On the Start of the Holy month of Ramadan

my family, friends, and I would like to wish you and your loved ones happiness, peace and good health
wherever you are.

Tomorrow is the first day of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia. It is the start of the month of fasting for muslims from sunrise to sunset. This act ( of fasting ) is one of the five pillars of Islam. fasting is compulsory for all able bodied and healthy men and women during this month.

For muslims, Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

The month of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia brings about a change in the opening hours of
businesses and shops. As I write this ( 0100 hrs ) the streets are packed with shoppers, traffic jams
everywhere! This will continue till just before the call to morning prayers.

The month of Ramadan is a month of prayer and devotion to Allah for muslims across the world.

May Allah's Peace, Blessings and Guidance be with you all.

Hi, Fahim,

fahim mohammed said:

May Allah's Peace, Blessings and Guidance be with you all.

Click to expand...

And with you.

Hi Fahim,

We are proud that you are comfortable to share your own private celebration with us. We do need peace and understanding. I personally treasure our cultural differences. So I'm happy to recipricate our own greetings to you and your family. May all these good thoughts come to being.

Asher

Said well

Asher said it well.

May this holy season find peace, health and may we all find harmony within our world.

Peace be with you, Fahim.

Peace for all of us, regardless of nationality or religion. Peace.

Hi Fahim,

I fully join all others before me with their kind wishes.
Ramadan Mubarak.

fahim mohammed said:

my family, friends, and I would like to wish you and your loved ones happiness, peace and good health
wherever you are.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your good wishes Fahim, please accept our best wishes to you and yours too. This is an important aspect of OPF to me, that through our common interest of photography we are able to share so much more, and the miles that divide us begin to shrink.....

fahim mohammed said:

my family, friends, and I would like to wish you and your loved ones happiness, peace and good health wherever you are.

Click to expand...

Thanks Fahim,

I wish you and your family and friends the same.

Bart

Fahim

Peace and blessings to you and your family also - sorry for the late reply.

Mike

What is the significance of the dawn to dusk fasting? How does this affect work during the day?

Hi Rhys,

Muslims are required to fast from before sunrise to sunset. This is a tenet of the religion and this
is how it is to be practised by muslims as stipulated in the Koran and as performed by Prophet Mohammed
(PBUH).

Fasting, according to the Koran, is not something unique to the muslims. The other religions, to whom the Books were revealed, were also commanded to do so. The Four Holy Books, as revealed, and as
believed by Muslims include the Zaboor, the Torot, the Bible, and the Koran.

Work continues during the day as normal...some timings are changed. The exception, if that, is that
places selling food and drink ( for on premises consumption or to go..e.g Mc,StarB etc.) are closed
during the time of the fast. This does not include supermarkets where one can purchase items
for later consumption/cooking etc.

I am not an Islamic Scholar, but the main purpose of fasting for Muslims is:
1. Commanded by Allah, as He had commanded others before the Muslims.
2. Purpose is to purify your body and soul. Fasting is not just an act of abstaining from food and drink..it is much more. In Islam the greatest enemy of man is his Self. One has to overcome the materialist and body-based desires. It is a muslim's faith against worldly desires.

Prophet Mohammed(PBUH) said that the most strenuous/holy/loved by Allah fasting was that
practised by Prophet David ( PBUH ). He would fast every alternate day..throughout the year!

Hope I shed some light on the subject with my limited knowledge. Got to go, morning prayers
are in about half an hour. Office at 1000 hrs. Life goes on as normal.

May Allah Bless and protect you all.

Rhys Sage said:

What is the significance of the dawn to dusk fasting? How does this affect work during the day?

Click to expand...

Thank You Fahim Mohammed for your blessings during one of the pillars of Islam, when the gates of paradise are opened, and the gates of hell are closed.

May Allah forgive the dryness of our tongues and the obduracy of our hearts for the sake of His Beloved Prophet (SAW) who said: "I was sent only as Mercy. I was not sent as a punishment.

Godspeed Fahim Mohammad,
Gary