Ramadan Diary

[bewildred]

Monday, September 17th

My day at school was quite pleasant. The older students were very nice and willing not to miss any word I say. The younger ones were pretty excited. I'm ready to keep my cool this year. I realised that nothing really deserves that I get stressed up. So I adopted the ZEN attitude.

I walk a lot to get to my job. I lost a lot of weight in the very first days of Ramadhan. I don't know if it's healthy. Getting back to my work-out routine sounds very utopical. All these long walks made me very thirsty. I still have four hours to go......

Bewildred

 

[جوري]

sept. 17th

I woke up late for sihoor today had exactly 15 minutes.. like yesterday a couple of kitchen appliances mal-functioned ( thankfully this time nothing blew)... you can't apparently use a toaster and a coffee maker w/out having a power outtage... drank, ate and took two sets of pills all in one shot.. brushed my teeth, made fajr prayer than slept for sometime.. woke up wanting to make some serious phone calls.. none of the people I called fulfilled their civic duties, I am always left wondering.. if people hate their job so much, why did they apply for it (but I digress).. I was starting to get frustrated.. and was succumbing to this state of general lassitude ... just wanted to lay there and do absolutely nothing..

but my sister called... my two year old niece starts 'school' tomorrow... she wanted to get her new shoes and clothes.. we took the car as neither of us was up for walking or grabbing a cab.. although in hind sight we would have saved a fortune on a cab than that midtown parking garage.. was chilly today.. and I am feeling really under the weather...I don't know if I am mal adjusted to change in temp or I am coming down with something but was feeling not myself.. we went from store to store... something about clothes on racks gives me a feeling of claustrophobia.. there were so many people out like bees swarming... my mind always wonders of their purpose and where they are headed or coming from, but I didn't feel like allowing myself the opportunity to reflect or get too philosophical...

it was getting late, almost time for maghrib, so sis decided to get pizza, while I went to drug store for some sundries... she dropped me off and headed home.. saw my good friend Ann in the elevator.. it is always so nice to see her.. she is a professional cook and does some home catering.. I have known her since I was a little girl.. she always has something wonderful to say...

Anyhow, broke my fast on two slices of sis's pizza, some soda and prayed Maghrib.. watched the LBC.. the lebanese version of the BBC... which sucked (I hate all news) but the lebanese one is exceptionally pretentious.. they tune it down a bit for Ramadan thankfully.. no weather babes to lay it on thick.. I guess they finally figured ppl in NY don't care what the weather is like in ba3labak and don't need to see a mahdome in a micro mini to evoke the sensation of just how hot it is.. Again I digress so forgive me.. now I got for tarawi7 insha'Allah and with any luck call it a night... if you have read this so far I commend you and ask you keep me in your prayers especially these up coming three weeks pls..

 

[zarhad]

Monday Sept 17, 2007 23:22hrs

the last few days of ramandan went very well, starting to get use to wearing hijab, only me and my mother in law wear it out of whole family but its been ok...my husband whos more westernized then me is starting to follow my footsteps a bit, hes starting to pray and have better habbits and ive never been more proud...i guess trying to pushing someone to do something is never good rather setting a good example.

Im really enjoying ramadan it reminds me of how good i have things in life compared to alot of people.

can't wait for eid

 

[devout_muslimah]

September 17

My day was okay. Hated getting up for school but what can you do? Missed Zuhr because of it, and I didn't feel right after that...sort of guilty. It was the first prayer I missed since Ramadan started. It kind of depressed me. I was having pains in my leg after school, I don't know why. Iftar came along, and clumsy me drops a whole glass of water right into my lap, as soon as I start eating! Not one drop hit the floor, all into my lap. And I was sitting next to an open window and was cold enough as it is. I kept my cool, though. Didn't say a word, just squeezed it and kept eating, and changed before I prayed. Ehh, Inshallah tomorrow will be a better day. I sincerely hope everyone is having a wonderful Ramadan =].

 

[north_malaysian]

My only complaints:
1- I usually eat alone. I don't like eating alone - food tastes better when you share it with someone.

Find a group of Muslims and ask them to join your iftaar...

2- As a non-muslim, I don't get to celebrate Eid at the end of this month. :-(

Lots of Non Muslims (Who dont fast) celebrate Eid by visiting Muslim homes on Eid.... FREE FOOD!!!

 

[syilla]

Alhamdulillah.....i've finished preparing the iftaar early today. at 5.30pm. i suppose to read the quran now while waiting for iftaar :hiding:

Can't wait to go to masjid for taraweekh tonight.

