Eid Mubarak!

Ramadhan: Zakat-ul-fitr

At the end of the month of Ramadhan every Muslim has to give zakat-ul-fitr as a purification for those who fasted. It is to be given on behalf of himself and all the people he takes care of - young or old, male or female.

Its quantity is one saa' of one of the basic foodstuffs of the country, e.g. rice, wheat, dates, etc. These days, many Muslims have started giving money as zakat-ul-fitr, but from the hadith we learn that it has to be paid in food.

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri said: "We offered, during the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH), a weight of saa' of dry food of our main staple, such as barley, raisins, cheese, and dates." (Bukhari)

(a saa' is four mudds, and a mudd is the amount held by both hands cupped together. Many scholars have estimated a saa' to be approximately three or three-and-a half kilograms)

Zakat-ul-fitr must be offered (to the poor) prior to offering Eid ul-fitr prayer, or one or two days before the end of Ramadhan.

Ramadhan: Lailat-ulQadr

It was in Lailat-ulQadr that the Quran was sent down and in the Quran we can read that this night is better than 1000 months. Muslims, therefore, are encouraged to stand in prayer during this night, hoping for forgiveness and great reward.

But when exactly is Lailat-ulQadr? Some Muslims these days fix its date on the 27th of Ramadhan. However, there is no proof for that at all. There are several hadiths about this night, such as the following:
Aisha said: "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) used to practice i'tikaaf in the last ten nights and say: 'Seek out Lailat-ulQadr in the odd nights of the last ten of Ramadhan'". (Bukhari and Muslim)
Therefore, we should look for Lailat-ulQadr in the odd nights of the last ten: the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th. Remember that the night precedes the day, and so the 21st night is the night before the 21st day!

We know that the most significant sign of Lailat-ulQadr is that the sun rises the day after that night with no rays, as in the sayings of the prophet PBUH narrated by Muslim, Ahmad, An-Nassaa'e, At-Tirmidhi, and Abu-Dawood. Many Muslims may have watched the sunrise on some of the last ten days of Ramadhaan, and saw the sun without rays and knew that the night before was Lailat-ulQadr, so he would praise Allaah for the good deeds he did in that night, or regret the time he had wasted...

Ramadhan: Cartoon (3)

I'm sure you all know those people who simply sleep their time away in Ramadhan. They may wake up to pray dhuhr and go back to sleep, or they may even abandon prayer and get up a couple of hours before sunset. These people imagine that fasting is hard on them, but if they tried with spiritual willingness, they'd experience the opposite. It's not too late yet: get up early this last week of Ramadhan and encourage the people in your household to do the same. Get the most you can out of your fast. And always keep this hadith in mind:
"For the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time of joy when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord" (Bukhari and Muslim)

Ramadhan: Cartoon (2)

Ramadhan in the past and the present...

Ramadhan: Cartoon

Ramadhan: Breaking the Fast

"For the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time of joy when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord" (Bukhari and Muslim)

A fasting person breaks his fast at the approach of the night, when the daylight is passing away and the sun disappears below the horizon. This is the Messenger's (PBUH) explanation of the Quranic verse: "Then complete your fast till the nightfall" (Surat al-Baqarah)

It is sunnah to break your fast with dates before praying maghrib (the sunset prayer), according to the following hadith:
From Anas, who said: "The Prophet (PBUH) used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying, and if not with fresh dates, then with older dates, and if not with dates then with some mouthfuls of water". (Ahmed, Abu Dawud, and al-Tirmidhi)

Supplicating Allah at the time of breaking the fast is encouraged.

Here in Yemen, many people indeed seem to break the fast with dates. Others start with sambusa or a glass of juice. Again others start with 'shafoot'. And then you have those who taste a glass of coffee before anything else...!

Ramadhan: Praying at the Mosque

Islamically, men are encouraged to pray all their obligatory prayers at the mosque in congregation the whole year round, and the Friday noon prayer is compulsory. In Ramadhan, however, people feel it is even more important to attend the mosque regularly.
Women, on the other hand, are encouraged to pray at home although they can go the mosque if they wish:
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the masjids (mosques) of Allah" (Ahmed and Abu Dawud)
And Zainab Ath-Thaqafiyah narrated: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said to us: "When one of you comes to the mosque, let her not wear perfume." (Muslim)

In the Prophet's (PBUH) time, women used to pray behind the men at the mosque, i.e. in the same room. For some strange reason, in Yemen (and, I heard in some other Gulf countries as well - but not in Mecca), they have chosen to give women separate rooms to pray in. These rooms are often small, dark, and undecorated - not at all like the men's places of prayer. Moreover, the women can not see the imam from such a room, so they have to follow him over the loudspeaker.

