Ramadan Articles 
Eid 2011 Photos – 20 Great Pics
Here are some great photos of Eid-ul-Fitr 2011 around the world. I collected these from the BBC, International Business News, and a few other sources. Happy Eid!
Children in Jakarta, Indonesia celebrate Eid 2011. Some Indonesians celebrated Eid on Tuesday despite the government setting Wednesday as the official date.
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- Lahore’s Badshahi Mosque before Eid al-Fitr prayers. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, when Muslims thank Allah for helping with their month-long fast.
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- Nepalese Muslims take part in early morning prayers at the Kashmiri Mosque in Kathmandu.
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- Volunteers carry vegetables, peppers, eggs, and other items from Kraton Palace to the Great Mosque of Kauman in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
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- Just before Eid worshippers gather for the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) in the Moscow Historical Mosque, the oldest in the city.
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- Muslim immigrants living in Greece attend Eid al-Fitr prayers in Athens.
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- Yemenis perform Eid al-Fitr prayers before a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in the capital, Sanaa.
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- Afghan refugee boys in Islamabad play on a home made swing during Eid al-Fitr 2011
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- People gather for Eid-ul-Fitr prayer in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt – 2011
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- Iraqi children in Basra play on a makeshift swing during the Eid holiday
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- Khalid Raban of Rawalpindi, 43, rides his motorcycle on a vertical track as fans watch
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- In Tripoli, Libyans celebrate the first Eid al-Fitr since the fall of the Gaddafi regime.
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- Children in Jakarta, Indonesia celebrate Eid 2011. Some Indonesians celebrated Eid on Tuesday despite the government setting Wednesday as the official date.
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- Eid-ul-Fitr in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, 2011
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- Tehran, Iran: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads prayers during the Eid al-Fitr prayers ceremony at Tehran University
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- A balloon seller outside the Kashmiri Takiya Jame mosque in Kathmandu, Nepal, during Eid
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- Men hug during Eid in Tripoli, Libya, after the 2011 uprising against Qaddafi
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- Salat al-Eid at Jama Masjid mosque in Ahmedabad, India, in 2011
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- Muslim women offer Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Don Bosco school grounds in the southern Indian city of Chennai
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- Surinamese Muslims of Javanese origin sing and dance during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Wanica
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Ramadan Reflections on Surat al-Fatihah, the Grand Opening
The Holy Quran is a light
By Ismail Kandar for MuslimMatters.org
This year, I am enjoying the benefits of praying Tarawih (night prayers of Ramadan) behind Mufti Ismail Menk and listening to his powerful Tafseer (explanation of the Quran) afterwards. On the opening night, Mufti Menk brought up an issue which always amazes me, the unique method in which the Qur’an begins. This made me reflect on the opening pages of the Qur’an.
Surah Al-Fatiha and the first three pages of Surah Baqarah are an amazing and unique method of starting a book. Perhaps, it is because we recite Surah Fatiha everyday, multiple times, that many of us do not take these verses seriously. Yet, the reason this Surah is emphasized so much is because it is the most important chapter of the Qur’an. It is Faatihatul Kitaab (The opening chapter of the book), Sab’a Mathaani (the seven oft-repeated verses 15:87) and Ummul Kitaab (the essence of the book 13:39). It is the Surah that when recited, Allah replies to each verse. It is the most important du’a that we can make.
The first half of Surah Fatiha is a declaration of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) in all of its forms: tawheed of Rububiyyah (Lordship) ”All praise to Allah, the Rabb (Lord) of the universe,” (1:1), tawheed of Asma Wa Sifaat (names and attributes) “Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement,” (1:2-3) and tawheed of Ibaadah (worship), “You alone we worship and you alone we ask for help.” (1:4)
The second half of Surah Fatiha is the most important du’a a person could ever make, “Guide us to the straight path!” (1:5) The Surah then explains what is the staight path and what is not. The straight path is that which was shown to us and followed by those whom Allah has favoured, which Allah explains in another verse, “whoever obeys Allah and His messenger, then they will be with those whom Allah has favoured from the prophets, truthful, matyrs and righteous.” (4:69) This verse refutes the claim by some people that you can find your own way towards Paradise without following the people of the past. True salvation lies in following the Salaf As-Saliheen (The righteous predecessors) and their understanding and practice of the Qur’an.
