We are only falsehood, duplicity, contradiction; we both conceal and disguise ourselves from ourselves.”
Blaise Pascal quotes
sham duplicity hidden behind lofty
empty hollow words that betray
a poet rancorously does truth slay
searching for a needle in a stack of hay
hating other fellow poets is his way
eh tu brutus to my dismay
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Holy Month of Ramadhan
My niece Tareen the Terrible saying the Namaz.
The Meaning of Ramadan
By Ayse Kadayifci tentofabraham.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&...
"You who believe? Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, so perchance you may attain God-consciousness." (Q 2:183)
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and the holiest of the four holy months. It is one of the five pillars of Islamic faith. During Ramadan all physically mature and healthy Muslims are required to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing, any kind of tobacco use, and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and sunset for 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon during this month. Moreover, fasting includes refraining from gossiping, lying, slandering and all traits of bad character. It calls for doing good deeds, generosity and kindness, self-reflection, praying and God-consciousness. During this month Muslims read the entire Quran, which is divided to 30 equal parts to be read each day. Muslims also go to the Mosque for special Ramadan prayers after the breaking of the fast.
The end of Ramadan is marked by a three-day celebration and worship called Eid ul Fitr, which begins with a special communal worship service, the first morning after the month ends. During these three days Muslims have feasts for friends and family, give modest gifts especially to children, give charity (fitra) to the poor and needy, and also give the obligatory alms (Zakat), which also goes to the poor and needy. Eid ul Fitr is the second major holy day of the Islamic calendar year.
Muslims believe that one of the last few odd-numbered nights of the month is the Laylat ul-Qadr, the "Night of Power" or "Night of Destiny", the night on which God first began revealing the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through the angel Jibril (Gabriel) as the Quran states: "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)." (Q2:185).This night is especially important for the Muslims, as it is stated in the Quran that "this one night is better than a thousand months of prayer" (Q97:3).
Ramadan has many dimensions, including physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions. Ramadan orients the believer to balance between all these dimensions of his/her existence. Physical dimension of Ramadan includes abstaining from all kinds of food, drinks, smoking and sexual contact from sunrise to sunset. It helps physical attunement of the body through cleansing and relaxing, and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence.
Psychological dimension of fasting is related to patience, forbearance and perseverance. Through observing fasting, the believer enriches his/her patience, forbearance, self-worth, self-strength, self-control, self-reflexivity, self-training and discipline. Through fasting Muslims strive for controlling their urges and resist temptation. And through meditative practices of praying, reading the Quran and remembering God, they are reminded of the bigger picture, and develop an understanding about purpose of creation. Thus, fasting helps dealing with stress, trauma, attain inner peace. Therefore Ramadan helps healing psychological problems.
In terms of social dimension, fasting calls for remembering those who are poor, who do not have food or shelter. Fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and of learning thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's bounties. It calls for purifying ones actions towards others. It reminds believers of their social responsibility, it calls for generosity, sharing and forgiving. It calls for compassion towards those who are in need and are suffering. During this month Muslims are especially called for resolving their conflicts, forgiving each other and asking for forgiveness.
Ramadan is also the month of mercy. Muslims are called to show mercy, compassion, generosity, and care for all Gods creatures, including themselves, other human beings, animals and the environment as the vicegerents of God on earth. By partaking in Ramadan, and experiencing it together creates a social space that is shared by many Muslims across the globe. This creates a unique sense of solidarity among Muslims around the world. By sharing the feast with friends and relatives during Eid ul Fitr, and by giving charity (fitra) and alms to the poor and needy (zakat), Muslims take part in healing social wounds, knitting closer ties with others, redistributing wealth, connecting with those who are in need. This aspect of Ramadan contributes to creating a just and compassionate society based on sharing and giving rather than focusing on consumerism.
