Ramadan in around 80 days

[Bengal_Tiger]

Asalamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

Ramadan is about to start in just 80 days time. I hope everyone is getting ready for fasting and to enjoy this blessed and sacred month.

[MENTION=5723]Kushan Prince[/MENTION]
[MENTION=1753]Manzareh[/MENTION]
[MENTION=17802]mixxedpashtana[/MENTION]
[MENTION=3678]Al Hanif[/MENTION]
[MENTION=1441]Gulalai[/MENTION]
[MENTION=17579]Loy Afghanistan[/MENTION]
[MENTION=1669]Adam[/MENTION]
[MENTION=3580]asad71[/MENTION]
[MENTION=17967]Baraki[/MENTION]
[MENTION=44]Dukemina[/MENTION]
[MENTION=223]JAMALUDEEN[/MENTION]
[MENTION=65]Pakhtunzai[/MENTION]
[MENTION=8995]DSM0305[/MENTION]
[MENTION=4551]hamid954[/MENTION]

[Bengal_Tiger]

Ramadan is a time when Muslims all over the world are united in fasting from dawn to dusk.

However it is also a time when many non-Muslims are very curious or respectful of such an act of commitment, discipline and restraint.

In addition to refraining from eating food, many Muslims forget that we are also supposed to refrain from any act which may hurt others, from arguments and so forth.

For some people it is a difficult time.

Staying away from water for possibly 12 hours or more.

However it is this sacrifice that in the long run lead to greater emotional fulfillment and blessings.

I wonder what everyone is going to do in these long hot Ramadan days ahead of us.

[MENTION=65]Pakhtunzai[/MENTION]

[asad71]

such an act of commitment, discipline and restraint.

[Bengal_Tiger]

So [MENTION=17802]mixxedpashtana[/MENTION]


Tell us what it's gonna be?

We're all dying to know..

Seeing as you're half Afghan, half Turkish are your Iftars gonna be.

1. Afghan/Pakhtun dishes only?

2. Only Turkish dishes (kebap, shish tavuk, mercimek etc)

3. A mixture of both every day

4. Rotation system

5. Or are you gonna go Dutch?

[Bengal_Tiger]

When is Ramadan in 2015?

Ramadan in 2015 will start on Thursday, the 18th of June and will continue for 30 days until Friday, the 17th of July.

Note that in the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Wednesday, the 17th of June.

Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

http://www.when-is.com/ramadan-2015.asp

It's said that the companions of the holy prophet (solAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to get ready for Ramadan 6 months in advance and start preparing.

I hope that this Ramadan will be better than other Ramadans and I will finish the Quran.




From a non-Muslim site:

The Benefits of Fasting

Affecting our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects.


Can the benefits of fasting really be so broad? Yes, they can, and they are. We are so much more than a physical body and fasting affects every part of our being.

When we cease the over-indulgence that has become so common in our modern world, even for a short while, our lives and our priorities become clearer. Do these "short while"s occasionally, and you have a tool that will greatly add to your life.



Fasting will:

rest the digestive system
allow for cleansing and detoxification of the body
create a break in eating patterns, while shining a spotlight on them
promote greater mental clarity
cleanse and heal "stuck" emotional patterns
lead to a feeling of physical lightness, increasing energy level
promote an inner stillness, enhancing spiritual connection
These benefits of fasting are not limited to just traditional fasts like water or juice, but can be attained through cleansing diets as well, although the effects will be less pronounced, as they occur over a longer time frame. But they will be there.


Fasting has been called the "miracle cure" because the list of physical conditions improved by fasting is long and varied. Cited most often are allergies, arthritis, digestive disorders of all kinds, skin conditions, cardiovascular disease, and asthma. (See here for more information on the physical health benefits of fasting and specific conditions.) Because fasting initiates the body's own healing mechanisms, any ailment may show improvement.

Fasting frees up energy so healing can begin

Fasting is a wonderful antidote for our usual over-indulgences. There's nothing wrong with enjoying our food, but excess food on a continuous basis does create a burden for the body. When it must handle more than is comfortable and appropriate for it, it will suffer.

Imagine at work how you feel when you're handed a huge work load--more than you can handle in your 8-10 hour day, more than is comfortable and appropriate for your job title (or salary level). You're under duress. But you WILL cope. You MUST cope. You must make decisions. You attend to the most important and urgent of matters and set aside those that can wait for another day.