An old illuminated manuscript of the Quran
Allah then shows us two types of misguidance. The first form of misguidance is to earn Allah’s wrath by knowingly rejecting the truth and the other form is to go astray by choosing to remain ignorant. So we need to realize that choosing to remain ignorant can not excuse us for our sins and deviations, and if we knowingly reject the truth, we will be cursed by Allah. The only option left is to seek the truth and ask Allah to guide us to the straight path.
Answers in Surat Al-Baqarah
Amazingly, the very next Surah begins by answering this du’a for guidance. “This is the book in which there is no doubt! It is a guidance for those who are God-conscious.” (2:2) Three things are interesting about this verse. Firstly, show me one other book which begins by declaring its own perfection. No human author would dare readers from the beginning by making the claim that there is nothing doubtful in his book, this immidiately makes skeptics look for mistakes. The Qur’an, being the perfect word of Allah, begins with this challenge, a unique and powerful starting point.
Allah then explains to us that this Qur’an is the answer to our du’a (prayer) for guidance but the condition is that we approach this Qur’an with Taqwa (God-consciousness). This is why not everyone benefits from reciting the Qur’an. Allah warns us on the next page to not be from those who only recite ritually or with an evil intention as “it is the same whether you warn them or not, they will never believe.” (2:6) This verse is aimed primarily to those who choose to reject Islam, but like all verses we need to apply it to ourselves and make sure we do not possess any of the qualities that Allah dislikes.
The first three pages of Surah Baqarah describe three types of people in terms of belief and relationship with Allah. Allah goes into detail describing those who have Taqwa and attain success, then briefly mentions those who choose to disbelieve, and finally He mentions in even more detail, the hypocrites. It is for us to study these verses and put into the practice the qualities of the successful while being careful to guard ourselves from possessing the qualities of the disbelievers or hypocrites.
After all of this, Allah mentions the first commandment in the Qur’an, the most important commandment and the benefit of obeying it. Allah says, “O mankind, worship your Lord who created you and those before you so that you may attain Taqwa.” (2:21) The first and most important commandment is to uphold Tawheed by worshipping Allah alone as it is through this that we can attain Taqwa and through Taqwa that we can attain guidance from the Qur’an.
I ask Allah to grant all of us Imaan (faith), Taqwa and a deeper understanding of the Qur’an. Ameen.
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Thomas Jefferson’s Ramadan Iftar
Thomas Jefferson's Quran
Did you know that the first ever Ramadan iftar at the White House was held over 200 years ago by President Thomas Jefferson?
“Ramadan,” said President Obama at a White House iftar dinner in 2010, “is a reminder that Islam has always been a part of America. The first Muslim ambassador to the United States, from Tunisia, was hosted by President Jefferson, who arranged a sunset dinner for his guest because it was Ramadan — making it the first known iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago.”
The dinner to which the president referred took place on December 9, 1805, and Jefferson’s guest was Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, an envoy from the bey (chieftain) of Tunis who spent six months in Washington. The context of Mellimelli’s visit to the United States was a tense dispute over piracy on American merchant vessels by the Barbary states and the capture of Tunisian vessels trying to run an American blockade of Tripoli.
Mellimelli arrived during Ramadan, and Jefferson, when he invited the envoy to the president’s house, changed the meal time from the usual hour of 3:30 p.m. to “precisely at sunset” in deference to the man’s religious obligation.
Jefferson’s knowledge of Islam likely came from his legal studies of natural law. In 1765, Jefferson purchased a two-volume English translation of the Quran for his personal library, a collection that became, in 1815, the basis of the modern Library of Congress.
(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-en/index.html)
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25 Beautiful Ramadan Photos 2011
Muslims break their fast at the Jama Masjid mosque in New Delhi, India on Aug. 2.