Personally, this really saddens me. First of all, the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) is broken. Secondly, you miss the feeling of being part of the 'ummah'. And most importantly, as far as I understand from fatawa, a woman's prayer in this way is invalid. For more information on this, you can read the following fatwa:

http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=showfatwa&Option=FatwaId&Id=88204

Benzine (in het NLs)

Er is weer regelmatig benzine bij de pompen, en de rijen zijn ook verdwenen nu de prijs ruim twee keer zo hoog is geworden. Je kunt zelfs weer jerrycans opvullen.
Een hele opluchting, maar duur is het wel, 3500 RY voor 20 liter (ruim tien euro). "Ach, 't is beter dan de 10,000 RY van de zwarte markt" merkte een auto-bezitter op. Altijd positief blijven!

Je moet de prijs natuurlijk in perspectief zien: voor een gemiddelde werknemer die 30,000 RY per maand verdient waarvan de helft aan huur opgaat is een auto rijdende houden nu wel heel moeilijk.

Ramadhan: Taraweeh Prayer

There is a special night prayer that is prayed at night in Ramadhan: the taraweeh prayer. It can be offered in congregation or individually, and it can be prayed anytime after the time of isha prayer (the last prayer of the day) until fajr prayer (the dawn prayer).

Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "He whosoever stays awake during the nights of the month of Ramadhan (offering prayers, supplications, and reciting the Holy Quran), Allah will forgive his past sins". (Bukhari)

It is also reported that the Prophet (PBUH) prayed during the nights of Ramadhan when he was in Madina, but that he didn't lead the people in prayer lest it would become obligatory upon the Muslims to pray taraweeh. This means that it is sunnah, not obligatory, to pray this night prayer.

It is sunnah to limit the taraweeh prayers to eleven rak'ah. Each prayer consists of two rak'ah, after which the witr should be prayed:

The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: "One should offer the prayer in pairs (two rak'ah each). If one fears missing the fajr prayer, then let one offer a single rak'ah to make an odd number." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Ramadhan: Its Rulings

Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is an obligatory act upon each and every Muslim who has attained the age of puberty and is residing in a certain locality on a permanent basis, as opposed to traveling.

A Muslim is not required to make up days he missed before embracing Islam.

Minors are not required to observe the fast but are rather encouraged to observe it, even partially, in order to get accustomed to it.

A mentally ill person is also not required to observe fasting, and he is not required to expiate for this.

A person who cannot observe fast due to a chronic disease or old age must feed a poor person for each day he misses of the obligatory fast of the month of Ramadhan.

A sick person who will face true difficulty if he maintained the fast may break the fast and make up the days he misses after he gets well.

Pregnant and nursing women may not fast if it constitutes difficulty for them. If such women fear harming their fetus, nursing child, or themselves, they may break their fast but should make up the days they missed later.

Menstruating women and women in the maternity period after giving birth must not fast but must make up the days they missed later.

A traveling person is free to choose either to fast while traveling or not to fast; one may break his fast while traveling and make up the days he misses while traveling. This ruling stands valid regardless of the type of travel that one makes. If one is traveling to Makkah to perform Umrah or works as a bus or truck driver - all such individuals may break their fast if they are traveling long distances and do not intend to reside. They have to make up the missed days later.

(taken from Fatawa on Fasting, Zakat, and Taraweeh by sheikh al-Othaimeen and sheikh al-Jibreen)

Ramadhan: the 'Suhoor' (pre-dawn meal)

From 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "The distinction between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book (i.e. Christians and Jews)is the taking of the pre-dawn meal (suhoor)". (Muslim)

Taking suhoor is following the sunneh of the Prophet (PBUH). It also strengthens a person for fasting. According to the Prophet (PBUH), there is blessing in this meal, as we can see from the following hadith:

From Abdullah ibn al-Harith, who said: "I entered upon the Prophet (PBUH) and he was taking the suhoor and he said: 'It is a blessing which Allah has given to you, so do not leave it.'" (Ahmed and an-Nasa'i)

And Anas reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Take suhoor for there is blessing in it". (Bukhari and Muslim)

It is recommended to delay the suhoor until just before fajr since the Prophet (PBUH) and Zayd ibn Thabit took suhoor and when they finished their suhoor, the Prophet (PBUH) stood up for the prayer and prayed.