This is what our bodies do when they're overworked; they tuck things away for another day. Whatever tasks can be postponed will be. And more work is dumped on them at every meal- or snack-time, whether they're ready or not. This is why fasting is a beautiful gift you give to yourself. A vacation for your weary, overworked, under-appreciated body.

During fasting, we rest our system from the constant onslaught of food stuffs. We usually think of food as giving us energy, so it can be a new way of thinking to understand how the food we eat actually requires energy. Digesting, assimilating and metabolizing--these activities require a great deal of energy. It is estimated that 65% of the body's energy must be directed to the digestive organs after a heavy meal.

Some Benefits of Fasting

Antiaging effects
Better attitude
Better resistance to disease
Better sleep
Change of habits
Clearer planning
Clearer skin
Creativity
Diet changes
Drug detoxification
Improved senses
(vision, hearing, taste)
Inspiration
More clarity
(mentally and emotionally)
More energy
More relaxation
New ideas
Purification
Reduction of allergies
Rejuvenation
Rest for digestive organs
Revitalization
Right use of will
Spiritual awareness
Weight loss


Free up this energy and it can be diverted to healing and recuperation. It can detox and repair cells, tissues and organs, eliminating foreign toxins as well as the natural metabolic wastes (which are also toxins) produced even by our healthy cells.

And this is what the body will do during a fast. It will take advantage of that time and energy to do some housecleaning. The overloaded, overworked system, unable to properly handle all the toxins, has been storing any excesses in the tissues where they can be dealt with later. This is one of the great health benefits of fasting in that it offers this opportunity to play "catch up".

Fasting itself isn't necessarily a "cure" for anything. What it does is "set the stage" or create the environment in which healing can occur. Our bodies know how to heal themselves. We just have to "get out of the way", and this means on all levels of our being. Fasting has a way of rebalancing us on all those levels.

Physically, fasting is of high benefit to the chronic degenerative diseases that are plaguing our population and that modern medicine is at loss to cure.

Losing weight
Losing weight is, for many of us, one of the greatest benefits of fasting. Due to differences in metabolism and/or body chemistry (or mental patterns), exact results will vary from person to person.

Using fasting to lose weight can create many opportunities to gain insights into your patterns with food and for making changes to your habits and lifestyle much easier to accomplish.

Professionally supervised fasts may be the best for serious obesity. They offer both medical and psychological support during the process and guidance toward healthier eating habits after the fast.

Those who have the best luck "going it alone" are usually fasting to "get healthy" rather than to "lose weight". The change in mentality can be the trick.

Sometimes a short 3-day fast is used to "jump start" a new healthy diet plan, because fasting will change your tastes toward more natural and wholesome foods. It will also give you a new perspective on your relationship to food; why and when you eat what you do, what your mental and emotional attachments are, and offer an opportunity for you to heal these issues.

Fasting can give you more energy
When you've progressed past the stage of dealing with detox symptoms, a fast will have you feeling lighter, more energetic, more enthusiastic, and requiring less sleep.


Mental and emotional benefits of fasting

Because fasting improves mental clarity and focus, it can become a tool in your life to give you greater freedom, flexibility, and energy to get done the things and projects that are important to you.
Many experienced fasters find it helpful to fast whenever they need an additional boost for a major project or deadline, e.g. writing a paper, preparing for a big presentation, getting ready for a long trip. Artists and writers often talk of foregoing food during great creative inspiration; that it helps to keep the momentum going. (Although, beginners must be warned that this won't be the case at first. Don't fast for a big event until you are more knowledgeable about your fasting reactions, and you're sure you won't get a "detox headache" or such.)

Emotionally, you will feel calmer, clearer and happier. Fasters often report that depression lifts, goals begin to feel more obtainable as obstacles are put into proper focus. Doctors have reported patients experiencing improved concentration, less anxiety, sleeping better and waking more refreshed.
Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between our emotional and mental aspects, where one begins and the other ends . Am I sad because I had this thought? Or did I have the thought because I've been feeling sad? Fasting has a way of clarifying those issues. Your awareness can focus in more accurately and determine the source of some unpleasantness, that then snowballed into a mess. Once the source is identified, it's easy to see how overblown everything else was that came after.

