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Ramzam is celebrated with zeal

The Comoros

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The Comoros are found off the east coast of Africa, between Mozambique and Madagascar.

On the coast of the Islands, the Muslims keep awake till the morning time. The Muslims of the Comoros rejoice to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan from the beginning of the month of Sha`ban. In Ramadan, they decorate the mosques with lamps and gather there to perform prayer and recite the Glorious Qur’an. Also, they give out charity and increase their good deeds.

On the first night of Ramadan, people go out of their houses to the coast with their lamps in their hands. The rays of their lit lamps reflect on the sea, and they beat their drums to announce the arrival of Ramadan and remain there until midnight.

Among the well-known foods of the Comoros are soup, meat, mango, and so on. The people drink the juice of pineapple and other fruits.

Uzbekistan

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Uzbekistan is one of the hottest spots in the world with the temperature reaching more than 40° C (104° F) in summer. Even when it falls in summer, Ramadan is still one of the most beloved seasons in the country.

After the Communist Revolution, a fierce attack was waged against religion.
Mosques were closed, prayer was banned, and Muslims could no longer fast or make Hajj due to the strict reign of the Communist authorities.

Now with the coming of leniency and the end of oppression, Muslims have regained their joy in their religion and seize the chance of the holy month to gather for iftar.

Each gathering starts with reciting the Qur’an and supplicating Allah to bless the host and his family. After they have finished eating, the guests and host rush to the mosque to perform `Isha Prayer and Taraweeh. What a great feeling to be free!

more to follow

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News from Uzbekistan this month.

http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2004/11/ennews07112004_3.html

The imam of a mosque in southern Uzbekistan, Rustam Klichev, has been sent to jail for 14 years, and 16 members of the same mosque have been given similar long jail sentences. Even though the accused were sentenced on terrorism charges, “the judge, Homid Babakulov, simply asked the accused how they observed religious rituals, and what precisely my son had told them about the teachings of Islam,” Forum 18 News Service was told by the imam’s mother. The imam’s wife insisted to Forum 18 in May that, when he was arrested, the NSS secret police planted a leaflet claimed to have been issued by an alleged radical Islamic organisation. The imam has great authority amongst Muslims in the region, which is thought to be the reason for his trial. The head of the government’s committee for religious affairs, Shoazim Minovarov, told Forum 18 that he knew nothing about the case and therefore could not make any comment.

Rustam Klichev, the imam of the central Navo mosque in the southern Uzbek town of Karshi (Qarshi), was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment on terrorism charges on 20 October, while sixteen members of the same mosque were given similar long sentences. “It is quite evident that neither Rustam Klichev nor the members of his congregation who were found guilty were terrorists,” local human rights activist Tulkin Karayev told Forum 18 News Service from Karshi on 28 October. “The only ‘crime’ of these people was that of being devout believers.” He believes Klichev’s preaching led to the authorities’ measures to silence him.

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^ Sadly its happening in other countries too

*Mauritanians: Praying and Drinking Green Tea *

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At the beginning of Ramadan, Mauritanians especially the youth hasten to perform regular prayers at their appointed times in Mosques. It is worth stressing here that Mauritanians start celebrating the month of Ramadan as soon as the month of Rajab draws to a close.

In Mauritania, it is no wonder to see the haves, especially the stingy, showing sympathy towards the have-nots during Ramadan. The sense of solidarity and backing the poor is widely spread.

During the nights of Ramadan, the `Isha and Taraweeh prayers are aired live from the Two Holy Shrines of Makkah and Al-Madinah. After prayer people usually set at ease to listen to religious lessons and heart softeners from the reliable scholars and Imams in addition to reciting the Qur’an and listening to it.

After prayer, it is easier to see people visiting one another and drinking Green Tea, which is a common drink in Mauritania

*Muslims in Germany Celebrate Ramadan *

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Together with believers in Muslim countries throughout the world, Muslims living in Germany have entered the month of Ramadan. Ramadan in Germany takes place in a totally different atmosphere than in countries with a Muslim majority. Public and social life continues with the same speed and the running of the day does not know any interruptions, like for the Iftar. A difference also lies in the length of the day in Germany, which is a challenge in the summer, but is quite short in the winter period. This year the sun rises roughly at 8 am and sets at 4 pm.

Only those of the estimated 3.5 Million Muslims living in Germany, who live in one of the Islamic quarters of Berlin or the Ruhr area with a high percentage of Muslims living there might be reminded of the empty streets of Cairo or Istanbul during Iftar. Ali Ozkan, a Muslim from Berlin, was quoted by the Islamic Newspaper saying that it was a sign of this blessed month that the social life of Muslims becomes more noticeable than during the rest of the year. That food is offered everywhere and people eating and drinking can be seen during the day also changes the atmosphere but is not a major obstacle. Non-practicing Muslims prefer Ramadan in Western countries arguing that as Muslims there live in a minority the decision whether or not to fast becomes personal without any social pressure from others.

