Ramadan, the holy month of purification for Muslims, began today in Europe. The date on which Ramadan begins is determined by the position of the moon and in France as elsewhere it is decreed by the head of the Muslim community. It corresponds to the beginning of the ninth lunar month of the year and represents the period during which the Prophet had revealed to him the Coran, the holy book of Islam.
Because the Muslim calendar is shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the month of Ramadan advances about 10 days each year, thus over a period of years Ramadan circles around the Gregorian calendar in a counter-clockwise fashion. This is also the reason that Ramadan may begin on slightly different days around the globe, because of the slight differences in the lunar calendar from continent to continent and hemisphere to hemisphere.
Following the Ramadan rituals is one of the Five Pillars of the Muslim faith and should be followed by all Muslims whenever possible. Exceptions include pregnant or breast-feeding women and the ill.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world are supposed to purify themselves.
The most obvious Ramadan ritual is the fast required from sun-up to sun-down, including not drinking water or other liquids. But Ramadan also requires sexual abstinence and the welcoming of everyone who arrives at one’s door in a friendly and generous manner. All of these efforts are intended to help Muslims control their bodies and be better friends to those around them. During Ramadan, Muslims are also supposed to give alms to the poor and help the needy.
The fast of Ramadan is broken each night by meals prepared to re-hydrate the followers and to nourish them for the next days fast. This month is in effect a time when Muslim families and neighbors join together during the late evening and night to honor the most sacred month of the Muslim year.
So, today, I just want to say to our Muslim brothers and sisters that I wish them a happy and gratifying Ramadan 2012. I hope they will pray for peace and join with us, their Christian and Jewish brothers and sisters, to work for the elimination of religious conflict in the world and to deepen personally, as we all must, the lesson of brotherhood and compassion for others and for their beliefs and traditions.
ME TOO
ReplyDeleteHi Readers of Casey Pops
ReplyDeleteThis comment is in no way about Casey Pops article on Ramadan. Just my thought about the Colorado tragedy….
I just hope that James Holmes (suspect in shooting) doesn't turn out to be another converted/homegrown Muslin.
As I sat and watched Fox news coverage of this story all I could think about was the loss to the families. A midnight showing would be heavily attended by older teenagers or young adults.
Imagine for a second that your child goes out the door to go to a simple movie with friend(s) and you say be careful, see you in the morning, love ya. Morning simply never comes again. No chats, no hugs, no plans, no voice (that's the first thing the experts say you forget about those who have passed). All gone at the hands of social idiot.
What right does anyone have to disrupt someones family. A disgruntled individual. A mentally ill person. A rejected boy friend. A friendless child in the need of someone who cares.
Andrew and his friends go to a lot of these type of showings.Do I say No the next time. No I don't. The minute we start to alter our lives in-fear of something bad occurring, the minute we allow the threat of terrorists acting out and we don't attend the Olympics, a football game, a county fair, NASCAR, F1, etc. We are not protecting ourselves , we are saying here you won. I'll alter my life to suit your insane behavior.
Be good, enjoy, be safe
First off--Religions of the world will never unite. It simply has never happened.
ReplyDeleteSecondly--I agree we cannot alter our lives, but what do we do? There is too much of this going on in this Country, and I for one, fear it is going to get worse with the "copy-cats". I still say we are living in the Book of Revelations.