In other words, you see things from a clearer, more appropriate perspective. See Emotional Benefits of Fasting for more details on the emotional cleansing that can occur....

http://www.allaboutfasting.com/benefits-of-fasting.html

[Bengal_Tiger]

Just 70+ more days left until Ramadan.

Like last Ramadan, either I won't be on the forum or very minimal presence mainly restricted to religious posting.

I hope everyone is getting ready.

- No water for the whole day.

- No food for the whole day.

- No physical relations with spouse.

- No arguing, abuse.

Refraining from food, water, sex, aggression.

Night times spent in Taraweeh salah.

[Bengal_Tiger]

Around 73 days left now...









Hope I can do khatm (complete reading from front to cover) of the Quran!





Decreasing my posting on the forum especially the political stuff!

[mixxedpashtana]

So @mixxedpashtana


Tell us what it's gonna be?

We're all dying to know..

Seeing as you're half Afghan, half Turkish are your Iftars gonna be.

1. Afghan/Pakhtun dishes only?

2. Only Turkish dishes (kebap, shish tavuk, mercimek etc)

3. A mixture of both every day

4. Rotation system

5. Or are you gonna go Dutch?

[MENTION=1058]Bengal_Tiger[/MENTION]
Hahaha, since you all are dying to know.. I won't keep you all waiting!

It's pretty much a mix of number 3 and 4. Most Iftars we try to mix it! For example: mercimek with palaw and qorma and some baklava as desert haha One day we keep it Afghan only, other day Turkish. But honestly during Ramadan you want to go all out with cooking, so we make different types of dishes, which go well together ofcourse!
But one thing is for sure, we never go Dutch! Allthough the fish you posted, is quite nice, I have to say

[Bengal_Tiger]

[MENTION=1058]Bengal_Tiger[/MENTION]
Hahaha, since you all are dying to know.. I won't keep you all waiting!

It's pretty much a mix of number 3 and 4. Most Iftars we try to mix it! For example: mercimek with palaw and qorma and some baklava as desert haha One day we keep it Afghan only, other day Turkish. But honestly during Ramadan you want to go all out with cooking, so we make different types of dishes, which go well together ofcourse!
But one thing is for sure, we never go Dutch! Allthough the fish you posted, is quite nice, I have to say

I like Turkish food, it's harika! Cok harika!

But...

I prefer Afghan food because there's more rice in it and that's what I as a Bangladeshi grew up on and it's just more similar to our food as well as north Indian food too.


Anyway are you ready for Ramadan, or is walking in the streets of Amsterdam and smelling the water from the lovely canals going to make you thirsty for water?

[Bengal_Tiger]

Another thing about Ramadan is dates.




Health Benefits of Dates from Ramadan Perspective



One of the oldest known species of plant, the date is today a food of preference not only for its delicious taste but also for its nutritious properties. It is believed that only one date & a glass of milk are enough to meet all of a person’s daily nutritional requirements.
Muslims, all over the world, break their fast during Ramadan with dates, a tradition that has transformed this into a much desired fruit.
Dates are a great source of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber comes in 2 forms – soluble and insoluble.
Insoluble fiber increases the rate at which food moves through the digestive system. Soluble fiber may help control diabetes by decreasing elevated blood glucose levels. Soluble fiber also had been found to help lower serum cholesterol levels, particularly undesirable LDL cholesterol.
According to researchers dates have the highest concentration of polyphenols among dried fruits. The findings suggest that dried fruits should be a greater part of the diet as they are dense in phenol antioxidants and nutrients, most notably fiber.
Dates are a perfect energy boosting snack. A serving of power-packed dates contains 31 grams of carbohydrates, making them a powerhouse of energy. Carbohydrates include 3 grams of dietary fiber and 29 grams of naturally occurring sugars such as fructose, glucose and sucrose to provide quick energy and are readily used by the body.
Dates are one of the best natural sources of potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral your body needs to maintain muscle contractions including the vital heart muscle. Potassium is needed to maintain a healthy nervous system and to balance the body’s metabolism as well.
Since potassium is not stored in the body, and much is lost in perspiration, it must be continually replenished. As you consume potassium you excrete sodium, helping to keep blood pressure down. As people age, their kidneys become less efficient at eliminating sodium. About a 400 mg increase in potassium intake has been associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of stroke. This roughly amounts to one additional serving daily of Dates.
Dates also contain a variety of B-complex vitamins – thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These vitamins have a variety of functions that help maintain a healthy body – to metabolize carbohydrates and maintain blood glucose levels, fatty acids for energy, and they help make hemoglobin, the red and white blood cells.
Dates also contain Magnesium which is essential for healthy bone development and for energy metabolism and Iron which is essential to red blood cell production. Red blood cells carry all the nutrients to cells throughout the body.
In addition, Dates are fat and cholesterol free!

