural, we are excited to introduce the highest quality of natural, organic, and healthier options to our current and prospective customers.

“We launch Aytac Natural to contribute sustainable and clean lifestyle by providing you better choices and by accommodating your special dietary requirements.” Mr Ercan says whilst they enjoy the benefits of contemporary lifestyle, their handicaps are too high. Poor diet, stress, lack of exercise and high toxicity are some of the factors that cause degeneration of health among us today. If you welcome toxicity into your body, then you welcome it into your personal world as well. Poor diet, stress and lack of exercise also affects your mood and sense of well-being in a negative way. Once you start making small changes each day and improve your lifestyle step by step, you will quickly improve your overall well-being to live longer and better. Good health starts within, start today! Aytaç Natural Foods is owned by Aytaç Foods Ltd. Aytac Foods Ltd is there to help you achieving your healthier life style, with a range of products that offer the best of the best. MORE TO KNOW, MORE TO FOLLOW… As a leading firm in the catering field, the more we talk about Aytaç Foods, the more of information pops up as their quality and innovation knows no limits. From more information on the frozen food (http://www.anur.co.uk/) to logistic partners (www.interservelogistics.co.uk), Aytaç Foods is there to answer any of your questions and be of a help. “SERVICE IS ON US, APPRECIATION IS ON YOU…” Last but not least, Mr Ercan also remarks the latest addition to their firm as their cosmetics company i-CosmetiC, comprising a large range of cosmetic products for both men and women. These products can be found at the i-CosmetiC shop, which is located on just opposite Aytaç Foods’ East London cash and carry depot. For more information, do not hesitate to get in touch with Erdogan on 02085202123. Aytaç Foods London: Unit:1-4, Forest Business Park, Argall Ave, London E10 7FB, (Tel: 020 8509 8222) Aytaç Manchester: Unit 1 Maple Industrial Estate, Bennett Street, Manchester, M12 5AQ (Tel: 016 1273 4073)

Ramadan Mubarak

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Mark your calendars:

2nd July London’s Eid Festival EACH YEAR MILLIONS OF MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD AND THE UK CELEBRATE EID he festival is known in full as Eid al-Fitr and it is just around the corner in July. Here is everything you need to know…

WHEN IS EID 2017? This year, Eid starts on Sunday June 25 and marks the start of a month of celebration. The dates can be adjusted slightly nearer the time due to lunar sightings and change each year. This is because the Islamic calendar – known as the Umm al-Qura calendar – is based on the moon’s cycle, whereas the Gregorian one is determined by the sun. WHAT IS EID? Eid or Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting that will start on May 27 and will finish on June 24. Eid kick-starts the month of Shawwal, which begins with a feast to end the period of fasting. The celebration is a public holiday in many Muslim countries, but is not one in the UK, despite a campaign for it to be recognised back in 2014. During Eid, Muslims will often purchase new clothes for the occasion, and take part in festivals and celebrations. Many will wake up early to pray at a mosque or outdoor prayer venue. Gifts and cards are often exchanged among friends and family. IS THERE ANOTHER EID? Yes, as well as Eid al-Fitr, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha.

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The celebration revolves around when Allah appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as a sign of his faith. It’s similar to the Christian and Jewish stories in which God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but spared him from doing so. Eid al-Adha is expected to take place on September 1 this year which falls in the middle of the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar. The celebration revolves around when Allah appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as a sign of his faith. It’s similar to the Christian and Jewish stories in which God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but spared him from doing so. During this time, Muslims tradition-

ally sacrifice animals, in Britain this is done in slaughterhouse, and the meat is divided up among friends, family and the needy. London Mayor’s Office officially invites everyone to the festival, with a press statement welcoming everyone to take part: “Everyone is invited to come and celebrate Eid on Trafalgar Square on Sunday 2 July. Now in its 12th year, the festival will celebrate and host a variety of special activities for the whole fam-

ily to enjoy. Highlights include: • A food festival where you can sample a host of delicious cuisines from across the world • Live music and exclusive performances • Face-painting • Henna • Calligraphy • Story-telling • Art exhibitions Eid Festival is a Mayor of London event to mark the end of Ramadan.

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A natural journey of the Mediterranean taste in UK: Bodrum!

From harvest to your table, all of Bodrum’s products are delicately picked for customers to achieve the highest quality in taste, healthiness and naturality. Gima managers, who have created the brand Bodrum, say that they pride themselves on the high quality when compared to the other varieties in the market.

eople who live in the UK without doubt know that a big percentage of what we eat, are being imported from different countries across the globe. Given the variety of profiles, backgrounds and cultures in the society, when we talk about a “common British taste”, it is very hard for everyone to depict one specific taste which covers all of the cultural mosaic on the island. Moreover, Great Britain is a place where almost every aliment can be found and bought, yet with some high prices. However, given the brilliant importing deals that Great Britain has with many other countries, UK residents can enjoy a full variety of foods and beverages throughout every season of the year. When looked through a point of customer’s view, we can literally find the wonders of the World at our supermarkets, hidden on the shelfs. That being said, when it comes to dry and frozen food, the scale of “findable products” at supermarkets triple in terms of affordability and variety.

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This “little World” in Britain comprises tastes from every culture, from major ones to the somewhat exotic, isolated or even esoteric ones. In other words, Britain is a “World of tastes”. As one of the prominent architects of this World, Gima UK Limited is a leading business in catering and food industry since 1998. Importing the most sought and delicious products from Turkey, Gima UK is bringing “Turkish kitchen” to our tables in the UK under its brand “Bodrum”. “THE NAME OF THE NATURAL MEDITERRANEAN TASTE: BODRUM” As known as the “Natural Mediterranean Taste in the UK”, the Gima UK product Bodrum has become a prominent and promising product throughout Europe. Comprising a wide range of products like dry fruits, pulses, spices, snacks and Turkish delight, more and more products are in the list of Bodrum’s shelter, giving you an endless choice to select from.

“ALL FROM TURKEY: NATURAL AND HIGH QUALITY” From harvest to your table, all of Bodrum’s products are delicately picked for customers to achieve the highest quality in taste, healthiness and naturality. Gima managers, who have created the brand Bodrum, say that they pride themselves on the high quality when compared to the other varieties in the market. “NOT IN ONLY THE ETNIC MARKET” Bodrum products, as a Turkish brand, are not only findable in ethnic markets but can be found at nationally known big supermarkets like Asda and Morrisons. As for suppliers, Bestway and Chamecha Cash & Carry proudly delivers Bodrum products to the market. Last but not least, Bodrum has the highest number of products in Asda’s “World Ethnic Product” shelfs.