Enjoy these lovely images of Muslims fasting, praying, reading Quran, and breaking their fast in this month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a lunar month, so it is either 29 or 30 days long. It is a time of sacrifice, purification, prayer, and devotion to God.
Over a billion Muslims worldwide participate in the Ramadan fast.
My own daughter Salma is five years old, so she’s a little too young to fast. But she really wants to try, so I’m letting her fast two hours in the morning, except on school days 
- Wael, Zawaj.com Editor
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- My daughter Salma is not quite ready to fast, but still enjoys an iftar meal. – Wael, Zawaj.com Editor
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- A roadside vendor sells fruit on the eve of the first day of Ramadan at a market in Srinagar, Kashmir on Aug. 1.
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- Riot police stand guard in Tahrir Square during Ramadan after military police forcibly removed demonstrators who refused to leave the area in Cairo, on July 2. Most of those gathered in the square had suspended their protest in anticipation of Ramadan.
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- A woman reads a copy of the Quran on the first night of Ramadan in Jakarta on July 31.
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- Palestinians shop for food ahead of Ramadan at Al-Zawiya market in Gaza City on July 30.
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- A Palestinian man reads the Quran at the al-Omari Mosque in Gaza City on Aug. 1.
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- Palestinian boys read the Quran at the al-Omari mosque in Gaza City on Aug. 1.
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- A Pakistani boy arranges food for Muslims to break their fast in Karachi on Aug. 1.
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- A Libyan family breaks their fast in a tent in Benghazi on Aug. 1.
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- A Kashmiri Muslim takes a nap at the Jamia Masjid (central mosque) in Srinagar on Aug. 2.
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- An Indonesian woman prays at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta on Aug 1.
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- Indonesian Muslim women pray on the first night of Ramadan on July 31 in Jakarta.
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- Muslim Indonesians pray on the first night of Ramadan on July 31 in Jakarta.
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- Indian Muslims offer prayers before breaking their fast at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, on Aug. 2.
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- Muslims break their fast at the Jama Masjid mosque in New Delhi, India on Aug. 2.
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- Men, women, and children observing Ramadan break their first day of fasting on a bridge in downtown Istanbul, Turkey on Aug. 1.
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- Men distribute food after the first day of Ramadan fasting at a mosque in Karachi, Pakistan, on Aug. 2.
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- Pakistani Muslims pray at the Dervesh Mosque in Peshawar on Aug. 1.
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- Muslims break their fast on the first day of Ramadan in Lahore, Pakistan, on Aug. 2.
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- A baker makes traditional food for Ramadan at a shop in Karachi, Pakistan, on Aug. 1.
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- A Tunisian store keeper displays his dates on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at a central market in Tunis.
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- A factory worker prepares thin vermicelli – known as Seviiyan – for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the Indian city of Hyderabad.
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- Nepalese Muslims praying in Katmandu during Ramadan
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- Libyan men praying in Benghazi on the first day of Ramadan 2011.
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- The city of Hama, Syria is under siege by the government as Ramadan begins.
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Ramadan Dishes Bring Relief – Nutritious and Light Ramadan Meals
At Boston Kebab House, chef-owner Osman Kiranoglu, who grew up in Turkey making yogurt, cuts cucumbers to mix into cacik, a versatile dish during Ramadan. (Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe)
The Boston Globe, August 3, 2011
Omar Sacirbey, Globe Correspondent
Relief for a hot month of Ramadan
Dishes reward both memory, faithfulness
As the son of a goat, sheep, and cow herder in the tiny northeastern Turkish village of Rize (REE-za), Osman Kiranoglu grew up making and eating lots of yogurt. Today, Kiranoglu parlays his fluency in yogurt as the chef-owner of the Boston Kebab House in Liberty Square.