Those who are settled abroad without their families gather in their national communities to celebrate. Open-minded Germans participate in these gatherings and seek to understand the beliefs of Muslims. Some also join the fasting for a couple of days to get to know the feeling of it. In fact, Hasan Ozdogan, the head of the Islamic council in Germany said in a message that many communities would also invite their non-Muslim neighbors for the Iftar.

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*Ramadan in China: Qur’anic Recitations,
Taraweeh, Sweets and More *

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With the approach of Ramadan, Local Imams in China begin informing people about the teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah especially those teachings related to fasting and its morals. During Ramadan, it is remarkable to see Chinese Muslims sticking to the tenets of Islam and its rituals.

Chinese Muslims are accustomed to pray Taraweeh 20 Rakhas (prayer units). Muslims gather together and say after every two Rakahs: “O! You who changes hearts and eyesight, O! You who creates day and night, strengthen our Faith along the path of truth.”

In China, Many religious activities such as reciting the Qur’an before Taraweeh and celebrating Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Power) are held during Ramadan. In addition, tea, candy and dates are known to be among the distinguishing features of this blessed month.

As soon as the month of Ramadan draws to a close and `Eid approaches, it is no wonder to see Muslims enjoying happiness and exchanging heart-to-heart congratulations.

Jerusalem: The Fragrance of History and the Guns of the Occupier

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It is not an ordinary town; rather, a symbol of Islam and one of the most blessed patches on the earth. There we see many great and Holy sites that invoke the remote blessed days the town enjoyed under the Muslim rule.

Great was the way Muslims in that blessed city used to welcome and celebrate the month of Ramadan. Reciting Qur’an and playing drums were among the signs of happiness with the month. In addition, offering charity to the needy and the poor and offering food to them were among the traits of the residents of the Holy City.

This was the state of the city before the coming of the Strange Black Birds (The Occupier). Now, with a stone at hand a child of the city chants:

*Khaibar is back and so near.
Muhammad is back and we are here.
Hurry brothers with no fear.
Victory is really great and dear. *

Now, every child and youth is fighting the enemy and defending the honor and the blessed city. No time for joy, no time for play. The great joy will be when our blessed land is back and when our blessed mosque is restored.

The story of the Holy City will never end and its melody nourishes every heart and soul with hope and strength

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Ramadan in Austria

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There is about 150,000 Muslims of different nationalities in Austria; among them are Arab, Turkish and others. Exactly the case in Muslim countries, Muslims celebrate Ramadan by observing Islamic rites, like performing Taraweeh Prayer at about fifty mosques in Vienna and other Austrian cities. Muslims there also go to the mosques regularly to listen to religious lectures on Islamic jurisprudence, exegesis of the Qur’an and other sciences.

However, mosques differ in their way of celebrating Ramadan. As regard the Islamic Center in Vienna, established and funded by Muslim countries, services go on in full swing, as sermons are delivered and lectures given by a group of reverent Muslim scholars from Al-Azhar and other places, Taraweeh Prayers are performed regularly. Moreover, the center provides a breakfast for Muslims throughout the month.

The Egyptian club in Austria also plays a great role in gathering the Austrian-based Egyptians together during Ramadam on breakfast banquets. When Ramadan ends, all Muslim communities gather in the Islamic center to celebrate Eid after performingEid Prayer. Such celebration is a special occasions for Muslims there to get together in the atmosphere of love and brotherliness.

*Ramadan in India *

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Indian people prepare themselves for Ramadan on the last day of Sha`aban, when the fatwa committee there go for sighting the crescent of Ramadn after Sunset Prayer. On announcing the following day to be the first day of Ramadan, people begin to phone their relatives and friends, congratulating one another for the blessed month. Then they go for Taraweeh Prayer, and some people show more keenness on Taraweeh Prayer than on the prescribed Prayers and observe it steadfastly, especially at the beginning of the month and also when the month ends.
The number of people who perform Taraweeh Prayer redoubles in the 27th night of Ramadan, being considered the Night of Power. Also their number increase in the night when the Imam is about to complete the
Qur’an. One of the habits of the Indians in Ramadan is also retreating in mosques for worship during the last ten days of Ramadan.

There are some special dishes prepared in Ramadan in India, such as “Ghangui” a kind of soup, made of floor, rice and slices of meat. It’s very useful in breaking one’s fasting with as it quenches thirst and produces energy. This soup is served in every mosque. Also there is “Harir” a kind of drink to be taken at Iftar. The Indians also like to eat different fruits in Ramadan.

At the end of Ramadan, people begin to prepare themselves for the Eid El-Fitr (the Lesser Bairam); it is actually the greatest feast for Muslims in the India. Early in the morning ofEid, men take shower and wear white clothes, then they go for Eid Prayer after they eat some sweets. At home, women go on preparing special sweets for the feast, which they callEid Kah. Then they present it to their husbands after returning from the mosque. All people wear colorful and elegant dresses and receive visitors. They also exchange `Eid cards.

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the time of the year.