My Ramadan Deficiency

It's the 5th of Ramadan already! Time flies, except of course when one hour is left for Iftaar.

I must say I haven't been very good with keeping my Ramadan diary this year. My doctor diagnosed me with a big vitamin D deficiency and an elevated H. Pylori in my stomach which means increased acid levels, basically. Also, my mother's health hasn't been keeping very well. So, mashaAllah, I feel pretty heroic with fasting this year. I pray that Allah grants everybody the strength and stamina to fast and worship, ameen.

Ramadan fasts in my part of the USA are a good 16 hours starting from 4:30am and ending at about 8:30pm. I'd say I'm handling the duration pretty well, but my productivity level is very, very low, like that vitamin D. I had some goals set straight before the month began, but they aren't coming along very well because I'm so preoccupied with difficulties.

Nevertheless, there is always time to revamp because this is a matter not between me and the world but between me and Allah. And He is the Most Understanding. So, I'm revising my goals, making them a bit more easier this Ramadan.

Ramadan Goals:

• Memorizing the 100 names of Allah
• Read most of the Tafsir of Surah Baqarah
• Read as much Quran as I can
• Compile a good variety of recipes in the Ramadan Kitchen

Ramadan Eve: Welcoming Ramadan Kareem

My mind is turning back pages in time ... to a couple of years ago when I lived in my home country Pakistan in Karachi, the City of Lights. The night of the new moon ... the Ramadan moon ... used to be a night of great festivity. I was usually found, during the day, running the last minute Ramadan shopping lists with my mother. The most fresh item to grab just on the eve of Ramadan was mithaai, the sweet treats for Sehri, the pre-fasting meal.

The eve would begin with the typical moon sighting drama where some seriously far flung, remote areas of the country would suddenly bear witness of having sighted the new moon. Whereas, the awesome Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman would still be engaged in sighting it with his buddies of the Hilal Committee.

At times, announcements would take a really long time to confirm the moon sighting! I remember once everybody got the breaking news at around midnight, the nation had missed a Taraweeh, and my mother was suddenly in the panic mode! The housemaid was being woken up, the watchman was being stirred alive, and seher preparations had just jolt started! Ah! Those were the days!

All cellular phone networks would get jammed because people were sending Ramzaan Mubarak texts around the country to their family and friends. Phone lines would all become engaged because everybody was busy calling up the entire planet.

The men of the house would shower, put on their "special" kurta pajama/shalwar, douse Itar and get ready for Taraweeh prayers at their local mosques. The women would be busy arranging their kitchens which would boil, bubble, broil, grill, and fry traditional delicacies for Iftar and Seher meals for the net 30 blessed days.

Outside, the bakers and confectioners would be all ready with their huge bubbling cauldrons of oil, frying up rolls, samosas, jalebi, imarti, and what not!

I must mention my wonderful girlfriends who always got busy planning Iftaar menus, Iftaar cum dinner reunions, and Eid preparations on endless phone calls, text messages, and even between lectures at college.

The spirit of Ramadan is brilliant in the USA too but having spent 24 years of my life in Karachi, Pakistan, the festive connection of the heart is always missing.

Ramadan Festivities Begin

Masjids distributing Ramadan calenders and taraweeh arrangements, open air cauldrons bubbling with ghee, sweet jalebis frying, shelves of mouth-watering sweet treat mithaai, bakeries packed with rushing Ramadan shoppers, frozen rolls, samosas, and patties selling away, store shelves emptying like crazy, and fast food joints advertising their suhoor and  iftaar deals ...

That's how I remember Ramadan from two years ago in Karachi. 

 

Today was my Ramadan shopping day and seeing the festivities at one of the Indian stores, in courtesy of Ramadan, brought the feel and spirit of the season rushing to me. When it comes to food, there are traditional favorites that gain popularity. There are popadums, the sugary red sherbet, and sweet treats!

I took my time absorbing the festivities, not as vibrant as Karachi, because what follows ahead is a month of intense worship and also intense physical exertion in the kitchen and around the house, because all work would be on an empty stomach.