Anas reports from Zayd ibn Thabit that he said: We ate suhoor along with the Prophet (PBUH) then he stood up for the prayer. I said: "How much time was there between the adhaan and the suhoor?" He said: 'The interval was sufficient to recite fifty ayat'". (Bukhari and Muslim)

Dates make a good suhoor, but if you have no dates, you can eat or drink anything you like. It's best to keep it light. Even a glass of water will do for those who have no desire for food in the early morning.

Here in Yemen, they eat basically anything for suhoor; some people eat the left-overs of the evening before, including salta. Others make something that looks like an average breakfast - beans, or even eggs.

Recipe (Sambusa) (2)

Instead of minced meat, you can also fill the sambusa with brown lentils. The preparation is very similar to the minced meat-variation.

How to prepare:
Soak the lentils for a few hours. Chop up an onion and fry it in a pan. Add a chopped-up tomato and garlic, a little salt and black pepper. Stir for a few minutes. Then add water and bring it to the boil. Add the washed lentils and some fresh parsley and fresh coriander. Also add a little vegetable stock (or chicken stock). Cook the lentils until soft and until all the water has evaporated. Then fold and deep-fry the sambusa the same way as described in my last blog post.

Recipe (Sambusa)

Ramadhan knows some special dishes, of which sambusa is the most popular: pastry filled with minced meat or lentils. You can find varieties over the whole Middle East in different shapes and under different names.

You need:
- fillo pastry cut into long strips of approx. 25 cm. and 7 cm. wide. One corner should be cut off.
- some flour mixed with water to make a paste to close the sambusa
- oil to deep-fry the sambusa in

for the filling:
- 250 gr. of minced meat
- one chopped-up onion
- one chopped-up tomato
- some garlic
- some fresh parsley, chopped
- some fresh coriander, chopped
- salt and pepper

How to prepare:
- Heat a little oil in a pan and fry the onion until golden. Add the tomato and garlic and stir for a few minutes. Then add the thoroughly cleaned minced meat, salt, pepper, parsley, and coriander. Stir every now and then. You may need to add some water to get the meat cooked well - as long as the meat mixture is dry in the end.

- Put a little of the filling near the cut-off corner on a strip of fillo and fold the corner a few times until you have a triangle. Make sure there are no holes as liquid from the filling can ooze out. Close the triangle with a little paste of flour mixed with water.

- Heat oil in a deep pan and deep-fry the sambusa for a few minutes until golden brown.

They're best eaten hot.

Ramadhan in Sanaa (in het NLs)

De Ramadhan in Sana'a is dit jaar gearriveerd met enorme regenbuien waar door een bijzonder droog voorjaar al maandenlang naar werd uitgekeken. Regen wordt hier 'barakah' genoemd, een zegen, en is dus een goed teken voor de vastenmaand.

In Ramadhan onthouden Moslims zich van eten, drinken, en roken van zonsopgang tot zonsondergang – dit jaar in Jemen zo'n 14 uur per etmaal. Om het wat gemakkelijker te maken verandert de dagelijkse routine drastisch. Officiele werktijden zijn veel korter dan normaal en beginnen veelal rond het middaguur – uitzonderingen daargelaten. Wie eigen baas is kan de werktijden zelfs helemaal naar de avonduren verschuiven, zoals tandartsen of makelaars, bijvoorbeeld. Veel Jemenieten blijven de hele nacht op en slapen vanaf zonsopgang tot in de vroege middag – of langer!

Als je om een uur of negen 's ochtends een ommetje gaat rijden kom je bijna geen mens tegen, afgezien van de soldaten van de checkpoints en een enkele andere vroege vogel die nergens naar op weg lijkt te zijn. Een heerlijke rust is over de stad neergedaald.

Na het vroege middag-gebed komt het leven een beetje op gang; men gaat inkopen doen voor het avondeten. Er zijn een aantal speciale gerechten voor deze maand waarvan de populairste 'sambusa' is – bladerdeeg gevuld met gehakt. Dit gehakt komt uit Arabische buurlanden en is normaliter diep gevroren. Probleempje dit jaar is dat de electriciteitsvoorziening minimaal is en het gehakt dus half-ontdooid wordt verkocht. Het schijnt de mensen niet te deren.