The following Hadith captures this aspect of fasting: "Allah (SWT) (the name for The Almighty God, used by Muslims) said that: All services of the son of Adam are for him except fasting. It is for Me, and I will reward him for it. Fasting is a shield. On the day you fast, do not use obscenity, nor yell at others, nor act ignorantly towards them. However, if anyone abuses you verbally or attempts to draw you to fight with him, say 'I am fasting' two times. The Prophet (pbuh) then states: I swore by the One (Allah) in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the faster is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Judgment than the scent of musk. The faster experiences enjoyment twice: he is pleased when he breaks his fast, and he is pleased when he meets his Maker" (Muslim).
Finally, in terms of its spiritual dimension, fasting redirects the hearts away from worldly activities, towards The Divine. During this month, Muslims ask for mercy and forgiveness from God. Purity of thought and action is paramount. Fasting is a deeply personal act of worship in which Muslims seek to raise their level of God-consciousness. During Ramadan Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers. Ramadan calls for inner-reflection, rethinking of meaning of life and ones place thereof. It is a month for repentance, mercy and spiritual attunement. Because their attention is diverted from the satisfaction of bodily appetites and wants during fasting, Muslims receive a certain amount of ascendancy in terms of their spiritual nature. Thus they become closer to God.
Moreover, Muslims spend the whole month in acts of worship like voluntary Salat (prayer), Tilawa (recitation of Quran), Dhikr (remembrance of Gods names), and etc. By reading the entire Quran, and performing Dhikr Muslims are reminded of the human struggles and Gods benevolence. They draw inspiration from the stories of previous Prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph and Jesus. Therefore, they renew their commitment to God, renew their faith and family ties, as well as connect to the message of Prophets.
To conclude, as a result of fasting during Ramadan Muslims develop a balance all these different dimensions of their existence. However, all these benefits, may it be physical, psychological, social or spiritual, come as a blessing of God; they are not the aim of billions of Muslims who are fasting. At the end, Muslims observe Ramadan only to please God.
my poem
The Awakeners in their repetitious
Raucous voice urge the devoted
To wake up the first fast of
The Holy Month Of Ramadan
Hearts swelling with humility
Muslims living all over the world
Bangladesh India and Pakistan
All bound to Allah the best way he can
A month of forgiveness of piety
Of Peace Brotherhood of Man
Of all the months barring Moharam
The Holy Month of Ramadan
One a pledge to Allah to
Keep his laws dusk to dawn
The other remembering the
Supreme sacrifice that saved Islam
From the Tyranny of Man
Two sides of a spectrum
Both showing the path to
Serving Allah his Bayt
The Glory of Ramadan
My First Fast begins of Ramadhan
The Meaning of Ramadan
By Ayse Kadayifci tentofabraham.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&...
"You who believe? Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, so perchance you may attain God-consciousness." (Q 2:183)
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and the holiest of the four holy months. It is one of the five pillars of Islamic faith. During Ramadan all physically mature and healthy Muslims are required to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing, any kind of tobacco use, and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and sunset for 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon during this month. Moreover, fasting includes refraining from gossiping, lying, slandering and all traits of bad character. It calls for doing good deeds, generosity and kindness, self-reflection, praying and God-consciousness. During this month Muslims read the entire Quran, which is divided to 30 equal parts to be read each day. Muslims also go to the Mosque for special Ramadan prayers after the breaking of the fast.
The end of Ramadan is marked by a three-day celebration and worship called Eid ul Fitr, which begins with a special communal worship service, the first morning after the month ends. During these three days Muslims have feasts for friends and family, give modest gifts especially to children, give charity (fitra) to the poor and needy, and also give the obligatory alms (Zakat), which also goes to the poor and needy. Eid ul Fitr is the second major holy day of the Islamic calendar year.
Muslims believe that one of the last few odd-numbered nights of the month is the Laylat ul-Qadr, the "Night of Power" or "Night of Destiny", the night on which God first began revealing the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through the angel Jibril (Gabriel) as the Quran states: "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)." (Q2:185).This night is especially important for the Muslims, as it is stated in the Quran that "this one night is better than a thousand months of prayer" (Q97:3).
