Friday, October 15, 2004
~ All about Ramadhan ~
9:34:00 pm
Well, today is the start of Ramadhan which is the Islamic fasting month...
A little story on why we Muslims have to fast:
Fasting is the third
Rukun Islam or in translation, the rules of Islam... So it's a must for all able-bodied and healthy Muslims to fast during Ramadhan... However, there are some group of people in which they are exempted from fasting...
1) Females who are menstruating
2) People who are not of a sound mind
3) People who worries that their health will be affected due to fasting
But despite not being able to fast, these people, especially those in 1 & 3, MUST RESPECT those Muslims who are fasting... Example: by not eating in public... *It's really a shame to those who eat openly in the public... Don't they have a sense of shame or guilt??*... Anyway, those who were unable to fast are required to 'pay back' their fast after Ramadhan...
In Islam, fasting is not just a matter of abstaining from food and drinks... But also a way for us to cleanse our mind, body and soul... We should avoid things such as gossiping (gosh, this is SO me!), listening to bad things, talking about bad things and looking at things that we're not supposed to see... That's why it's not really allowed for us to seek entertainments during this period... Instead, try to seek for forgiveness from Allah (God)...
In a way, fasting is also to remind us on how people who are poor (esp in Third World Countries) have to go on without food and sometimes, even for days... This is one reason why we should thank Allah for what we have currently and feel blessed about it cuz not everyone has the pleasure of having what we have...
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Anyway, what I have wrote above was reflected by what I heard from a stranger yesterday... A group of Malay gals were talking things about fasting... Well, me and Mac happened to take the same lift as we were heading for clinical skills class... What I've heard was totally shameful... She was saying in Malay, "Alamak, tomorrow start fasting already... Dunno how I'm going to cope without
smoking... Maybe I won't even fast... Confirm the whole month I won't fast."... *Gosh*... Could you imagine how embarrassed I was when I heard this... Well, maybe Mac wouldn't understand but what would others reaction be when they hear such things?? For one moment, I felt like hiding cuz I've never expected this to come out from the mouth of a fellow Muslim... *Sigh*...
As I've said, this is what I've reflected on... I'm not saying that I'm perfect and that all along, I've done all my fast with no faults... NO!! Cuz I'm a human too and humans make err at times... No one is perfect in this world... But seriously, doesn't that girl have any sense of conscientious and shame? Cuz I would... Anyway, it's her own matter... She'll deal it on her own...
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Today's start to my fasting wasn't smooth-sailing unlike the previous years... I was down with my 'on-off' flu... All the way from like 6am till the time I went to polyclinic... Been having this flu for like 1-2 weeks and sometimes, despite not sneezing, I would have lots of mucus in my nostrils... Was given some lozenges and medication... Anyway, thanks to Germac and Fione for 'dragging' me there cuz I would not have gone to the doctor at all if they have not accompanied me...
Hope that the other days of fasting will go by smoothly without any flinches...
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Today was also the dateline for our nursing project essay... *Gosh... I'm so glad that it's over*... Time to take a short break before I start on my revisions for the exams...
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To all muslims, Happy Fasting!! And to those non-muslims, enjoy and *peace*!!
written, NaDiaH eRNiYaNTi
