Salaamualaikum...

don't worry about that... part of being a Muslim is to be able to live harmoniously with society... we still have to be a part of the society but not be like the society. If you miss Dzhur and Asr against your will, Allah understands... and Allah knows best... you may do your Asr and Dzhur later on after Isha at home...NO problem!... If it is too dangerous for you to practice Islam outside your home... then it is only but wise to be not too obvious about it. It is permissible... you can also find it in the Qur'an.

Be steadfast with your faith and keep reading the Qur'an... and don't worry about missing prayer time if it's too dangerous. Allah has his reasons for you.

Ramadan Mubaraq!

Allah Hafiz!

Thank you for informing me. I still feel a bit guilty, but I guess it can't be helped. Sometimes I just can't help but want to live in a more Muslim place, I don't know if anyone knows what I mean. Like last summer, I went to visit my parents home country in Bangladesh, and I just felt so right there. My cousins and aunts and I prayed together when we heard the call for prayer. Sometimes we'd would be sitting outside and when the call was heard, we just sit and silence and listen to it. It was so beautiful. Nothing like here in New York. Here, everyone does all they can to avoid prayer, well my friends at least. Everything goes so fast, and it's so stressful. Everyone is worried about the little things that don't really matter when we die. Allah is not going to ask us if we finished out homework on time or why didn't we get into the best college.

But you're right, I have to keep my faith and be strong. Allah knows whats best for me and Inshallah he will keep me on the straight path.

sept 25th 12:20 Am

I suppose it is already tomorrow my time? but I am still full from iftar al7mdlilah..
I was awake all last night (wish it were for qyaam el-layel) but it wasn't for that--anyhow, I am convalescing wal7mdlilah... the upside of this flu is I really like my hoarse voice.. I usually sound like an 8 year old munchkin so this is adding a needed depth
the hours rolled into each other today..breaking fast was nice, we had a nice meal al7mdlilah I posted it, under the food thread.. salmon, two sides of veggies, salad and baked potato.. the prayer was the same video as yesterday, but they really had a nice aerial and pedal view of mecca and I really felt like I was there.. there were people praying on the stairs and even the hand rails.. it looked really peaceful and serene.. my mom was feeling bad for the guards who weren't joining in prayer and I thought better than having snipers come in and kill people like the massacre in Hebron or even Mecca itself a few yrs ago.. anyhow the talk got political so I'll spare you all..
Hope you all are enjoying your Ramadan insha'Allah, and that it is filled with warmth, spiritual and religious fulfillment, and hope, May Allah guide you all and answer your prayers.. pls do keep me in yours

InshaAllah we're going to have iftar at the mosque tonite, Im making 5kgs of carrot dip and my daughter making 2 trays of orange poppy seeds cake After that taraweeh with khatm alquran at the mosque

Sept 24, 2007 Austin Texas

I almost missed today it is going to be the 25th in a matter of minutes. Tonight was an all fruit night, I did not take any pictures but we filled up on Mangos, Papayas, Kiwi, Nectarines, Bananas, and of course Medjool Dates.

This was my son-in-laws idea. He fixed the meal. He stopped off at a fruit stand on his way home from work. tomorrow my daughter should do the fixing. She has been having a very hectic schedule.

27th September 2007, 1:23 PM, Kulim - Malaysia

I'm so happy that the office's admin decided to give Eid holidays from 12.10.2007 (Fri.) - 16.10.2007 (Tue.), if we would like to take extra further days for holiday, we can take our annual leave. And I have like 8 annual leave days left.... hmmm... maybe I should take anor 3 days off....

And my boss said, all annual leave applications must be handed in before next week..... so... quick! quick! quick! (where did I put my annual leave application forms? )

September 27, 2007 Austin, TX

Last night at about midnight I went out on the patio. The sky was crystal clear and the biggest brightest full moon was shining like the noor seen in the face of a pious Muslim. Then a thought hit me. Ramadan is half over. Each night I had watched the waxing moon grow, corresponding to the first half of Ramadan, now it has reached it's peak, and for the next 14 days the moon will be reminding me that like the moon Ramadan is getting shorter.

Now is the time to reflect on my intentions I have/had.

Am I getting all I can from this time of Peace and thought and change?

Am I putting my full effort into Ramadan?

There is not much time left for me to reflect on Ramadan and what it truly means to me.

September 27 2007, 13:04



On the other side of the world, I, too, like Woodrow, have been watching the bright morning star shining wonderfully as I step out of the Masjid before dawn. At the beginning of Ramadhan, it was quite a new experience to have the warm summer sunlight keeping each day bright and bustling till its end, as the month has been coming in winter in earlier years. But now the autumn leaves are falling and a gripping cold has overtaken, reminding us of how it used to be.

Yesterday, I too noticed after Taraweeh prayers how the full moon shone magnificently, casting its curious light on the clouds around it. And the 15th chapter of the Qur'an was read. So half the month has passed us by and very quickly too, and now we must remind ourselves of the need to act before it's Eid, when we'll be remembering all those delightful Iftaars and Suhoors, and missing the recitation of Qur'an in Taraweeh.

Well, I just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I am still fasting! Yes, day #15! I am quite proud of myself!

My mother now knows I am fasting and I had supper with her yesterday and again tonight. Thankfully supper time isn't too late (otherwise she would complain).

Some days are easier than others and if I miss breakfast at 4:30 in the monring, then I can get through the day, but it's that much harder.

My throat is feeling funny again (there's this cold I somewhat developed last week that is trying to make a 2nd appearance now). I wish I could just flush it out of my system but it doesn't seem to be happening. Grrr! I can't wait to be done with university because then I won't have to touch as many filthy surfaces all the time (I rather not try and guess what's touched the desks).

On the menu tonight: Trout and rice. I have no clue what else mom will be cooking. I made cabbage rolls for yesterday's dinner and desert was apple, strawberry-rhubarb and apricot turnovers from a nearby bakery - Sooo yummy!

Happy fasting!

That's wonderful, so young and so dedicated. God willing their fast will go well.

My husband has completed reading the Quran from cover to cover in 12 days and he's started again. I am reading a book on prophet Moses currently.

it seems that ramadan brings a heightened awareness - this is cool.
what isn't so cool is that you made me realize that it is half over. i decided to re-read the qur'an during ramadan and i am only 1/4 of the way!

WoW!! brother, Its seems you are going to be a muslim pretty soon, InshaAlah.. :P

Right...

like brothers woodow and muhmmad, i too noticed the moon. except i was thinking, omg! its going to shrink again. and then in another part of my day i was thinking. wow!! two weeks have gone, and two weeks left. what have i done?? practically nothing. but them again, i was feeling a little under the weather for the past week or so, so maybe i have an excuse. so basically i have had hardly any energy to do anything, but alhamduliah, its just been in the last 24 hours where i feel alot more better and back to normal. so inshallah, i can make the use of my remaining days.

28th September
Like bro's Woodrow and Muhammad, I watched the moon on the 15th night of Ramadhan too. I was actually outside, bringing in the clothes that had dried on the line. Seeing the moon full and round, made me realise there is not much time left till the end. The warm wind rustling, I trudged inside with the full basket...to find I still had to clean the kitchen and that horrible mountain of dishes. And on we go...