Ramadan has many dimensions, including physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions. Ramadan orients the believer to balance between all these dimensions of his/her existence. Physical dimension of Ramadan includes abstaining from all kinds of food, drinks, smoking and sexual contact from sunrise to sunset. It helps physical attunement of the body through cleansing and relaxing, and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence.
Psychological dimension of fasting is related to patience, forbearance and perseverance. Through observing fasting, the believer enriches his/her patience, forbearance, self-worth, self-strength, self-control, self-reflexivity, self-training and discipline. Through fasting Muslims strive for controlling their urges and resist temptation. And through meditative practices of praying, reading the Quran and remembering God, they are reminded of the bigger picture, and develop an understanding about purpose of creation. Thus, fasting helps dealing with stress, trauma, attain inner peace. Therefore Ramadan helps healing psychological problems.
In terms of social dimension, fasting calls for remembering those who are poor, who do not have food or shelter. Fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and of learning thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's bounties. It calls for purifying ones actions towards others. It reminds believers of their social responsibility, it calls for generosity, sharing and forgiving. It calls for compassion towards those who are in need and are suffering. During this month Muslims are especially called for resolving their conflicts, forgiving each other and asking for forgiveness.
Ramadan is also the month of mercy. Muslims are called to show mercy, compassion, generosity, and care for all Gods creatures, including themselves, other human beings, animals and the environment as the vicegerents of God on earth. By partaking in Ramadan, and experiencing it together creates a social space that is shared by many Muslims across the globe. This creates a unique sense of solidarity among Muslims around the world. By sharing the feast with friends and relatives during Eid ul Fitr, and by giving charity (fitra) and alms to the poor and needy (zakat), Muslims take part in healing social wounds, knitting closer ties with others, redistributing wealth, connecting with those who are in need. This aspect of Ramadan contributes to creating a just and compassionate society based on sharing and giving rather than focusing on consumerism.
The following Hadith captures this aspect of fasting: "Allah (SWT) (the name for The Almighty God, used by Muslims) said that: All services of the son of Adam are for him except fasting. It is for Me, and I will reward him for it. Fasting is a shield. On the day you fast, do not use obscenity, nor yell at others, nor act ignorantly towards them. However, if anyone abuses you verbally or attempts to draw you to fight with him, say 'I am fasting' two times. The Prophet (pbuh) then states: I swore by the One (Allah) in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the faster is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Judgment than the scent of musk. The faster experiences enjoyment twice: he is pleased when he breaks his fast, and he is pleased when he meets his Maker" (Muslim).
Finally, in terms of its spiritual dimension, fasting redirects the hearts away from worldly activities, towards The Divine. During this month, Muslims ask for mercy and forgiveness from God. Purity of thought and action is paramount. Fasting is a deeply personal act of worship in which Muslims seek to raise their level of God-consciousness. During Ramadan Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers. Ramadan calls for inner-reflection, rethinking of meaning of life and ones place thereof. It is a month for repentance, mercy and spiritual attunement. Because their attention is diverted from the satisfaction of bodily appetites and wants during fasting, Muslims receive a certain amount of ascendancy in terms of their spiritual nature. Thus they become closer to God.
Moreover, Muslims spend the whole month in acts of worship like voluntary Salat (prayer), Tilawa (recitation of Quran), Dhikr (remembrance of Gods names), and etc. By reading the entire Quran, and performing Dhikr Muslims are reminded of the human struggles and Gods benevolence. They draw inspiration from the stories of previous Prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph and Jesus. Therefore, they renew their commitment to God, renew their faith and family ties, as well as connect to the message of Prophets.