Kiranoglu counts on his experience again during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which began Monday, when observant Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk to remember the hardships of the poor. “This year, it’s going to be very difficult,’’ Kiranoglu says. “Long days. Hot.’’ For religious holidays, Muslims follow a lunar calendar, whose year is about 10 days shorter than the solar-based Gregorian calendar. This means that the first day of Ramadan always falls about 10 days earlier than the previous year. For example, Ramadan is likely to start around July 21 next year, and July 11 the year after, and so on.
It takes about 35 years for Ramadan to travel through the solar calendar, so it will be a good seven or eight years before it leaves summer for the shorter, milder days of spring.
Cacik: the perfect summer dish
Until then, Boston-area Muslims have a bevy of dishes for either suhur, an early morning breakfast that precedes the fast, or iftar, the meal after the fast, with which to sustain them during this fasting month. Kiranoglu’s go-to summer recipe is cacik, a combination of yogurt, cucumbers, fresh dill, and mint, which can be served thin for a soup, or thick for a tangy bread dip. “If you go to any house in Turkey, they give you this,’’ says Kiranoglu, who learned the recipe watching his mother in the kitchen and, as the oldest of six children, knew how to make cacik by the time he was 9 or 10.
Cacik has several advantages during a hot summer Ramadan. It is fast, easy, and doesn’t require an oven or stove, and the yogurt helps rehydrate the body after a long day without fluids. It is also deliciously refreshing, as soup and dip, led by the saltiness of the yogurt, followed by the tanginess of the dill, finished with the sweetness of the mint.
Chickpea and roasted red pepper salad: nutritious but light
Ahmad Yasin, owner of Yasin Culinary, a catering company and cooking class studio in Watertown that specialize in Arabic cooking, also has fond memories of Ramadan in northern Syria, where he grew up. “The most beautiful time of the day is when everyone is rushing home after work, before iftar, to be with the family and prepare the food,’’ says Yasin.
Among the dishes he learned to prepare, and one of his favorites, is chickpea and roasted red pepper salad, with chili pepper, black or green olives, thyme, and parsley. It’s a tasty dish packed with protein and vitamins that recharge the body, but light enough for Muslims to respect the dietary advice of the Prophet Muhammad, says Yasin. “You shouldn’t eat until you’re hungry, and you shouldn’t overindulge, so you can work and pray.’’
Another prophetic tradition with nutritional value, Muslims say, is always breaking the fast with dates, which are high in sugar. The theory is that hunger is caused not by an empty stomach, but low blood sugar. A few dates can quickly quell hunger, and prevent overeating after fasting. Typically, after a few dates to break their fasts, Muslims perform evening prayers, which take just a few minutes, before starting their meals.
Khushaf – sweet and refreshing
Sugar’s knack for mollifying hunger is also behind the popularity of khushaf, a mixture of dried fruits and nuts soaked in water until it becomes syrupy, consumed after the dates but before prayers. “It’s sweet and refreshing,’’ says Sana Fadel of Newton, who remembers the dish from childhood visits to relatives in Egypt, where the weather was “super-hot.’’
Qamar Ad-Deen: popular in Egypt
Dishes prepared from qamar id-deen, an apricot paste, also figure prominently during Egyptian Ramadans, Fadel says. Among the most popular are apricot drink, which frequently accompanies dates and khushaf, and apricot pudding as dessert.
This Ramadan, Fadel hopes to introduce khushaf to her two sons, who are too young to fast but old enough to enjoy a family tradition.
Omar Sacirbey can be reached at osacirbey@hotmail.com.
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Ramadan 2011 Photos – Muslims Getting Ready
Muslim women having Ramadan iftar in Italy, 2008.
Ramadan has already started, but even before Ramadan began, Muslims all over the world were getting ready in many ways. Here are some photos of Muslims preparing for Ramadan in 2011 (and there’s one photo from 2008 as well – I came across it and found it interesting):
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- Muslim women having Ramadan iftar in Italy, 2008.