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Prophet Muhammad’s last sermon still enlightens today

rophet Muhammad (SAWS) delivered his last sermon (Khutbah) on the ninth of Dhul Hijjah (12th and last month of the Islamic year), 10 years after Hijrah (migration from Makkah to Madinah) in the Uranah Valley of mount Arafat. His words were quite clear and concise and were directed to the entire humanity. After praising, and thanking Allah he said: “O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY. Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.2O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed

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reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn ‘Abd’al Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived… O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste. O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer

your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-3Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety (taqwa) and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves. One can heed words of wisdom and guidelines from the last sermon (khutbah) of the prophet (SAWS). His sermons emphasized on the following: • Sacredness of a Muslim’s life and property • The importance of propagating this message to all others (A Muslim’s responsibility thus does not end by following the religion) • A reminder that everyone is fully accountable for their deeds and Allah (God) will take every person into account. If everyone heeded to this fact alone, the world would be a much better place today.

• “Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.”1 These words of the prophet are self explanatory. • The prohibition of dealing with interest (Numerous accounts in Quran and Hadith prohibit taking, giving or being a part of any transaction dealing with interest). • “You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity.” These words of the prophet are self explanatory. • The awareness of satan and how satan can work to deviate us from the right path and doing evil things. • Rights of women over men and rights of men over women. • Treatment of women with kindness. • Modesty and chastity in women. • The importance of worshiping Allah (saying your five daily prayers (Salah), fasting during the month of Ramadan, giving charity (Zakat) and performing pilgrimage (Hajj). • Equality amongst all (blacks, white, Arabs, non-Arabs, etc.) • The need to establish justice. • Islam is the final divine religion (Last prophet and Last Book). • Let’s do our part in following the prophet’s message and propagating the message to everyone we know.

MAY 2017

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Londra Ramadan |

MAY 2017

| Londra Ramadan

Turkish Religious Foundation UK

s a charity based in London, Turkish Religious Foundation UK is actually a quite fresh foundation in the UK, despite its echoing and philanthropic strives over the past years. Owing its success to the people that it has reached out throughout the years, Turkish Religious Foundation UK grew like a tree of trust due to its vision of helping people and creating more solidarity not only amongst Turkish Muslims but amongst all Muslims from any backgrounds. Talking to the director of the Foundation, Mahmut Özdemir, we were given a insightful summary to the foundation’s standpoints alongside some frequently asked questions. Mr Özdemir says that Turkish Religious Foundation UK stands for multiple reasons as one of them being a centre for people to use to fulfill their socio-cultural religious aspirations. Mr Özdemir says that by offering different centres in London, Turkish Religious Foundation comes up with multiple events that target different groups like families, children only, men and women only. “Thinking of the centres we have, apart from our charity house, hundreds of children are attending our weekend programmes at our different centres throughout London and in the UK. One of the last examples would be the Lailet al Berat (Berat Kandili) as the event was moderated by our children and our staff - these are things that make us utterly proud.” Mr Özdemir also takes the moment to tackle funeral relief funds, as he remarks that the topic isn’t really well-known still and needs to be re-touched. “By a one-off annual donation that comes as a very affordable and reasonably priced fee, collectively these donations allows us to obtain funds to help those who are in need of funeral actions such as getting the official works done, sending the funerals to wherever they are desired to get to and simply taking all costs on our behalf. “As you all know, at such an event like death, God forbid, no one would want to deal with such offi-

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cial paperworks when are already dwelling their grief. By these funds we take on these duties in hopes of helping and supporting families and friends.” Upon his remarks, Mr Özdemir stated important facts on how to maintain the very solid connection between the charity and people by highlighting some aspects: “Of course, I need to remind everyone that we are a charity meaning that we are dependent on donations by our people. Be it the supports and helps we have mentioned in this article or many other, the support and help we provide is only possible as long as we carry on receive donations. We strive to make a fair world for all our brothers and sisters in terms of education, culture, religious services and many more. Every single contribution you make will make you one of our heroes. Thanks for supporting us.” “A MONTH OF ABUNDANCE AND RECONCILIATION” We also asked Mr Özdemir some of the most asked questions about the month of Ramadan, by referring to some points specifically. What invalidates a fast? The basic principle of the fast is to keep away from eating, drinking and sexual relations and deprive the nafs of these things. Therefore,

these and behaviour that comes to resemble these will invalidate a fast. Eating and drinking encompasses everything that is considered normal to eat. Cigarettes, shisha pipes and other recreational tobacco products, as well as drugs and other addictive substances are all banned during this month. Any oral medicines – whatever the reason – are similarly restricted, but eye drops, nose drops and pills taken below the tongue do not invalidate a fast. What about dental treatment? Does that invalidate one’s fast? The fast of an individual receiving dental treatment, with or without morphine, would not be invalidated as a result of that treatment. But if they swallow blood or any of the substances used during the treatment, that would invalidate it. And brushing teeth – particularly to block out any mouth odours. What is the position on fasting there? Brushing teeth does not invalidate one’s fast. Having said that, if any toothpaste or water escapes down the throat, that would invalidate the fast and require an additional day of fasting to make up for it. That is why, considering this risk of annulling your fast, it is best to brush teeth before morning prayers and after the evening iftar meal.

Is it possible to fast by sleeping all day? For a fast to be valid, it is vital that a person intends to fast and avoids things that could invalidate that fast. Sleeping a little or a lot during daylight hours does not harm the validity of that fast. Having said that, keeping away from the difficulties that fasting introduces and to sleep for long hours during the daytime in Ramadan does not reconcile with the philosophy and meaning of fasting. Such actions, however, do not invalidate the fast. How should the iftar table be set? The iftar table should be laid such so that those people eating are left satisfied. Excesses should be avoided. That is to say, our iftar meals should not become meals of waste. What would you say regarding zakat and sadaqah offerings? One of the most attractive aspects of the month of Ramadan is its financial aid and solidarity aspect. One of the tasks that we should not be forgetting is sadaqah, also known as “fitre” in Turkish. Fitre is a type of sadaqah that must be offered the poor at any point during Ramadan before Eid festival prayers at the end of the month. It may be seen as basic and little but fitre raises the morale of the poor and allows them to experience the joy of the post-Ramadan festival. It is not a particularly large amount: for a person living in Britain, for example, it is £10 per head. It should not be less than this, but anyone who wishes can give more. It is not much as an amount but it is a contribution that allows the poor to experience the joy of festival with the same happiness as other people. Ramadan is a month when zakat and sadaqah are both offered. People strive during this month to engage in more goodwill and charitable activities, and help the poor and destitute. A person who spends the whole day fasting will think of their neighbours, relatives, the poor and the less fortunate at these moments. That is why, in one sense, the month of Ramadan can be seen as a month of philanthropy and good

wishes you a Ramadan Mubarak!

