* Ask your florist to design a festive arrangement featuring flowers in the traditional Hanukkah blue and white - perfect for a centerpiece or to greet guests on a table in the foyer.
* Use fresh evergreens to decorate around the menorah. Place colorful dreidels and chocolate coins around the table for kids to enjoy.
* If an open house is on the agenda and many persons will be in a room, it is important to give special attention to the larger display areas such as the front door, foyer, mantle, buffet or serving areas, powder rooms, windows and staircase. This will help you get maximum impact because with many people in a room smaller arrangements placed around will not be seen at all times. Additionally, by focusing on a few focal areas in each room, more space is made for glasses, cups and food plates and there is less chance of an accident.
* As guests leave, have a vase of loose flowers by the door and invite them to take one home as a gift.
For an elegant celebration, take advantage of all places where candles could be displayed:
* Line a walkway with votive candles in luminaries leading up to a door.
* Place garland on the mantle with fresh flowers and candles to beautifully grace your room and make the most of light by enhancing the fire.
* Float candles and flowers in treasured crystal or silver bowls to create a fabulous effect.
* Place scented candles with fresh blossoms in each powder room.
"Fasting during Ramadan is a unique opportunity to attain both peace of mind and heart," says Imam Gayth Nur Kashif, Director of Washington, DC's inner city Masjid ash-Shura.
Imam Kashif, who came to Islam by way of the Black Muslim movement and was an editor of the movement's Muhammad Speaks newspaper and a contemporary of Malcolm X, explains: "During Ramadan one concentrates on rendering good and abstaining from the wrong. Such a pursuit creates peaceful serenity in the hearts of men and women. Ramadan fasting cannot be complete and in fact, the fast can be invalidated if one fails to control his or her temper. The fasting persons are advised to refrain from argument and to inform the other party that they cannot continue the troublesome dialogue because they are engaged in the sublime obligation of fasting. Without doubt a full month of such restraint is destined to leave its mark upon our bodies and souls."
The fasting during Ramadan that requires certain restraints from dawn to dusk, the hours when the human interaction is the greatest, is designed to mould the lives of its practitioners.
Dr. Molook Roghanizad, a member of the Curriculum Advisory Committee of the Fairfax County School Board in Virginia and an educational consultant, says, "Ramadan fasting offers an opportunity for Tazkiyah, - the cleansing of the self - through its disciplinary regimen. And on another level, Ramadan offers a unique opportunity for synthesizing with the less fortunate."
She points out that the tazkiyah aspect is clearly emphasized by Prophet Muhammad who, according to Ka'b ibn Malik, said: "Two hungry wolves sent against a herd of sheep will not do more damage to it than a man's eagerness for wealth and prestige does to his religion." [Cited in Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi and Abu Yahya]
"The Quran," she adds, "started to be revealed during Ramadan and it is recommended that during this month we concentrate on the reading of the Quran. Why? This is because during this month, we are less involved with physical needs and have a better opportunity of understanding the Message - the Quran, that is. Therefore there is a better chance of understanding the truth and reaching that spiritual elevation that we all desire." This state of 'special elevation', she is says comes when we elevate ourselves through understanding the true message. "The moment you have reached the absolute truth is your Lailut ul Qadr, the Night of Power," she stresses.
She says that the real attainment of Qadr for ordinary beings is not a physical act, nothing sort of pulling a spiritual rabbit out of a hat, but in reality that indescribable moment when all things become clear to you and this moment of truth is worth one thousand months, more than a lifetime. The Quran says: "But those will prosper who purify themselves and glorify of their Guardian-Lord and (lift their hearts) in Prayer." (Quran 87:14-15)
Dr. Muhammad Hamidullah, the eminent scholar and translator of the Quran into French, in his monograph Why Fast? (Centre Culturale Islamique, Wilkes Barre, PA) discusses the physical aspect of fasting. He likens fasting to the break from the ordinary to sleeping and to the weekend breaks in work and school. He points out that just as sleep renovates the body, the fast rejuvenates and invigorates the body, noting that Prophet Muhammad said, "There is a tax on everything, the tax of the body being the fast."
What fasting does to a Muslim is perhaps best explained by Jim Quraishi, who wrote in an internet religion forum, "I am much more forgiving and accepting of my coworkers. I am more liable to overlook their frailties and petty jealousies. I'm like a man who knows that at the end of the day there is a pot of gold that awaits him."