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- Ramadan food being prepared in Istanbul, Turkey
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- A Jordanian street vendor seen with Ramadan decorations, neon lights of crescents and stars that represent the season of Ramadan, which begins in August, in Amman, Jordan, Monday, July 18, 2011. Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is celebrated as the period when the Quran, the Muslim holy book, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad about 1,400 years ago. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)
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- An Egyptian female street vendor grills corncobs on a street in Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Egyptians are shopping in the streets of Cairo in preparation for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan beginning early August this year. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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- An Egyptian vendor displays clothes for sale at a street in Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Egyptians are shopping in the streets of Cairo in preparation for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan beginning early August this year. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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- Egyptian protesters decorate Ramadan traditional lantern arround their tents at Tahrir Square, the focal point of the Egyptian uprising, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, July 19, 2011 in preparation for the upcoming Muslims holy month of Ramadan beginning early August. Protesters have camped out in Tahrir for nearly two weeks demanding an overhaul of government. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
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- An Egyptian man rides a cart among vehicles on a street in Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, July 20, 2011.
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- An Egyptian man shops for a traditional lantern at a shop in Cairo, Egypt Monday, July 18, 2011. Egyptians shop for lanterns in preparation for the upcoming Muslims holy month of Ramadan beginning early August this year, to decorate their houses, shops and streets giving Egypt colorful and distinguished Ramadan nights among the Islamic world. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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- An Egyptian man carrying a child passes by traditional lanterns on display for sale at a street in Cairo, Egypt Monday, July 18, 2011. These lanterns come in all sizes, shapes and colors.
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- An Egyptian man leaves carrying traditional lanterns that he bought from a shop in Cairo, Egypt Monday, July 18, 2011. Egyptians shop for lanterns in preparation for the upcoming Muslims holy month of Ramadan beginning early August this year, to decorate their houses, shops and streets giving Egypt colorful and distinguished Ramadan nights among the Islamic world. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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- Two Egyptian vendors sit in a shop with traditional lanterns on display for sale on a street in Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, July 20, 2011.
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- A worker at Amman Municipality Slaughterhouse supervises the preparations for cleaning and packing chicken in Amman, Jordan Wednesday, July 20, 2011.
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- A worker at Amman Municipality Slaughterhouse slaughters chickens in the preparations for cleaning and packing, in Amman, Jordan Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The Amman Municipality Slaughterhouse started increasing their production of red meat and chickens to respond to the high demand for meat in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
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- A worker at Amman Municipality Slaughterhouse removes the skin from beef in preparation to be shipped to the local market, in Amman, Jordan Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The Amman Municipality Slaughterhouse started increasing their production of red meat and chickens to respond to the high demand for meat in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Related Posts:
Ramadan Announcement 2011 / 1432 AH
Ramadan Mubarak!
If you’re looking for the 2001 Eid Announcement, see: ISNA Eid Announcement 2011
Ramadan Announcement by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA):
First day of Ramadan will be Monday, August 1, 2011
and Eid ul-Fitr on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, insha’Allah.
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint.” Qur’an 2:183
The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) and the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) recognize astronomical calculation as an acceptable Shar’ia method for determining the beginning of lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal. The FCNA & ECFR use Makkah al-Mukarramah as a conventional point, and take the position that the conjunction must take place before sunset in Makkah and the moon must set after sunset in Makkah.
On the basis of this method the dates of Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr for the year 1431 AH are established as follows:
1st of Ramadan will be on Monday, August 1, 2011
1st of Shawwal, which marks the start of Eid ul-Fitr, will be on Tuesday, August 30, 2011.
Ramadan 1432 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on July 30, 2011 (Saturday) at 18:40 Universal Time (9:40 pm Makkah time). Sunset at Makkah on July 30 is at 7:01 pm local time, while moonset at Makkah is 6:41pm local time (20 minute before sunset). Therefore the following day Sunday, July 31, 2011 is not the 1st day of Ramadan. First day of Ramadan is Monday, August 1, insha’Allah. First Tarawih prayer will be on Sunday night.
Eid ul-Fitr 1432 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on August 29, 2011 (Monday) at 3:04 Universal Time (6:04 am Makkah time). On Monday, August 29, sunset at Makkah is 6:40 p.m. local time, while moonset is at 6:44 pm local time. Therefore, first day of Shawwal, i.e., Eid ul-Fitr is Tuesday, August 30, insha’Allah.