To conclude, as a result of fasting during Ramadan Muslims develop a balance all these different dimensions of their existence. However, all these benefits, may it be physical, psychological, social or spiritual, come as a blessing of God; they are not the aim of billions of Muslims who are fasting. At the end, Muslims observe Ramadan only to please God.
my poem
The Awakeners in their repetitious
Raucous voice urge the devoted
To wake up the first fast of
The Holy Month Of Ramadan
Hearts swelling with humility
Muslims living all over the world
Bangladesh India and Pakistan
All bound to Allah the best way he can
A month of forgiveness of piety
Of Peace Brotherhood of Man
Of all the months barring Moharam
The Holy Month of Ramadan
One a pledge to Allah to
Keep his laws dusk to dawn
The other remembering the
Supreme sacrifice that saved Islam
From the Tyranny of Man
Two sides of a spectrum
Both showing the path to
Serving Allah his Bayt
The Glory of Ramadan
My First Fast begins of Ramadhan
Racist Facist Poetic Pig
photo courtesy
tryingtogrok.mu.nu/archives/flying-pig.jpg
Francesca Johnson (9/13/2007 2: 17: 00 AM) Post reply | Read 8 replies
I have just logged into PH and the frist poem I read was a blatantly racist one, and extremely offensive, by Firoze. So I went to the forum and what do I find? A three minute silence request, again offensive and frankly very frightening. I thought this was a POETRY site but it has deteriorated into a place where people incite hatred and make death threats. I'm not averse to a bit of mud-slinging or some harsh criticism but this........it is evil
She calls me Evil
This Damsel fair
Me a beggars brown skin my
Outer wear
She calls me racist
She does Swear
She who is pure as white
This Damsel fair
She and the moronic
Allen James Saywell
Could make a charming Tango pair
Waiting to catch
Bim Bombay Boy in their snare
I have nothing my fractured genius
Words that you read as poetry
That as pain in my multi colored soul I bare
Laugh it’s your turn now Gods superior race
You my Grapes of Wrath that you share
One day you might enter my leopards lair
Than my claws my fangs your demonic
Souls I will tear..
With words that in my depository
A lot in spare
Francesca I forgive you but AJS
The Australian Racist Poet
War on him I declare
Gangubai the Gonorrheal Whore
his child did bear
He has not paid her for services rendered
This Grizzly Bear
Racism in Sexuality quite unfair
Of all this you might not have been aware
he is a pederast pervert
moronic maniac please beware
ps title is for AJS
tryingtogrok.mu.nu/archives/flying-pig.jpg
Francesca Johnson (9/13/2007 2: 17: 00 AM) Post reply | Read 8 replies
I have just logged into PH and the frist poem I read was a blatantly racist one, and extremely offensive, by Firoze. So I went to the forum and what do I find? A three minute silence request, again offensive and frankly very frightening. I thought this was a POETRY site but it has deteriorated into a place where people incite hatred and make death threats. I'm not averse to a bit of mud-slinging or some harsh criticism but this........it is evil
She calls me Evil
This Damsel fair
Me a beggars brown skin my
Outer wear
She calls me racist
She does Swear
She who is pure as white
This Damsel fair
She and the moronic
Allen James Saywell
Could make a charming Tango pair
Waiting to catch
Bim Bombay Boy in their snare
I have nothing my fractured genius
Words that you read as poetry
That as pain in my multi colored soul I bare
Laugh it’s your turn now Gods superior race
You my Grapes of Wrath that you share
One day you might enter my leopards lair
Than my claws my fangs your demonic
Souls I will tear..
With words that in my depository
A lot in spare
Francesca I forgive you but AJS
The Australian Racist Poet
War on him I declare
Gangubai the Gonorrheal Whore
his child did bear
He has not paid her for services rendered
This Grizzly Bear
Racism in Sexuality quite unfair
Of all this you might not have been aware
he is a pederast pervert
moronic maniac please beware
ps title is for AJS
Ayn
December 1992, Konya, Turkey --- Whirling Dervish Dance in Turkey --- Image by © K.M. Westermann/CORBIS
www.egothemag.com/archives/images/innersanctum/rumi_main0...
of the wanderinghood & perplexitude ('ayn)
the coolest peace loving dude unlike
those peddle pushing poets with whom I have a feud
who wear clothes sartorial sacrilege and fu**kin nude
racist fascist a thought corroding a thought within a thought imbued so much of venom as verbiage spewed character is what you are in the dark unviewed
I died as a mineral and became a plant;
I died as a plant and rose to animal;
I died as animal and I was a man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as man to soar
With angels blest. But even from an angel
I must pass on: all except God must perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel soul,
I shall become what no mind ever conceived.