 

[Medina83]

18 th September in Dublin

Sitting at my desk in work right now, I'm in an all-day meeting and this is the lunch break. My entire team is gone to eat lunch and I'm severly trying to keep my will to not eat. After getting home from tarawih last night it was after midnight, and i set my alarm for suhoor at 4.20 am but somehow slept through it I think. Anyway no suhoor again and late fajr also. Estaghfirullah. And now I am starvvving. Plus I have to go to hospital this evening over the time of Maghrib so I wont be at home for Iftar, I dont know when I am going to eat next it will be almost Isha time by the time I get home. And where will I pray Maghrib ?:exhausted I am totally exhausted now from getting 5 hours sleep only every night.

Tomorrow I have another all day meeting in a hotel with an Israeli company and i suppose they will want to buy the team lunch but it'll be 'no thanks' inshaAllah.

Elhamdulillah I am alive, have food waiting, have water on tap, all my senses working and only hunger and tiredness to complain of, so many in this world have worse than this as their LIFE. Scary thought indeed. Elhamdulillah. SubhanAllah.

Please say dua i stay strong, I just want to eaaattttt

 

[Woodrow]

Sept. 18, 2007 Austin, TX



I just woke up a short while ago. It looks like it is going to be a bright Beautiful day. It is still about 45 minutes to sunrise. I had to go out on the Patio. Venus is still beautiful and looking like a guide for sunrise. I can find reminders of Allah(swt) in all things. this reminds me that while Venus can serve as a guide to morning, how many things in life serve us as guides if we follow them.

I jiggled the camera a little while I was taking the picture. But you can still see how bright and beautiful the morning will be.

ADDENDUM: I was asked how I knew that is Venus. I keep track of the monthly Sky Maps. This is an old habit related to my hobby of Amateur Astronomy. Venus is an amazing planet. At -4.3 magnitude the only night object every brighter than it is the Full Moon. it is even visible in daylight, if you know where to look as it tends to blend into the daylight background light. Here is a location for some excellent easy to follow sky maps. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/myspace/nightsky/observingnotes.shtml

 

[sevgi]

Someone asked about non-muslim accounts of Ramadan. Well, here I am !

This year, I decided to observe the fasting done in Ramadan. I got to see what someone fasting does (last year) and so this year, I thought I would give it a try myself. I have many reasons for my decision (religious, spiritual, self-bettering, personal tests, etc etc etc).

This is day #5 and so far, so good! I generally don't feel hungry, maybe just a bit thirsty and I am beyond paranoid about my breath!

I'm actually fighting off a bit of a cold in the meantime (I've been feeling a bit sick since day one: sneezing, scratchy throat, but it never materialises into a full-blown cold).

My only complaints:
1- I usually eat alone. I don't like eating alone - food tastes better when you share it with someone.
2- As a non-muslim, I don't get to celebrate Eid at the end of this month. :-(

But so far, it's a great experience and it makes me more thankful for what I have and I talk to God more often than before.

heyya,,,

i was the one who asked for non muslim opinions...

good to hear one...

lol...ur doing it full on..even the brushing of teeth.lol.
we try every year to a fastathon at uni and get nonmuslims to fast or at least abstain from one thing for just one day in ramadan...

we dnt get much luck...

abt eating alone...dnt u have any muslim friends? or nonmuslim friends who mite want to have dinner at the same time as u? if no, set out a spare plate and fork for any spiritual visitor...sounds sad, but when i was living in the city, i used to bring one out, just incase prophet muhammed wanted to visit...dnt know why he wud...but,...anyways...i dnt think ur alone...lots of people are eatn at the same time...just under differnt rooves.

about eid...who says u cant? grab on to a muslim friend and see how its done....! have fun...its a holliday for mankind!

peace.

 

[jannat]

18 sept 6:14pm
today, alhamdulilah its goin okay.. i am abit hungry and thirsty.. i went to uni and was registering new people to the islamic society, inshallah we will have a lot of members and will be able to achieve what we set out to do ..i have been tired. i pray to allah to give me and us all good health and strength inshallah throughout the month.Ameen

okay. not long to go now ..

 

[bewildred]

September 18th, 18:32

Today, I had a toughie day. My sinus infection gave me some hard time. Headaches made me feel so miserable. At times, I was pretty irritable. Fortunately, istighfar and a few adya helped me.

Man, I'm thirsty. The computer screen looks like a huge glass of water,lol.

Saha f'tourkoum

Bewildred S.