May Allah (swt) keep us on the right path, and accept our fasting and prayers. Ameen. For more detailed information, please visit: www.fiqhcouncil.org or www.moonsighting.com
Sincerely,
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi
Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America
Related Posts:
The Meaning of Eid
Muslim family at Eid prayer
Eid means “recurring happiness” or “festivity”. There are two such Eid in Islam.
The first is called Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast Breaking). It falls on the first day of Shawwaal, the tenth month of the Muslim year, following the month of Ramadan in which the Glorious Qur’an was revealed and which is the month of fasting.
The second is called Eid al-Adhaa (the Festival of sacrifice). It falls on the tenth day of Zulhijjah, the final month of the Muslim year. The Islamic Eid are unique in every way. To them there can be nothing similar in any other religion or any other sociopolitical system. Besides their highly spiritual and moral characteristics, they have matchless qualities.
Each Eid is a wholesome celebration of a remarkable achievement of the individual Muslim in the service of Allah SWT. The first Eid comes after an entire month of ‘absolute’ fasting during the days of the month. The second Eid marks the completion of Hajj to Makkah, a course in which the Muslim handsomely demonstrates his renouncement of the mundane concerns and hearkens only to the eternal voice of Allah SWT.
Each Eid is a thanksgiving day where Muslims assemble in a brotherly and joyful atmosphere to offer their gratitude to Allah SWT for helping them to fulfill their spiritual obligations prior to the Eid. This form of thanksgiving is not confined to spiritual devotion and verbal expressions. It goes far beyond that to manifest itself in a handsome shape of social and humanitarian spirit. The Muslims who have completed the fasting of Ramadhaan express their thanks to Allah SWT by means of distributing alms among the poor and needy on the first Eid before the prayer.
Eid also is a day of remembrance. Even in their most joyful times the Muslims make a flesh stall of the day by a plural session of worship to Allah SWT. They pray to Him and glorify His name to demonstrate their remembrance of His favors. Along with that course, they remember the deceased by praying for their souls, the needy by extending a hand of help, the grieved by showing them sympathy and consolation, the sick by cheerful visits and utterances of good wishes, the absentees by cordial greetings and sincere considerateness. Thus, the meaning of remembrance on the day transcends all limits and expands over far-reaching dimensions of human life.
Eid greetings
Most of the imams when delivering the Eid khutbah will mention that Eid is a day of victory. The individual who succeeds in securing his spiritual rights and growth receives the Eid with a victorious spirit. The individual who faithfully observes the duties, which are associated with the Eid, is a triumphant one. He proves that he holds a strong command over his desires, exercises a sound self-control and enjoys the taste of disciplinary life.
Once a person acquires these qualities, he has achieved his greatest victory because the person who knows how to control himself and discipline his desires is free from sin and wrong, from fear and cowardice, from vice and indecency, from jealousy and greed, from humiliation and all other causes of enslavement.
Therefore, when he receives the Eid, which marks the achievement of this freedom, he is in fact celebrating his victory, and the Eid thus becomes a day of victory.
This is the proper meaning of an Islamic Eid. It is a day of thanksgiving, a day of festive remembrance and a day of moral victory. An Islamic Eid is all this and is much more because it is a day of Islam, a day of Allah SWT. Celebrate this coming Eid with the true imaan and taqwa. InshaaAllah, besides having enjoyment, we will be blessed by Allah SWT.
Source: islaam.org
Related Posts:
Eid Announcement 2010 – Eid-ul-Fitr is Friday Insha’Allah
Eid Mubarak from Zawaj.com! (this amazing image is by Said Ibrahim of London, saidnapro.blogspot.com)
If you’re looking for the 2011 Eid Announcement, see:
Announcement by Fiqh Council of North America and European Council for Fatwa and Research
The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) recognize astronomical calculation as an acceptable Shar’ia method for determining the beginning of lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal. The FCNA & ECFR use Makkah al-Mukarramah as a conventional point, and take the position that the conjunction must take place before sunset in Makkah and the moon must set after sunset in Makkah.