Mr Özdemir says that Turkish Religious Foundation UK stands for multiple reasons as one of them being a centre for people to use to fulfill their socio-cultural religious aspirations. Mr Özdemir says that by offering different centres in London, Turkish Religious Foundation UK comes up with multiple events that target different groups like families, children only, men and women only.

will. If I was to put it another way: Ramadan is the month when the most aid and charity is handed out. Does Ramadan have a positive effect on family, relatives and social relations? Of course there is a social perspective to the month of Ramadan. Social relations are where humanity experiences the most problems today, just as was the case yesterday. Love, respect and goodwill are most important in relations between people, particularly in communal life. These values I just mentioned are the main peoples of serenity, trust and peace. Life is more comfortable and secure in social environments where these values are strong. Where such values are weak, life is uncomfortable, insecure and uneasy. That is why we need spiritual environments like Ramadan: they help create a more comfortable social environment. The Ramadan atmosphere allows people to rein in their nafs, to mellow, and to behave within the context of ethical values. For this reason we should use religious days, religious nights and religious festivals to strengthen our bonds with relatives and friends. What is it like to experience Ramadan away from your home country? We need to think about this concept of “being away from home”. Of course nothing compares to one’s home country: one misses it if they are apart from it for too long. But the world has become so much smaller today. Transport and communication are not as difficult as once they were. In addition, our citizens are very good as making a home of the countries in which they live – they are successful at this. They open mosques, foundations and charities. Within ourselves we establish a

If you wish to Donate here are details you need;

social liveliness that closely resembles the atmosphere back home. The month of Ramadan is equally active in this regard. The Quran is read out loud in the mosques, tarawih is read out and iftar evening meals held to break the fast. This level of activity in our mosques effectively takes us back to the Ramadan months we lived back in our home country. Does one need to be self-sufficient and content during Ramadan? There are truly many benefits to keeping the fast. One of the positive emotions it provokes among us is the concept of kanaat [the Turkish word for ‘contentedness’]. Worship through fasting strengthens this sense of kanaat, because an individual who is hungry has a better understanding of the deprived and the needy. That person becomes unable to waste. Our prophet’s description of kanaat as a limitless treasure is important for this reason. Greed leads to destitution, but kanaat leads to grace. The prophet said that he who economises will not struggle to live. Of course, achieving kanaat does not mean turning one’s back on the world. Muslims must follow this but most also be headstrong when it comes to the property of the world. But Muslims must be both spiritually and physically strong, and not dependent upon anyone. How to contact: The Turkish Religious Foundation of the United Kingdom, the official representative of Turkish religious authorities in Britain, can be contacted at its headquarters in North London. Address: 31 High Street, Hornsey, London N8 7QB Telephone: 020 8340 55 00 Fax: 020 8881 01 52 Email: info@diyanet.org.uk Web: www.diyanet.org.uk

Account Name: Turkish Religious Foundation of UK Bank: HSBC Sort code: 40-03- 17 Acc. No: 31374168

MAY 2017

| Londra Ramadan

Fasting is good for the soul and body

s an inevitable part of our “modernised” lives under such instant and unhealthy food diets, fasting during Ramadan can actually be a true detox for your body. Studies and experts suggest that fasting during Ramadan can give our bodies the space they need after 11 months of “food-oppression”. PROVIDES TRANQUILITY OF HEART AND MIND There is intense spiritual meaning to Ramadan for those who fast. Muslims practice generosity by being charitable, family-bonding by gathering around the iftar table, spirituality by praying, and self-control by practicing good manners. All these habits build a feeling of peace, tranquility and self-satisfaction. IMPROVES YOUR BLOOD FAT LEVELS A study conducted in 1997 in the Annals of Nutrition Metabolism demonstrated that fasting lowered bad “LDL” cholesterol levels by 8%, triglyceride by 30%, and increased good “HDL” levels by 14.3% thereby protecting your heart from cardiovascular disease. This can be explained by our eating and exercise habits. In Ramadan, people tend to go for healthier options such as dates, nuts, lentil soup, and home cooked meals. Studies have noted that the overall saturated fat consumption, usually found in butter, lard, fatty meat and fast food, is reduced in Ramadan. In addition, the night prayers of “tawarih” may provide an adequate level of physical activity equivalent to moderate physical activity which, for some, may be more than they usually exercise.

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creased in Ramadan. Of course if you’re binge-eating on Arabic sweets that’s not going to happen. However, if you maintain your usual eating habits, you are very likely to eat less amounts of food and lose weight. This is especially true in Ramadan, when your source of Energy during your fast is mainly fat. Trying to stay lightly active during the day can promote even more fat break-down.

A study conducted in 1997 in the Annals of Nutrition Metabolism demonstrated that fasting lowered bad “LDL” cholesterol levels by 8%, triglyceride by 30%, and increased good “HDL” levels by 14.3% thereby protecting your heart from cardiovascular disease. MAY HELP OVERCOMING ADDICTIONS Addictions can come in all shapes and forms and Ramadan provides an excellent opportunity to ditch them. Because Ramadan teaches you self-restraint for most of the day, you will

come to realize that forgoing your addiction all together may not be has hard as you think! PROMOTES FAT BREAKDOWN AND WEIGHT LOSS Calorie consumption is overall de-

TOP ACTIONS THAT INVALIDATE YOUR FAST: • Intercourse • Masturbation • Eating and drinking • Anything that is regarded as coming under the same heading as eating and drinking • Letting blood by means of cupping and the like • Menstruation and nifaas • Vomitting whilst fasting • Taking an injection whilst fasting • Using the miswaak whilst fasting • Using toothpaste whilst fasting • The use of oil-based and liquid-based perfumes whilst fasting • Applying perfume on the hands, face, body and clothes • Using atomiser mouth fresheners whilst fasting • Using eye drops and ointment/liniment for the eyes whilst fasting • Being abusive whilst fasting • Backbiting and slandering whilst fasting • Bad speech during the month of Ramadan • S l e e p i n g throughout the day whilst fasting • Swallowed water taking a bath, whilst fasting • Using genital wicks • Smoking • Swallowing snowflakes or raindrops • Swallowing blood

MAY 2017

| Londra Ramadan

All you need to know about Zakat al-Fitr!