Na het avondeten na zonsondergang wordt er gebeden in de moskeeen, en dan wordt er – als de electriciteit het toelaat – TV gekeken en qat gekauwd. Het lijkt er op dat qat verkopers de enigen zijn die ondanks alle problemen in het land goede zaken doen.

De President, die zich nog altijd in een ziekenhuis in Saudi Arabie bevindt, gaf een speech ter ere van het begin van de vastenmaand waarin hij o.a. handelaars opriep de prijzen niet onnodig te verhogen. Wat heet onnodig met benzineprijzen die onlangs zomaar ruim twee keer zo hoog zijn geworden! Het enige voordeel hiervan is dat er geen rijen meer staan bij de benzinestations.

Ook riep Saleh wederom op tot vergeving en overleg tussen alle rivaliserende partijen; de Ramadhan is een goede gelegenheid voor zulke zaken. Of hierop gereageerd zal worden valt te betwijfelen, al zou het voor de inmiddels aardig verregende betogers die nog altijd in tenten kamperen geen slecht idee zijn.

Schrijvende bij een rap kleiner wordend kaarsje blijf ik me over de Jemenieten verbazen. Het is een vasthoudend volk, koppig ook, en gewend aan een hard leven. Ik hoop dat de regen deze Ramadhan inderdaad een voorbode is voor betere tijden.

Ramadhan: Reading the Quran

Reading the Quran should be done the whole year, but in Ramadhan it is especially encouraged.

The Quran is divided into 30 parts and many Muslims try to finish the Holy bok at least once during this month - one part a day. Just reading is not enough, though, and the reader should also contemplate on the meanings.

Here are a few ayahs (parts of a surah, which is a chapter) to contemplate:

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and earth are signs for a people who use reason. (Surah al Baqarah 164)

It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases—that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allah has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know. (Surah Yunus 5)

And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. (Surah ar-Ra'd 3)

And your Lord inspired to the bee, "Take for yourself among the mountains, houses [i.e. hives], and among the trees and [in] that which they construct. (Surah an-Nahl 68)

Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]." There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought. (Surah an-Nahl 69)

And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height. (Surah al-Isra' 37)
(meaning: Man, for all his arrogance, is yet a weak and small creature.)

Allah has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. (Surah nl-Nur 45)

And it is He who has released [simultaneously] the two seas [i.e. bodies of water], one fresh and sweet and one salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier and prohibiting partition. (Surah al-Furqan 53)

Say {O, Mohammad], "I do not ask you for it [i.e. the Quran] any payment and I am not of the pretentious. (Surah Sad 86)

It is but a reminder to the worlds. (Surah Sad 87)

Ramadhan: Make Use of Your Time!

Here in Yemen, many people like to stay awake all night long and then sleep their time away until dhuhr (midday) prayer - or longer. Personally, I don't think this is supposed to be the custom in Ramadhan. Isn't it all about fasting, practicing patience, reading Quran, etc.?

So, here are some tips for Muslimahs without a job outside the house to use your precious time in this blessed month in a good way:

- Get up early. OK, maybe a little later than usual, but don't sleep your whole morning away. Do the usual chores around the house (the dishes of the night before, laundry, sweeping, etc.) and then sit down to read Quran until the dhuhr prayer.

- Don't spend too much time in the kitchen; Ramadhan is not a month for eating. Of course it is nice to make some special dishes, but not all on the same day! Anyway, you feel better if you don't eat too much.

- Encourage your children to fast as much as they can, too, from an early age. And take some time every day to sit down and memorize some surahs of the Quran with them. When you see that they get tired, hungry, or thirsty, you can read them an Islamic story or let them sleep a little.

- Try to pray taraweeh regularly. If you cannot go to the mosque, do it at home. It's not prescribed that you have to do it in congregation. Whatever number of rak'ahs you pray is good!

- Get some sleep at night. You feel much better when you get up for sahoor (pre-dawn meal) if you've had some hours of sleep. It's also better not to watch too much TV, especially soap operas, etc. Just socialize with your family for a bit.

May Allah accept our fasts and forgive our sins. Amin.

Ramadhan Kareem