On the basis of this method the date of Eid ul-Fitr for the year 1431 AH is established as follows:
1st of Shawwal, which marks the start of Eid ul-Fitr, will be on Friday, September 10, 2010, Insha’Allah.
Eid ul-Fitr 1431 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on September 8, 2010 (Wednesday) at 6:30 pm Makkah Time. Sunset in Makkah on September 8 is at 6:31 pm. On that day, the moon in Makkah at sunset is below the horizon. Therefore, the first day of Shawwal, which marks the start of Eid ul-Fitr is on Friday, September 10, 2010, insha’Allah.
May Allah (swt) keep us on the right path, and accept our fasting and prayers. Ameen. For more detailed information, please visit: www.fiqhcouncil.org or www.moonsighting.com.
Related Posts:
How to worship in Laylat-ul-Qadr
A view of Mecca Masjid, or mosque, during the evening prayers on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. AP / Mahesh Kumar A
Date: October 25, 2005Name of Mufti: IslamOnline Shari`ah Researchers
Topic: Recommended Acts of Worship in Laylat-ul-Qadr
Name of Questioner: Omar from United States
Question: As-Salam `Alaykum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh ! Dear Sheikhs, given that the blessed night Laylatul-Qadr is approaching, we would like you to tell us what should we do in this night. Kindly inform us of the acts of worship that are recommended in this night?
Answer:
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, thank you very much for having confidence in us. We ask Allah to guide the whole Muslim Ummah to make the best use of the blessed days of Ramadan, and to seek the great blessings Allah grants His sincere servants during these days.
Laylatul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing person is keen to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.
Praying Qiyam:
It is recommended to make a long Qiyam prayer during the nights on which Laylatul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many Hadiths, such as the following:
Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) relates: “We fasted with Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in Ramadan. He did not lead us in Qiyam (Night Vigil Prayer) at all until there were seven nights of Ramadan left. Then he stood with us (that night, in Prayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, ‘Allah’s Messenger! Wouldn’t you pray with us the whole night?’ He replied: ‘Whoever stands in Prayer with Imam until he (the Imam) concludes the Prayer, it will be recorded for him that he prayed the whole night…” (Reported by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)
Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: “I heard Ahmad being asked, ‘Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during Ramadan?’ He replied, ‘Pray with the people’ I also heard him say, ‘I would prefer for one to pray Qiyam with Imam and to pray Witr with him as well, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When a man prays with the Imam until he concludes, he’ll earn the reward of praying the rest of that night.”
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever stands (in Qiyam) in Laylatul-Qadr (and it is facilitated for him) out of faith and expectation of Allah’s reward, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). The phrase “and it is facilitated for him”, according to the version narrated by Ahmad, on the authority of `Ubadah Ibn As-Samit, means that a person is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.
Making Supplications:
It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that she asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul-Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say: “Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee (O Allah! You are Oft-Forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me).” (Reported by Ahmad, Ibn Majah and At-Tirmithi)
Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship:
It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylatul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah. This is based on the following Hadith narrated by `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “Upon entering into the last ten (of Ramadan), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would tighten his Izar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in Prayer), and wake up his family.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) She also said: “Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to exert more efforts (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights.” (Reported by Muslim)
- IslamOnline.net, reprinted with some modifications from Islam.com
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27 Beautiful Photos of Ramadan Around the World
Palestinian girl prays Jum'ah at Al-Aqsa Masjid in Ramadan
These 27 wonderful photos show Muslims all over the world worshiping in Ramadan, reading Quran, cooking, breaking their fasts, and striving to get closer to Allah.
The pictures really capture the diversity of our Ummah; our wealth of spirit even amid material poverty; the beauty of our rituals; and the vitality of our communities. Alhamdulillah.
These photos are courtesy of the Sacramento Bee and are from Ramadan 2008.