akat al-Fitr, also known as Zekat ve Fitre in Turkish, are one of the mandatory deeds that one should take on during Ramadan as fasting is only one aspect amongst other duties that a believer should follow. In this article, we have compiled some of the most asked questions about Zakat al-Fitr in hopes of enlightening your questions. Q. What is Zakat al-Fitrah? A: It is religious tax/alms (Zakat) paid on the day when Muslims break the fasting period at the end of the month of Ramadan. This alms is known as Zakat al-Fitrah. Q. What do the Qur’an and Hadith say about Fitrah? A: Imams (as) say that the verses: Indeed whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success, and glorifies the Name of his Lord and prays (87:14 & 15) refer to giving of Fitrah and saying prayers on Eid al-Fitr. Hazrat Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq (A.S.) said: for your fast to be accepted, give zakat. Q. When does Fitrah become wajib (obligatory)? A. Payment of Fitrah becomes obligatory after sunset on the eve of Eid alFitr. The Fitrah should be kept aside and paid on Eid al-Fitr before Eid prayers or before midday for those who cannot say their Eid prayers. It is necessary to have obligatory intention (Niyyah) of giving Fitrah for God’s pleasure only.

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Q. What happens if someone forgets or does not give Fitrah on time? A. If one does not give out or set aside the Fitrah within the due time, he should give the Fitrah later, on the basis of precaution, without making the niyyah of adaa or qadhaa but only Qurbatan Ilallah. Q. Can we give Fitrah in advance? A. Giving Fitrah before the eve of Eid al-Fitr is not permissible. However, if you wish to send Fitrah earlier so that it reaches the needy on time, then you can send it as a temporary loan to the needy and then change your intention from loan to Fitrah on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. Q. To whom is Fitrah obligatroy? A. Paying Fitrah is obligatory on every Muslim who is mature (baligh), sane, financially able, and conscious on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. Fitrah should also be paid on behalf of all dependents (e.g. wife, children) whom one supports financially. Q. When is a host required to pay Fitrah for his guest? A. If a person invites another person to his house on the eve of Eid alFitr and if the guest is present at the host’s place at the time of the sunset then it is obligatory for the host to pay Fitrah for his guest. Q. What happens if the guest

arrives after the sunset on Eid night? A. In this case the guest will pay his/ her own Fitrah and it is not obligatory on the host to pay Fitrah for the guest. Q. What happens if a guest comes uninvited and is present at the time of the sunset on the eve of Eid al-Fitr? A. Ayatullah Sayyid Al-Sistani says that the host should still pay the Fitrah as an obligatory precaution. However, Marhum Ayatullah Sayyid al-Khui was of the opinion that is recommended for the host to pay Fitrah of an uninvited guest. Q. How much should we pay for Fitrah? A. Fitrah for a person is given on a weight of three kilograms (one sa’a) on any food commodity like wheat, barley, rice, millet, raisins or dates. Ayatullah Sayyid Al-Sistani is of the opinion that the item that is not a staple food in your town should not be given in Fitrah. Say, for example, if millet is not a staple in Vancouver then Vancouver Mumineen should not pay Fitrah on millet. Q. Can we give cash value of any commodity mentioned above? A. Yes, cash value in lieu of any foodstuff mentioned can be given as Fitrah. Thus, if a kilo of rice costs $2.00, the cash value of Fitrah on rice per person would be $6.00. We

recommend, Fitrah on basmati rice to be Canadian Dollars 7.00 for residents of Canada and US Dollars 6.00 for US residents. (Please check prices for other items in your areas.) Q. Whom should we give the Fitrah to? A. It is given to the needy who are unable to meet their own or their dependants annual living expenses, nor do they have the means to do so through earning. Ayatullah Sayyid Al-Sistani says that the needy who is given the fitrah must be a Shiah Ithna Ashari. Q. Who should not be given the Fitrah? A. A needy who: consumes alcohol, does not say his daily prayers (salat), commits sins openly, or he who is known to use the Fitrah in sinful way. Q. Are there any additional rules that we need to be aware of? A. Following are some important rules: (i) Fitrah should not be sent outside the town one resides in, if there are deserving Mumineen in that town. (ii) Fitrah from a non-Sayyid cannot be given to a needy Sayyid; the reverse is permissible. (iii) A needy should be given at least one Fitrah. (iv) Amongst the needy, relatives should be preferred over others when giving Fitrah, next in line are neighbors and then the learned.

MAY 2017

| Londra Ramadan

Fasting healthier in Ramadan during summer terms

his year, the holy month of Ramadan falls all the in Summer, which means that fasting hours become longer. So, during this time what does your body depend on to be able to last the whole day and keep going? In this article we have compiled a range of very helpful tips to stay hydrated, healthy during your fasting process including some healthy tips suggested by the NHS. When you fast, your energy mainly depends on the sugar glucose that you consume during your Suhour (Sahur) meal. But this meal can only provide energy for a few hours and then your body has to depend on its stored glucose (glycogen) and fats. And after fasting the whole day, it is the food you eat at Iftar that will provide your body cells with calories and nutrients to give you energy and vitality. SUHOUR MEAL FOR VITALITY – WHAT TO EAT FOR MORE ENERGY AND ENDURANCE? For longer lasting energy this year, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the food you eat at this predawn meal. It is considered essential, as it prevents hunger, tissue breakdown and offers better endurance ability during the long day. Try to eat slowly digestible and absorbable foods which are rich in fibre such as complex carbohydrates (whole-wheat breads, rice, pasta, potatoes and whole wheat grains such as Burghul). These foods give you energy that can last for many hours unlike foods high in sugar which provide energy for only a short time and then lead to a drop in the blood sugar levels, leading to low energy. You can also eat protein-rich foods together with your complex carbohydrates, such as milk and dairy products (yogurt, Labneh, and cheese, preferably white cheese which has