 

[zaria]

Sept 18 15:46

Alhamduillah, May Allah continue to keep up steadfast in our Fast and may he give us Strength to not break our fast before sunset. We are believers, and we know Allah does not make anything hard for us so when you feel like you are thirsty, open the Quran and read his beautiful words or just listen to some one recitation of the Quran. Or read something on the history of the Prophet(the Sealed Nectar) is a wondeful book of history.

May Allah Ta'ala make it easy for you and me ameen.

 

[Medina83]

I thought this might serve as a good reminder to us all, whenever those hunger pangs kick in, that indeed Allah swt has blessed us as we know that once the time of Iftar is here, our hunger and thirst will be satisfied.

For huge amounts of the worlds population, there is no end time in sight

May Allah swt forgive us all

 

[جوري]

La 7wla wla qiwta ila billah.. I can't believe injustice in this world.. thanks for posting this picture sis.. do we know anything about this child?

 

[north_malaysian]

19.09.2007 - 10:24 AM - Kulim, Malaysia

It's the seventh day of Ramadhan...... Ramadhan does go so fast.

My mum prepared pita breads with beef patties inside for suhoor.... Alhamdulillah.

I've checked my weight and lost 5 kg.:giggling:

 

[Nawal89]

Bahamas, Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Had a bad day at work today, got blamed for all sorts of mistakes I didnt do. . But alhamdulillah tht is over. My sis were trying to fry fritteres for iftar but the gas ran out lol..so each of us ate a little. It was a good thing my mom got the cooking done earlier alhamdulillah. But no one ate dinner

 

[MaiCarInMtl]

Well, this is day 7 of my fasting. I'm still doing ok, but yesterday, and the day before, my cold decided to move on in! Gah! But I took meds after I broke my fast and tried to get a lot of sleep and I'm not doing too badly today.

Thank you to everyone for being encouraging and making some suggestions for eating alone. I have one muslim person (whoi is very close to me) who will try to come and eat with me once or twice a week (otherwise, he eats at home with his family). I have weekly dinners with my mother, but she doesn't know I am fasting (I will be telling her tomorrow when I see her), and I am getting together with one of my good friends on Friday, she knows I am fasting, and we'll have supper after we go shopping.

As for Eid, I received an invitation from the woman I buy henna from (but the invitation is for the next Eid). I will be getting some henna done for this Eid though (I usually do my own, but for once, I want to have some henna on my right hand! LOL). If worse comes to worse, I will try and organize something social with someone I know (or perhaps some MSA group at school is holding something).

 

[MHASALEK]

It's hard to believe how the days are passing. Today's the 6th Roza here in London... Alhamdulillah so far it has been ok, but I am looking forward to increase on the Ibadah... In this case, more indeed is better. May Allah give us all the ability and strength to make the most of this blessed month, and keep us all in good health to avoid any interruptions...
Jazakallah Khairun, Assalamu'alaykum.

 

[Medina83]

well yesterday worked out fine elhamdulillah, i brought some dates with me and ate them on the bus on the way to the hospital, and when i left the hospital it was 9pm and Isha starts at around 9.30 so I prayed on the side of the road...well there was nothing else i could do :-[ I was a bit creeped out standing in pitch blackness trying to pray and it was dark and windy and lonely....

today had my all day meeting in work, it was fine at lunch time I sat with my team and the group of israelis we were meeting while they ate. There was one jewish girl she asked me if they should have ordered special food for me when i didnt take a sandwich,,I said 'no i'm not eating' and then she was like 'OOOhhh yes its Ramadan I'm sorry', she was really nice and telling me how the jews will fast 25 hours straight this saturday, its a big day for them.

I went to bed just for half hour before maghrib today but ended up oversleeping and now its too late to go to mesjid for Isha&tarawih, and also I hav eaten but i feel sick , i've got the shakes like the onset of a flu but i think its just tiredness.

Is it ok to not do Tarawih some nights in Ramadan? I dont want to miss it but I feel almost faint from tiredness...

p.s. about the pic of the child i posted, i don't know anything about the child, but it killed me when i saw it. imsad

I'm missing some muslim company, its times like this i wish i had a family to share the experience with, but Allahu ahlam, inshaAllah one day.

 

[Woodrow]

Sept 19, 2007 Austin, Texas

Today was another Beautiful day. To me it is so beautiful to see Venus rise about an hour before the first light of dawn. It is like a guiding light to remind me that another day is starting and to prepare for Fajr. This is actually a rare event for Venus to be the Morning star for the Month of Ramadan. I don't know the exact frequency that can occur but a rough guess would be it can only happen about once every 12 years.