http://www.khanapakana.com/article/1a90a82f-92f9-4918-bc79-df9f1b3788bf/health-benefits-of-dates-from-ramadan-perspective

[mixxedpashtana]

I like Turkish food, it's harika! Cok harika!

But...

I prefer Afghan food because there's more rice in it and that's what I as a Bangladeshi grew up on and it's just more similar to our food as well as north Indian food too.


Anyway are you ready for Ramadan, or is walking in the streets of Amsterdam and smelling the water from the lovely canals going to make you thirsty for water?

Turkish kitchen is more rich than the Afghan kitchen! So it's only logic that it's harika haha. Buut I understand, It's depends on what you are used to eat.
I love rice, especially with the carrots and the raisins. And I love piraky, mantoe, shorwa.. It's all delicious!

Haha I'm preparing myself mentally. Thank god those canals are filthy. And you? Are you ready?

[Bengal_Tiger]

Turkish kitchen is more rich than the Afghan kitchen! So it's only logic that it's harika haha. Buut I understand, It's depends on what you are used to eat.
I love rice, especially with the carrots and the razons. And I love piraky, mantoe, shorwa.. It's all delicious!

Haha I'm preparing myself mentally. Thank god those canals are filthy. And you? Are you ready?

Ooooh....you are brave.

Saying Turkish food is richer than Afghan/Pashtun, especially here on this forum. Not surprised if you'll be hunted down here for uttering such blasphemy!


Well the whole purpose of this thread is to prepare myself and others mentally for Ramadan.

Have you ever had any non-Muslim friends that fasted alongside you to know how it feels?

[mixxedpashtana]

Ooooh....you are brave.

Saying Turkish food is richer than Afghan/Pashtun, especially here on this forum. Not surprised if you'll be hunted down here for uttering such blasphemy!


Well the whole purpose of this thread is to prepare myself and others mentally for Ramadan.

Have you ever had any non-Muslim friends that fasted alongside you to know how it feels?

Haha as a Pashtana I think (maybe) I am allowed to make such a statement. IF people are true to themselfs, they will agree.

If not, will you save me from my own watandar

MashaAllah for posting a thread like this one. I will give us more motivation to make our Ramadan as beautifull as it can be.

Unfortunatly no, I dont have many non-Muslim friends, but when I do I try to teach them about Islam etc. But I don't think it's in their interests.

[Bengal_Tiger]

Haha as a Pashtana I think (maybe) I am allowed to make such a statement. IF people are true to themselfs, they will agree.

If not, will you save me from my own watandar

MashaAllah for posting a thread like this one. I will give us more motivation to make our Ramadan as beautifull as it can be.

Unfortunatly no, I dont have many non-Muslim friends, but when I do I try to teach them about Islam etc. But I don't think it's in their interests.

I'm disappointed that you said the Amsterdam canals smell filthy....you've destroyed all my dreams of them having a sweet aroma.

*sigh*


So your friends have other interests....lemme guess being Dutch, their interests are Edam cheese, Tulips and other *things* which can be *consumed*.

[mixxedpashtana]

I'm disappointed that you said the Amsterdam canals smell filthy....you've destroyed all my dreams of them having a sweet aroma.

*sigh*


So your friends have other interests....lemme guess being Dutch, their interests are Edam cheese, Tulips and other *things* which can be *consumed*.

I'm sorry to wake you up! The canals are nice, it's a feature of Amsterdam. you can rent a boat and sail the canals.. but it doens't smell like roses and It's not clearblue like elsewhere.

They are not my friends. But yess, they are busy with being typical Dutch haha. I actually don't have alot of friends haha.

And Tulips are actually Turkish, they stole our flower