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Try to eat slowly digestible and absorbable foods which are rich in fibre such as complex carbohydrates (whole-wheat breads, rice, pasta, potatoes and whole wheat grains such as Burghul). These foods give you energy that can last for many hours unlike foods high in sugar which provide energy for only a short time and then lead to a drop in the blood sugar levels, leading to low energy. a lower fat content) or legumes (fava beans or chickpeas) that will make you feel full for a longer period. Having a balanced diet will not only help to ensure you have energy for the long period of fast each day but also has endless heath benefits. IFTAR TO REPLENISH YOUR ENERGY STORES – WHAT TO EAT TO COMPENSATE FOR LIQUIDS AND NUTRIENTS? Its custom to break your fast with glass of water and a few dates. Dates, juices and soups are good sources of carbohydrates and help bring your low blood glucose to normal levels. Liquids (water, juice, soup) also help maintain the fluid and

electrolyte balance in the body and replenish whatever was lost during the day, giving the burst of entry that you need. For more energy and vitality make sure this meal is balanced by including complex carbohydrate sources, protein from meat or legumes, vegetables as well as fruits. 5 TIPS TO PREVENT THE FEELING OF THIRST DURING YOUR RAMADAN DAYS: • Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and water between Iftar and Suhour to prevent dehydration • Limit your intake of fried foods and foods high in fats and sugar • Avoid foods high in salt such

as pickles, salty crackers and nuts, and canned foods • Try not to drink too much tea especially at Suhour as it can increase fluids lost through urination • Don’t overeat at the Suhour meal Dr Farhana bin Lootah, an internal medicine specialist from the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, says to NHS that during this period it is even possible to lose weight. “When the body has less food, it starts to burn fat so that it can make energy. The use of fat for energy helps weight loss,” she says. “It preserves the muscles and eventually reduces your cholesterol level. In addition, weight loss results in better control of diabetes and reduces blood pressure. However, if one does eat more than normal during Ramadan, this can have adverse effects, including weight gain through overeating when breaking the fast. The key is to make sure you eat in moderation. Indeed, smaller amounts more frequently can be more comfortable all round.” It is also vital that enough water – at least two litres – is consumed through the non-fasting hours to maintain balanced hydration. “Water is very important, and should ideally be the main fluid you use to replenish your thirst during Ramadan,” bin Lootah says. “Unfortunately though, some people do not drink enough and have only small amounts at iftar and then forget to drink water until the next day. Water also plays a significant role in weight loss and maintenance because it helps to get rid of toxins and reduce the feeling of hunger. So all in all, although it longer days with a little bit more heating on, these useful tips can wear off the burden of some possible pressures for all of us to have a better fasting process.

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MAY 2017

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The one book enlightens your way: Quran

he Quran is the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe Allah, or God, gave the Quran directly to them to correct earlier, inaccurate holy texts, such as the Old and New Testaments. Many Muslims study the book every day to guide the way they lead their lives. The Quran is a material and spiritual guide for individuals and the community, all classes of people living in any place or time and for the whole life of man. Everybody, from the president to the man in the street, finds the things that are about them in the Quran. They take the knowledge and lessons that are necessary for peace and tranquility both in the world and the hereafter. The virtues and characteristics of the Quran are stated as follows in verses and hadiths: “And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy.”(al-Anam, 6/155). “And this is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings and confirming (the revelations) which came before it: that thou mayest warn the Mother of Cities and all around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this (Book), and they are constant in guarding their prayers.”(al-Anam, 6/92). Hz. Prophet explained the characteristics of the Quran as follows: ‘It contains all information about what has happened to those communities before you, news of dissensions and tumults that will happen after you and signs of Doomsday. It is the distinguisher between the truth and the falsehood. If anyone seeks guidance elsewhere Allah will lead him astray. It is the strong rope of Allah. It is the reminder with wisdom, and it is the straightest path. It protects souls who obey it from being ruined and misguidance and tongues that recite it from ambiguity. Scholars of the Qur’an always crave more from it. Reading it again and again never bores its reader; neither does the reader lose any taste by reading it over and over again. Its magnificent wonders that astonish the mankind never end, “They said `We have

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The Quran contains all kinds of principles of creed, deeds and ethics that will make man attain real bliss. It is a great literary miracle in terms of its words and meaning really heard a wonderful Recital.” (al-Jinn 1). He who utters it, speaks the truth. He who acts according to it, will be rewarded. He who pronounces judgment according to it, will be just. He who invites people to it, will guide them to a straight path.’” (Tirmidhi, Thawabu”l-Qur’an 14, 2908) The Quran was revealed into the heart of the Prophet (pbuh) in terms of not only its meaning but also its words. That is why, the Quran is called wahy al-matluww (the recited revelation). Therefore, the Quran is the whole of not only meaning but also words. The Quran was not sent down to the Prophet (pbuh) as a whole; it was sent down verse by verse and chapter by chapter. THE MIRACLE OF QURAN The Quran contains all kinds of principles of creed, deeds and ethics that will make man attain real bliss. It is a great literary miracle in terms of its words and meaning. The Prophet

(pbuh) stated the following regarding the issue: “Every Prophet was given miracles because of which people believed, but what I have been given, is Divine Inspiration which Allah has revealed to me. So I hope that my followers will outnumber the followers of the other Prophets on the Day of Resurrection.”(Bukhari, Fadailu’l-Qur’an, 1) Some of the definitions and description of the Quran are as follows: - The All-Wise Qur’an, which makes known to us our Sustainer, is the pre-eternal translator of the great Book of the Universe... This universe is likened to a great book written by the pen of power. In a booklet, the phrase signs of creation (ayat at-takwiniyya) is used for the beings in the world. Sign of creation means what is created based on the command “be” (kun), what shows the existence, oneness, names and attributes of Allah and what serves as evidence for them. The verses

(signs) in the Quran come from the attribute of Allah called speech and the signs in the universe come from His attribute called power (qudrah). This book of the universe makes Allah known with all of its signs but humans have not been able to read it and evaluate it correctly. That is, they did not understand the language of the book.The All-Wise Quran translated the book of the universe, informed humans about it and described our Lord, who is the writer of this book, to us. It told us about His attributes, names and deeds. - the discloser of the treasures of the Divine Names concealed in the pages of the earth and the heavens... Concealed means veiled, covered, that has become invisible and unknown. Thanks to the Quran, translating the book of the universe, the manifestations of the names of Allah that had been concealed in the world and in the sky started to be read. In this sentence, the names of Allah are likened to treasures. For instance, the name al-Khaliq (the Creator) is a treasure; all creatures are like the jewels of that treasure. The name al-Muhyi (the Giver of Life) is a separate treasure; all lives come from the treasure. In this book of the universe, every event, like every creature, is like a word or line. It is necessary to read them correctly. The truths that are concealed under events can be read correctly only by the guidance and instruction of the Quran. Night and day, health and illness, joy and sorrow, old age and death are all truths written in this book. The most important event for men among them is death. Those who regard death as “non-being, non-existence, entering into grave and disappearing” cannot understand the reality of death and misevaluate that important event. The reality of death is understood with the guidance of the Quran. Birth means to come to the world from the wound; similarly, death means to go to the realm of barzakh from the world. Then, another birth called ba’th will follow it; people will go to the Gathering Place from the realm of grave through it.