JALALUDDIN RUMI
www.egothemag.com/archives/images/innersanctum/rumi_main0...
of the wanderinghood & perplexitude ('ayn)
the coolest peace loving dude unlike
those peddle pushing poets with whom I have a feud
who wear clothes sartorial sacrilege and fu**kin nude
racist fascist a thought corroding a thought within a thought imbued so much of venom as verbiage spewed character is what you are in the dark unviewed
I died as a mineral and became a plant;
I died as a plant and rose to animal;
I died as animal and I was a man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as man to soar
With angels blest. But even from an angel
I must pass on: all except God must perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel soul,
I shall become what no mind ever conceived.
JALALUDDIN RUMI
The Crescent of Peace True Islam
photo courtesy stock photo .com
"I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God".
the crescent the moon has been sighted
the muslim world delighted
islam a religion of peace and brotherhood
allah ho akbar a call for peace
under the umbrella of an omniscient allah
the shia the sunnis all united
even those who are from other communities
to break the fast all invited
the radicals with the darkness in their souls
holy scriptures but to the word of peace
universal love totally benighted
to this feast gate crash uninvited
My family kept their fast today a day in advance...
"I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God".
the crescent the moon has been sighted
the muslim world delighted
islam a religion of peace and brotherhood
allah ho akbar a call for peace
under the umbrella of an omniscient allah
the shia the sunnis all united
even those who are from other communities
to break the fast all invited
the radicals with the darkness in their souls
holy scriptures but to the word of peace
universal love totally benighted
to this feast gate crash uninvited
My family kept their fast today a day in advance...
HOWLIN AYN THE SUFI SAINT
photo courtesy
www.geocities.com/finneyianrodney2000/bw10.gif
FOR BUSHISTS & JEWISTS TERRORISTS
boxers with misers tight fists
tits twats and clits
a head but no cap fits
the racists on peoples poems
his hate as comments shits
hubcap shit head on their
masked faces spits
AYN THE ONLY GOOD MAN AT POEM HUNTER
www.geocities.com/finneyianrodney2000/bw10.gif
FOR BUSHISTS & JEWISTS TERRORISTS
boxers with misers tight fists
tits twats and clits
a head but no cap fits
the racists on peoples poems
his hate as comments shits
hubcap shit head on their
masked faces spits
AYN THE ONLY GOOD MAN AT POEM HUNTER
Embrace Islam Heaven Free
photo google images
Says Osama on reading Trade Martin
Embrace Islam Go to Heaven Free
Build an Islamic America
Spiritual prosperity also free
Gadahan Al Amrikki will give
You a guided tour if you agree
Saddam on the swings you will see
A slightly lopsided head minus the tree
Al Zarkawi Shia hating Mother Fucker
Chasing burkha clad Mujhaidas on a spree
First come first served obligingly
The Moon has been sighted a Good Omen
Embrace Islam..Be
Says Osama on reading Trade Martin
Embrace Islam Go to Heaven Free
Build an Islamic America
Spiritual prosperity also free
Gadahan Al Amrikki will give
You a guided tour if you agree
Saddam on the swings you will see
A slightly lopsided head minus the tree
Al Zarkawi Shia hating Mother Fucker
Chasing burkha clad Mujhaidas on a spree
First come first served obligingly
The Moon has been sighted a Good Omen
Embrace Islam..Be
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Shah-e-Mardan Sher-e-Yazdan Quwat-e-Parwardigar Lafata Ila Ali La Saif Ila Zulfiqar , originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1 ....
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Dargah of Hazrat Syed Ali Mira Datar Unava Gujrat , a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr. HAZRAT SYED ALI MIRA DATAR'S G...
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The Madariya Sufi Order Of India - Dam Madar Malangs , a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr. From Wikipedia, the free encyclo...
