Wednesday, October 17, 2007

The Writings on the Wall Pt. 1

Sometimes I don't know whether my ideas are original or whether I ripped them off from somewhere but I've always wanted to make a bathroom/coffee table type book called "The Writings on the Wall" and collaborate with other photographer friends around the world and get a compilation of writings on walls and in bathroom stalls, along with translations if it's in another language. I think you can discover a vast amount of information, values, and culture by just looking at what people take time to write on walls. I've seen quite a bit of interesting things written places here, but I haven't had a camera most of the time. Here's some things I've photographed just around our school, which might not really interest you that much, but I'm going to try to get some better ones before my time is up here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52546085@N00/

I've also uploaded quite a few more pictures I've been meaning to upload. Also, I realize my pictures are in extreme disarray, but that's because of bandwidth and time constraints.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Ramadan

I failed to mention in my last post that the month of Ramadan is underway, and is actually over very soon. I mentioned this in a post last year, but it definitely makes teaching and learning challenging. What I probably didn't mention last year was what Ramadan actually is.

It's really quite beautiful. From answers.com:

Ramadan 2007 (the year 1428 AH, according to the Muslim reckoning) runs from approximately September 13 to October 12. The exact dates depend on one's geographical location.

A blessed month has arrived. Observing it in fasting is mandated on you. During this month, the gates of Paradise will be opened and the gates of Hellfire will be closed. (Abu Hureirah)

Ramadan mubarak! (a blessed Ramadan!)

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the most sacred of the twelve months. The name Ramadan derives from the Arabic word for intense heat and sun-scorched ground. A number of reasons have been advanced to explain the linguistic connection:

  • It refers to the hot, dry sensation of thirst during this month of fasting
  • Ramadan scorches out evil like the sun scorches the earth
  • Just as heat shapes and influences all matter — organic and inorganic — so does Ramadan shape and influence the believer

Fasting

The Koran mandates fasting during the month of Ramadan:

The month of Ramadan is that in which the Koran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days... (sura 2.185, known as The Cow)

Fasting, or sawm, during the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Sunni Islam.

Why fast?

  • to develop patience and self-control
  • to learn sympathy for the deprived
  • to cleanse the body and mind
  • to gain appreciation for Allah's bounty
  • to demonstrate the depth of one's commitment
  • to protect against sin. A hadith states: "Satan runs in the circulatory system of the son of Adam in the same way blood circulates in our system; so tighten his passages with hunger."

There are, then, three levels of the Ramadan fast:

  • refraining from the physical things that are forbidden (performed with the mouth/stomach/sexual organs)
  • restraining oneself from saying, hearing and looking at forbidden things (performed with the senses)
  • renewing one's devotion to Allah (performed with the heart and mind).

Special meals are eaten before and after each day of fasting: suhoor before the dawn prayers, and iftar, the evening meal often eaten communally and often including dates.

I swore by the One 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. (Abu Hureirah)

In addition, Ramadan is a time for increased devotion, reading of the Koran, self-improvement, community involvement, charity and good deeds.

He who does not desist from obscene language and acting obscenely, Allah has no need that he did not eat or drink. (Bukhari)
...

Breaking the fast

When Ramadan is over, on the first day of the next month, Shawwal, Muslims celebrate Id al-Fitr (lit., feast of the breaking of the fast).

Id al-fitr is a day of joy, thankfulness, piety, forgiveness, peace and brotherhood. Worshipers dress in their finest clothes, preferably new ones, and, after special early-morning prayers held in large mosques or other venues, visit each other to exchange greetings and good wishes. Special alms, zakat, are given; children receive gifts; and feuds and disputes are settled. Together with the sadness at the end of Ramadan comes the joy at having been granted by Allah the strength to perform the fast.

You can read more about it at answers.com or a million other places if you want.

Next Week: The Writing's on the Wall (for real this time)