MAY 2017

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More on the holy Quran’s importances and ways to improve studying Quran

he information that is contained inside Quran cannot be found in any other book. For any sort of otherworldly infirmity, Quran is the main core. As indicated by Imam Ali receptacle Abu Talib, “You ought to likewise realize that nobody will need anything after the Quran and nobody will be sufficient without the Quran. It is true that anyone can’t be said he is totally guided if he has not followed the teachings of Quran. The Holy Quran is the fountainhead of whole knowledge, yet there is a dissimilarity between the Holy Quran and different books The Quran is expression of Allah (SWT) and books on different extensions of information are human learning of Allah’s creation. These books direct particular subjects and themes. A book on one order is calm on different controls. This is not same with the Holy Quran. All information begins from the Holy Quran. This is the essential truth of Islamic regulation of learning. We have to escape from the haziness of lack of awareness and move towards the spotlight and a brilliant future. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said, “O people I am leaving behind among you the Holy Book (Quran) and the Sunnah (way of the Prophet (SAW)), if you follow these in letter and spirit you will never be strayed.” 5 Ways to Improve Your Recitation Fluency 1. Ancient Thai Saying The ancient Thai people, now famous for their Muay Thai Kick Boxing style, had a saying. “If you want to be a good kicker… kick!” The same holds true of your goal of improving your Quran recitation. Follow the first advice given to the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) “Recite!”. Recite as much as you can, as frequently as you can. Nothing can replace this discipline. The more you do it, the better you get at it. Before you know it, you’ll be reading an unfamiliar page in the same amount of time it used to take you to read a couple of lines. 2. Link New Habit With Old Habit This is without doubt the single most effective way to build a new habit. You need to link the habit of reciting the Quran in Arabic with something you already do every single day

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without fail. Something like brushing your teeth, or putting your clothes on in the morning. An excellent way to go about it is to link it with one (or more) of your 5 daily prayers. That way, you’re already in a state of wudhu, so one of the main psychological barriers is out of the way. Now make the commitment to recite a small amount of Quran every single day for the next 30 days after the selected prayer. 3. Intelligent Repetition – The Mother Of All Skill Here is a trick that will double or triple your effectiveness and speed at reading the Quran. Let’s say you’ve decided to recite 2 pages of the Quran after Isha every night and 2 pages before you leave for work in the morning. Instead of reciting the first 2 pages on day one morning and the next 2 pages on day one night, try this out. On day one morning, recite page 1, then recite page one again. Then on day one evening, recite page 1 again, and again. “But then I’ll only have done one page?!” I hear you exclaiming. That’s true, but you’ll have done that page four times, and what’s more important, is that by the 4th recitation, you will read it about 3 or 4 times quicker that on your first attempt. Aim for reading the page 5 times each day. The next day, you can move on to page 2, and so on. At the end of the week, you might like to do one marathon session of going through all 7 pages you covered that week. You may even want to do this with a

Tajweed teacher, who’ll correct your recitation. You’ll notice that you can still recite page 1 about 2 or 3 times faster and more fluently than on your 1st attempt. 600 days later you will have completed the Quran 6 times. “Eat your heart out, Maulvi Saab!” If you recite the page 5 times each day, and once at the end of the week, it’s the equivalent of completing the Quran once every 100 days – just over 3 months. That’s like reading the Quran 4 times a year. 4. Learn Some Vocabulary The key to the whole process of understanding the Quran is to learn Quranic vocabulary lists. If you learn around 300 words, that accounts for about 70% of the entire Quran. But you need to learn the right words. This links in with your recitation because when you know these commonly occurring words, you’ll spot them as you recite, and something magical will happen…. Just as you do in English, you will unconsciously read the first and lsat lteters in the wrod adn wrok out waht the wrod syas, without having to read each letter phonetical-

ly (cool eh?). In other words, just by being able to recognize the common words, your recitation speed will increase exponentially. HOWEVER, this does not replace numbers 1,2 & 3. DO NOT wait until you know all of Quranic Arabic, before you start reciting the Quran. This is a common mistake and it is a waste of time. You can know all 300 words, but if you never recite the Quran, you will still be a slow reciter. If you do manage to learn 5-10 words a day for 1 month, whilst still doing your daily recitations, you’ll know 70% of Quranic vocabulary in a month or two. This will give you a huge boost in motivation, and momentum. 5. Get Your Smart Device Out.. If you are still struggling, the iPod technique will propel you forward. Get an online recitation from a famous reciter, whose voice you love. Listen to the recitation, one page at a time, as you read along the script with your finger. Even if the reciter goes way too fast for you to start with, just finger along the page. Then, rewind back to where the page started, and do it again, and again. Because the reciter goes much faster than you, you can go over the same page several times in one sitting. Eventually, you will be able to follow with your eyes, and then your lips and tongue. So, here’s a quick review of the 5 ways to improve your recitation: 1. Practise Quran like a martial artist practices kicks. 2. Read 1 page of the Quran immediately after a prayer. 3. Repeat the same page several times before moving on. 4. Learn 5 words of Quran vocab per day for 2 months. 5. Get your iPod out and read along with a reciter. If you found any benefit in this article, by all means share it with your family and friends to spread the blessings. You never know which tip will transf o r m which p e r son’s life through the Quran.

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Ten important Ramadan Prayers THE PRAYER OF FASTING INTENTION ith most things in Islam, like going for the spiritual pilgrimage of Hajj or even praying the five daily prayers, fasting starts with making a du’a, or prayer, for intending to fast, which is called the niyyat. This prayer serves as a notice to God that you intend with your heart and soul to fast during Ramadan for His pleasure. It can be done once before the month begins, or it is recommended to be done every morning at suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before fasting begins. For example, you can say to yourself, “Oh Allah, I intend to fast today in accordance with your laws and for your benefit. Please accept my fast, forgive my faults, and bring me closer to you.”