Islam does not promote withdrawal from society, however during Ramadan a brief withdrawal from society is allowed for those who desire to do so, which is called itikaf. In itikaf a person can confine oneself to a secluded corner of a mosque - women can select a corner at home - during the last ten days of Ramadan to devote their full-time to prayer and remembrance of God. The itikaf experience can be likened to a retreat in a secluded camp. Ibn Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah [Prophet Muhammad] used to seclude himself for the last ten days of the month of Ramadan."
According to the late Dr. Alija Izetbekovic, President of Bosnia, "The Islamic fast which is the union of asceticism and joy - and even pleasure in certain cases - is the most natural and most radical educational measure that has ever been put into practice. It is equally present in the king's palace and the peasant's hut, in a philosopher's home and a worker's home. Its greatest advantage is that it is really practiced."
The fasting during Ramadan has been ordained for Muslims as fasting had been ordained for people that preceded them. Prophet Muhammad, addressing his companions on the last day of Shaban, the preceding month, said: "O people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]
Ramadan, the Arabic-ul-Fitr عيد الفطر Ayd, Persian: عید فطر), in the Islamic world, after the fasting month of Ramadan is a religious festival is celebrated for three days. According to the tenth month of the Hijri calendar, which is celebrated on the first three days of the month of Shawwal. Feast from the previous day, the eve of the last day of Ramadan is the month. In 2010, Ramadan has started in Turkey on Thursday September 9.
Etymology
The Arabic word "Ramadan", "Ramazan" (being too hot) comes from the root. The reason for this is probably Ramadan worship the first implementation begins summer represents is. [1] During this holiday visitors, sugar to provide honor of an established tradition that the festival, Sugar Festival is also called.
The Arabic name "al-Ayd-ul fitr'dir (Arabic: عيد الفطر). The word Fitr means breakfast in Arabic, and with the end of Ramadan, the first refers to the breakfast. Fasting festival of Ramadan, expires in nature so a ceremony. Ramadan, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia or Lebara Idul Fitri, also referred to as Eid in Bangladesh iseShemai.
Ramadan, were to be celebrated after the second year of the Hegira. This must be done in the holidays and all the ceremonies of worship was organized by Muhammad. Ramadan feast at first about the operations were done by him.
Features
There are three distinct features of the Ramadan feast:
1. This holiday, Muslims in charity mission to fulfill.
2. Bilateral talks between Muslims, to visit each other and the gift of reconciliation and recovery is one.
3. Muslims in this festival, especially after the holiday prayer for their relatives to visit their graves.
Ramadan, the fasting month of Ramadan during the prescribed retention refers to the end. End of Ramadan, while fasting and Ramadan that ends on the first day of the first day of the fasting month of Shawwal is maintained.
In the first days of Ramadan holiday prayers in the mosques are. Prayer, men make the holidays alone. After prayers, the sermons are holidays. Are entered by the end of the prayer festival. visits to family and friends, such as various entertainment. During Ramadan, Muslims also visit each other's festivals celebrated by
Ramadan in Turkey
The Islamic month of Ramadan and the feast and has an important place in Turkish culture. During the month of Ramadan, larger mosques in Turkey, called the ridge between the minarets are illuminated hanging ornaments. Usually in the first day of Ramadan, "welcome or Ramadan City"-like messages, showing the ornaments, each night throughout the month of Ramadan is changed to show a different message. In a few days before the feast of Ramadan, usually ridge "Farewell" message similar to the send-off shall be included.
In the last week of Ramadan, the houses are cleaned in preparation for holidays, festive dresses are sewn. In the villages of Anatolia, the Ramadan holiday festivities are held. Drums, flutes, native instruments like the fiddle is played, people played games. Is a feast for the poor in some places to eat. In cities, especially in the area of military units in the development of the collector is notified holidays, festivals at particular times of day (usually in the prayer time) the ball is thrown.
Ramadan holiday in Turkey and other cultural elements which is identified with the shadow game. "Hacivat and Karagoz" shadow play forms an important part of Turkish culture. In ancient times, Ramadan nights shadow of the fun of people constituted the largest. After breaking the fast, and families gathered to watch the shadow play would go. Although this tradition today, although not very popular, still identified with the month of Ramadan and the feast remains. In any event related to Ramadan and running, shadow play and the characters are at the top of the figure.
Ramadan holiday, when families come together and have fun together, the ethical sense is a festival highlighting the importance of the family. Everyone is dressed very carefully. Children wear their bib. Ramadan at the younger members of families with elderly members will visit more. I kiss the hands are great. I kiss the hands of the older children are given allowances. Sweets, candies, chocolate are served. Most diamonds are very popular and one complimentary dessert. Moreover, those who offend in peace due to the holidays is a tradition.
During Ramadan (3 days) of predominantly Muslim countries are often declared public holidays.