May Allah help us all, ameen.

Fear is the Core of Iman and Knowledge

This is very common. People acquire knowledge of the Quran, Allah (the Exalted)'s Divine Word, and the Hadith (blessed words of Prophet Mohammad (peace on him and his progeny)) but they still are not able to become role model Muslims. People pray 5 times a day like an exercising ritual, brilliant sit ups, but cannot deliver the essence of their prayers in their lives. The missing element, I realized while reading the tafsir (Quran's meaning), is the fear of the Lord Himself. You cannot achieve perfection in faith and knowledge unless you embellish your heart with the fear of Allah.

Started Surah Al-Baqarah

Earlier today I was very depressed and frustrated because household chores have been keeping me from resuming my reading of Quran's tafsir (meaning). I decided to make time by utilizing the spare "breathing minutes" that I get I between chores. It's tough but it's high time and I am calling for desperate measures. I have a 10 volume tafsir set to complete.

The Beginning of Al-Baqarah

Today I read the introductory verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. It is a surah (chapter of the Quran) that was revealed in Madinah and there are multiple ahadith (sayings of Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings on him and his progeny) which highlight its virtues. 

• Recitation of Surah Al-Baqarah gets one's house rid of Shaytan (the Devil)
• Recitation of the first 4 verses, verses of Ayat Al-Kursi, it's following 2 verses, and the last 3 verses will protect one's house and one's family from the devil.
• Surah Baqarah and Surah Al-e-Imran will intercede for those who memorize them and will shield them on the day of Judgment.

The tafsir also elaborated that:

• The Quran, like its Author, Allah (swt), is a doubt-free Book without faults and flaws.
• Only Allah chooses whom to guide or misguide.
• Guidance only comes to those who seek it and who avoid the wrong/harmful in order to be guided.
• Only the muttaqeen (who have taqwa (the will to avoid/fear)) are rightly guided.

Reading continues, inshaAllah ...

Productive Ramadan Tips

Productive Ramadan is one of the best websites you can stay tuned in to in order to plan effectively for the Ramadan season. I couldn't help but adore their wonderful tips that they've put up. They have started with the advice of having sincere intentions. This implies that one is not fasting to follow a social norm or to impress somebody. Proactive planning is essential, as with all goal setting. Here, they've mentioned how keeping a Ramadan diary with effective tools like the Productive Ramadan Taskinator can help you stay on track. There is an emphasis on not missing the Suhoor. It is simply foolish to act macho and skipping the most important meal.

Ramadan Diaries 2012, inshaAllah

Ramadan is fast approaching, like a train, and we're almost at the railroads. The deal is, what type of an encounter shall we have? Shall we collide head on, caught off guard, or we shall be ready to board it properly and enjoy the journey? inshaAllah, if we're prepared we'll make the most of it. I, for one, am highly impatient about Ramadan because it's this immensely beautiful month when I can really feel the closeness to Allah, no kidding. I am no mystic, no saint, but I do feel that I am able to connect with Him and my prayers are so, so better. I have sought the ultimate solution to make the most of this month. I have taken a break from my MBA courses.

There were concerns about my decision because, as Pakistani families think, time is running out and I have to graduate before Armageddon hits us! However, I was pretty firm about it, mashaAllah ... for once my decision making did not falter. That's how it is in Allah's matters. I feel that with my attention focused on Ramadan alone and not racing with time to complete assignments and class discussions, I shall be able to live the spirit of the beautiful season, inshaAllah. I wish to start a nice Tahajjud routine, followed by some seriously dedicated reading of the Tafsir, and shall top it with some more extra prayers during the day.

I do have a theme for this year's Ramadan Diaries. I am aiming at overcoming the horrors of my mind, inshaAllah. They've been created by Shaytan, who else? Since he shall take a hike to Hell as usual during Ramadan, I wish to conquer those fears and bury them away forever. I feel I must let go, and there is no better time than Ramadan to turn over a new leaf.

Stay with me ...