PRAYER FOR BREAKING THE FAST One of the must-dos of ending the fasting is reciting the right prayer just before breaking your fast. Fasting does not end unless this prayer is recited: “Allahuma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu wa ‘ala rizq-ika aftarthu.” Oh Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You [and I put my trust in You] and I break my fast with your PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS Ramadan is a time when Muslims are told through the Qur’an and in hadiths that God will absolve them of their sins if they engage in sincere worship and repentance. The following prayer is a good one to recite during Ramadan to ask for Allah’s forgiveness: “Allahumma inni as’aluka birahmatika al-lati wasi’at kulli shay’in an taghfira li.” Oh Allah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelopes all things, that You forgive me. This is a prayer that Abdullah ibn Amar, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, used to recite as he was breaking his fast, as reported by Ibn abi Mulaykah. TARAWEEH PRAYERS There are infinite prayers that Muslims recite during Ramadan--ones from the Qur’an, ones from hadiths, and others that companions of the Prophets and Islamic scholars recited. But a special type of prayer exclusive to the

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HISTORY OF RAMADAN Praying and worshipping is a fundamental part of Ramadan, as the holy months requires certain amount of prayers but more importantly it is a month of maintaining spiritual connection with Allah. A companion once asked the Prophet Muhammad what deed he could do to attain entrance to paradise. The prophet advised him to fast. But this hadith (verified saying of the Prophet Muhammad) goes on to say that just hunger and thirst alone will not yield spiritual enlightenment and reward. The act of sincere prayer and worship must accompany it. With this in mind, here are ten prayers one can recite during Ramadan to become closer to God. Note: All Arabic prayers are written in transliteration for easy reading. month of Ramadan are taraweeh prayers, which are special prayers said at night after breaking fast with physical movements akin to those Muslims do during their five daily prayers. In taraweeh prayers, a hafiz, or one who has memorized the Qur’an, recites one chapter of the Qur’an each night while followers stand behind and pray along. Over the course of Ramadan, the Qur’an is recited in its entirety, one chapter at a time. As reading the Qur’an (and finishing it, if you can), is highly recommended during Ramadan, attending taraweeh prayers is a great way to absorb the virtues of the Qur’an in a congregational setting. PRAYERS OF ZIKR Zikr, or prayers recited over and over again in the remembrance of God, is often thought to be part of the Sufi Islamic tradition, when in fact it is an integral part of all Mus-

lims’ lives and especially important during Ramadan. A great way to connect with God while doing all the mundane chores of daily life (driving, waiting in line, preparing the evening meal), is to recite over and over these short phrases: Subhan’allah, an expression used by Muslims to express strong feelings of joy or relief and recalls how everything Muslims have is thanks to Allah. Alhamdulillah, or “Praise be to God!” (It is a Qur’anic exclamation with a similar meaning as hallelujah.) Astaghfirullah, which means “I seek forgiveness from God.” Allahu Akbar, or “God is the Greatest.” PRAYER FOR THE THIRD 10 DAYS OF RAMADAN This particular prayer was recommended by the Prophet Muhammad to be recited during the last 10 days Ramadan as much as pos-

sible. It beseeches God to forgive us, because God is indeed the best at forgiving humans for their mistakes. “Astaghfirullaha rabbi min kulli zambin wa atabu ilaih.” I seek forgiveness of all my sins from Allah who is my lord and sustainer and I return back in repentance to him alone. PRAYER FOR THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF RAMADAN Muslims scholars agree that Ramadan is such a holy month that any sort of prayer, whether it is a personal one from your heart or one from the Qur’an or other Islamic sacred texts, will surely be received by Allah and the rewards for those prayers will be numerous. But the Prophet Muhammad did recommend Muslims to recite certain du’as at particular times during Ramadan. For example, during the first 10 days of the months, reciting

the following prayer provides extra benefits: “Rabbigh fir war hum wa anta khair ur rahimeen.” Oh my Lord and Sustainer please forgive me and be merciful to me. You are the best amongst those who show mercy. PRAYER FOR SECOND 10 DAYS OF RAMADAN This prayer, which is from the Qur’an, was recommended by the Prophet Muhammad to be recited as much as possible during the second 10 days of Ramadan for maximum rewards and forgiveness of sins. This prayer is special for me, as my father advised me to recite it during the first Ramadan I shared with my husband after our marriage, when I was pregnant with our first child, on bed rest, and unable to attend taraweeh prayers at our mosque in New York City. “Allahumma innaka afuwun tuhibbul afuwa faafu anna.” Oh Allah indeed you are the greatest pardoner and you like the act of pardoning. Hence, please forgive us. PRAYER FOR NIGHT OF POWER As beneficial all prayers are during Ramadan, any prayers recited on Laylat Al Qadr, or “The Night of

lat Al Qadr, and it is recommended for Muslims to attend taraweeh prayers at their local mosque on this night. Muslims often try to spend the entire night in prayer, reciting surahs from the Qur’an and all sorts of prayers and supplications, whether personal or from scripture. The importance of prayer and devotion on this night is unimaginable, as the Qur’an calls this night “better than a thousand months.”

P o w e r, ” receive the most reward. Laylat Al Qadr is one of the holiest nights of Ramadan. It falls on the night of one of the odd days during the last 10 days of Ramadan and is widely believed to fall on the 27th fast of the

month. The night is commemorated as when the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur’an. Most mosques try and complete the recitation of the Qur’an on Lay-

PERSONAL PRAYERS The key to praying during Ramadan (or at any other time, for that matter), is praying sincerely with all your heart and soul. Growing up, my parents always advised me to pray for exactly what I wanted, no matter how out there my prayer was, and to especially pray for God’s forgiveness, love, and guidance. When I could not think of a Qur’anic supplication or scriptural prayer, they told me to pray from my heart. This advise is one most Muslims will hear at some point in their lives. It cuts to the heart of prayer across all faiths, for surely God will grant whatever prayer is dearest in our hearts—if God believes that prayer is for our benefit.

Ramadan Culture in Turkey

olden baked pastries drizzled with syrup served with rich clotted cream, crumbly homemade halvah with roasted pine nuts, baklava with a cheese filling served hot, custards sprinkled with rose water and ground nuts, strings of walnuts coated in grape molasses. Turkish sweets and desserts range from familiar syrup-soaked pastries to exotic a?ure, made of wheat berries, pulses and a cornucopia of dried fruits. Every one is delicious. But they’re also more than that. In Turkey, sugar and sweet foods symbolize happiness and goodwill, and no special occasion is complete without sweets and candies. This is especially true of Ramadan, when desserts and candies are an essential part of every meal and a symbol of hospitality to visitors. The three-day Ramadan feast after the monthlong fast became so closely identified with sweets that since the 18th century, it has been popularly known as the ?eker Bayram?, or Sugar Feast. In Islamic tradition, sweet foods were instilled with religious symbolism, as shown by two oral traditions of the Prophet Muhammad that decorat-

