Tuesday 26 October 2004

hi

it's Tuesday and very cold, Ramadan is going well apart from the Cigs i miss. Nothing to report today, apart from my thoughts go out to Margaret Hassan and her family at this difficult time.

Speak soon

Wednesday 20 October 2004

advise for managers on Ramadan

i think it is a good idea for non Muslims to have the advise and support on how to support their Muslim staff in carrying out their religious duties during this holy month. You can take this advise and come to some kind of mutual arrangement that allows staff to pray and break their fast and still carry out your business duties. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further advise or support by email at shafiqjcp@yahoo.co.uk.

Ramadan is a holy Religious Festival for Muslims. It is a month of fasting as an expression of discipline and thanksgiving for Allah. Ramadan began on 15 October 2004.

Muslims fast for a period of 30 days during sunrise and sunset. Whilst fasting the individuals will abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and do not allow any substance into their body. They may also wish to pray during working hours. The requirement and need to pray is a matter of personal choice based on the nature and depth of the personal and religious belief.

The festival of Eid ul Fitr is the festival to mark the end of Ramadan and will fall on 14 November 2004.

As part of respecting the religious beliefs of others, managers and staff are asked to recognise and consider the needs of Muslim employees who may wish to observe this month.

During Ramadan this can be done by:

Designating a specific area for prayers, for example use of first aid rooms.
Providing reasonable access to the area for prayers during working hours;
Adjusting staff rotas where possible to accommodate requests for leave for the Eid ul
Fitr festival; and
Being aware of the effects of fasting on people's well being.

Tuesday 19 October 2004

Hello form a dull Manchester

Ramadan is going well, I do miss the smoking cigarettes during the day but surreally I do not miss the food and water, Ramadan helps Muslims purify themselves and prepare many for the next life. There are prayers every evening during Ramadan at local mosques where the holy Qur’an recited every day until completed on the 26th fast.

Most of Ramadan I spend at the Darul Munawar Ghamkol Sharif mosque on Derby Street, Rochdale. Come and say hello If you see me

Monday 18 October 2004

it's been a long time

hi all, its been ages since i wrote my weblog. lots of work to do and very busy at home. Ramadan started on Friday, very spiritual and inspirational. no eating, drinking, smoking from sunrise till sunset.

WHAT IS RAMADAN?

Ramadan is derived from the Arabic root word ramida or ar-ramad denoting intense scorching heat and dryness, especially the ground. From the same root there is ramdaa, sunbaked sand, and the famous proverb: "Kal Mustajeer minar Ramadaa binnar" - to jump out of the frying pan into the fire. And in a hadith the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "The prayer of repenters is due when the young camel can feel the sun's heat early in the morning." (Muslim)

Thus, the word Ramadan is so called to indicate the heating sensation in the stomach as a result of thirst). Others said it is so called because Ramadan scorches out the sins with good deeds, as the sun burns the ground. Some said it is so called because the hearts and souls are more readily receptive to the admonition and remembrance of Allah during Ramadan, as the sand and stones are receptive to the sun's heat. The framers of this beautiful language may have been inspired by Allah (SWT) in naming this month Ramadan. Otherwise, the relation between the heat and its properties is miraculously similar to that of Ramadan. While the heat represents the matter that helps shape, form, and mold virtually every matter - from metal and plastics, to plants and living cells - Ramadan undoubtedly helps a serious believer remold, reshape, reform, and renew his physical and spiritual disposition and behavior.