During Ramadan, a drummer walks the streets in every neighborhood, banging out virtuoso rhythms to wake up people in time for sahur. ed the walls of Turkish confectionery shops in past centuries: “The love of sweets springs from faith” and “True believers are sweet.” The monthlong Ramadan fast lasts from dawn to dusk, when nothing may be drunk or eaten. Relatives and friends are invited for the evening meal known as iftar, at which the fast is broken. A second, light meal called sahur is eaten just before dawn when the fast begins, and this usually includes a custard. During Ramadan, a drummer walks the streets in every neighbor-

hood, banging out virtuoso rhythms to wake up people in time for sahur. Until the early 20th century, as the month drew to an end, the drummers would stand outside the houses entertaining the inhabitants with poems as a polite way of asking for tips. Until World War I, it was customary for rich people to keep open house during Ramadan. Anyone who turned up at the door was shown to one of scores of tables all over the house and sat down to eat his or her fill. For the hosts, this was an expensive obliga-

tion, and some families had to sell off valuables to pay for their lavish Ramadan hospitality. Consequently, Ramadan was the best time for antique collectors to find bargains, and visiting antique stalls was a popular pastime during the hours of fasting. The iftar meal is divided into two stages. It begins with numerous appetizers and soup, then continues with the meal proper. The appetizers include all kinds of delicacies, depending on the locality, particularly past?rma (cured beef), cheeses of various sorts, olives, salads, dried dates, fruit preserves and fresh fruit. People usually break the fast with water first, then a date or an olive. All kinds of sweets are served at iftar, but Ramadan is unthinkable without baklava and güllaç, a pudding made of thin crepes soaked in sweetened milk or syrup flavored with rose water and stuffed or layered with ground nuts. Until a few years ago it was impossible to obtain güllaç wafers at any time of year except Ramadan, but nowadays some grocery stores in large cities stock them year round. Packets of güllaç tied with colored raffia appear in Ottoman period cartoons relating to Ramadan.

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Islam will be largest religion in the world by 2070, says report

slam will be the largest religion in the world by 2070 and is the only faith growing faster than the global population, a US research centre has said. According to the Times, The Pew Research Centre analysed demographic changes in major world religions and found the population of people describing themselves as Muslim will grow by 73 % between 2010 and 2050, compared with 35% for Christians, the next fastest-growing faith. The research centre, based in Washington, said the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population will grow by 37 % by 2050. In 2010 the world had 1.6 billion Muslims and 2.17 billion Christians, the Pew report said. By 2050, there would be 2.76 billion Muslims and 2.92 billion Christians. If both religions continued to grow at those rates, Islam would have more followers than Christianity by 2070. Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population but Pew

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predicted that by 2050 it would be overtaken by India, which would have more than 300 million Muslims, though Hindus would remain the majority. Islam has the youngest following among major religions with a median age of 23 in 2010, seven years younger than non-Muslims. This means that a larger share of Muslims are, or soon will be, at the age when they begin to have children.

They also have more children than members of other religious groups. Globally, each Muslim woman has an average of 3.1 children, compared with 2.3 on average for the other groups. Thirty four per cent of Muslims are under 15, meaning they have more childbirth years remaining. Although a growing number of people describe themselves as atheist, agnostic and non-religious in

Europe and North America, the report predicts they will decline as a proportion globally, from 16.4 % to 13.2 % by 2050, because of high fertility rates feeding growth among those describing themselves as Muslim. Christianity is likely to be slowed as followers join other religions or become non-religious. About 40 million people are expected to move into Christianity globally, while 106 million will leave. The centre also said, based on a survey last year, that more people in eastern and southern Europe have an unfavourable view of Muslims compared with northern and western Europe. The majority in Hungary, Italy, Poland and Greece viewed Muslims unfavourably, an attitude far less common in France, Germany and Britain. People who considered themselves on the right politically were much more likely to see Muslims negatively.Â

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Fasting the Long Summer Days of Ramadan

lthough we have already talked about fasting in general, since the dates of Ramadan always vary, so do the seasons of it. In this article, we would like to draw your attention to some specific elements that tackle fasting in Summer term. This year Ramaāan is taking place during summer, with extremely long days that may cause difficulties for some Muslims especially those who live in northern Europe. Some may express a negative attitude towards the long fasts and others might try to find excuses to avoid fasting altogether. Others may complain that there are disadvantages to fasting such long days. An underlying reason for such objections is the weakness of our belief in the afterlife that is true and everlasting. close to Allāh and starts thinking about the reality of this life compared to the reality of the second life, his or her experience of acts of worship will be very different. The physical tiredness will turn to enjoyment for the sake of whom he loves: Allāh, and His pleasure and Paradise. Saāād b. Jubayr, the famous scholar and righteous person, said: When āAbdullāh b. āUmar (raāiy Allāhu āanhu) was near death he said, “I

have not left anything behind from this world that I am grieved to leave behind other than the thirst of the midday heat (due to fasting) and walking to attend the prayer.” Similar statements were attributed to many from the early generations. For example, ‘Alqamah b. Marthad, a scholar from the latter era of the second generation, said “I do not cry about your world out of desire of it, but I cry out of missing out (because of death) on the thirst of the midday heat (due to fasting) and the winter night prayer (due to its length)”. It is amazing to know that the ear-

ly Muslims competed in doing good deeds even if they were not known as scholars and were just among the lay people. Al-Bayhaqi in his book al-Sunan narrated that once āAbdullāh b. āUmar went out to the outskirts of al-Madānah with some of his companions. They put out a dining mat when a shepherd passed by. Ibn āUmar said, “Come O shepherd and partake from this dining mat.” He said: “I am fasting,” Ibn ‘Umar responded, “You fast on a hot day like this while you are on these steep hillocks seeing to these sheep?” The herder replied, “I’m tak-

ing advantage of my remaining days.” In a similar story, Saāād b. Salim said one of the noble leaders known as Ruh b. Zinba, whose father was a Companion, came to a place between Makkah and Madānah on a very hot day. His meal was brought to him when a shepherd from the mountain approached, He said to him, “O shepherd, come and eat with me.” The shepherd said: “I’m fasting.” Ruh said, “You’re fasting in this heat?” The shepherd replied: “Should I let my days pass by in vain?” Ruh then recited a couplet: “You have used your days wisely O herder, while Ruh b. Zinba’ has wasted his.” The Month of Ramadān, in which the Qur’an was revealed If a person has a target of a good amount of the Qur’ān to read, learn or even memorise during the days of Ramaāan, one will notice that the days are not boring and pass by quite quickly. Supplicating to Allah is also a prime method by which to make worship easy upon the slave. Allah says: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me (by obedience) and believe in Me that they may be guided.”

Fasting Hours around the world 21

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