See also:
Ramadan around the world: 35 beautiful photos
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- Pakistani Muslims walk near the Badshahi mosque after ‘Iftar’, the time to break the fast, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. During Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. AP / Emilio Morenatti
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- Indonesian women perform an evening prayer called ‘tarawih’, the night before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins, at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country. AP / Dita Alangkara
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- A Muslim devotee recites verses from the Quran, the Muslim holy book, during a religious congregation at a mosque in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. AP / Anjum Naveed
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- A Syrian dancer from Seif al-Islam group or (Sword of Islam) performs during Ramadan festival at the historical castle of Sidon, south of Lebanon, early Sunday Sept. 7, 2008. Some people go out early morning to restaurant or coffee shops to enjoy their breaking fast. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from dawn untill the sunset. AP / Mohammed Zaatari
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- A Palestinian youth holds a homemade sparkler firework after breaking his fast at the end of the second day of Ramadan in the West Bank city of Ramallah,Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk. AP / Hatem Moussa
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- Palestinians decorate an alley of Jerusalem’s old city with festive lights in preparation for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Sunday, Aug 31, 2008. The holy month of Ramadan, when observant Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, will begin tomorrow. AP / Dan Balilty
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- A woman seen reflected in a mirror shops for vegetables for Ramadan at a shop in the Shiite enclave of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 1, 2008. Most of the Muslim Middle East began the first day of Ramadan on Monday, but Iraqi Shiites, some Lebanese Shiites and Iran will start observing the holy month of fasting on Tuesday. AP / Karim Kadim
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- Bosnian Muslim women are seen, near Djevojacka cave, which according to legend , visiting the cave will bring personal beauty and success, near the Bosnian town of Kladanj, 50 kms north of Sarajevo, Bosnia, on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. More than 30.000 people gathered to pray inside and outside the cave on traditional annual prayer . Muslims across the world are preparing for the holy month of Ramadan, which will this year take place amid sharp hikes in food prices and in many countries an ever present fear of violence. AP / Amel Emric
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- Indonesian Muslims perform evening prayer called ‘tarawih’, the night before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins, at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country. AP / Dita Alangkara
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- The shadows of Palestinian Muslim men praying are cast on the ground during prayers on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in a mosque in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, Sept. 1, 2008. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, refraining from eating, drinking, and smoking from dawn to dusk. AP / Muhammed Muheisen
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- Pakistani people line up in the street before ‘Iftar’, the time to break their fast, as they wait for donated food during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. During Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. AP / Emilio Morenatti
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- A Pakistani man from the Bajur tribal region rides his bicycle at a relief camp set up by the government in Mardan town, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) northeast of Peshawar, Pakistan, on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008. Pakistan said Sunday it was suspending a military operation against insurgents in a tribal region in honor of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The operation in Bajur has killed at least 562 Islamist insurgents and displaced more than 300,000 people. AP / Emilio Morenatti
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- A Pakistan man prepares food stuff for Muslim devotees during a religious congregation at a mosque in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008.
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- Pakistani Muslims prepare food for ‘Iftar’, a time to break the fast, at a mosque during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Lahore, Pakistan on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. AP / K.M. Chaudary
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- Palestinians buy qatayef, a pancake-like shell which is filled with nuts or sweet cheese, fried in oil or baked then dipped in sugar syrup, a popular sweet during Ramadan, on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, in the West Bank town of Jenin, Monday, Sep. 1, 2008. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking from dawn to dusk. AP / Mohammed Ballas
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- Muslim workers break their fast on the first day of Ramadan at a free table at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday Sept. 1, 2008. AP / Hassan Ammar
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- Pakistani Muslims buy traditional caps, beads and other stuff from a stall at outside a mosque as they prepare for Ramadan, the Muslim’s holy month, in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008. AP / Anjum Naveed
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- Pakistani children memorize the Quran, or holy book, at a madrassa, or Islamic school, in Lahore, Pakistan, on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008. Muslims across the world usually increase their religious activities during the holy month of Ramadan. AP / Emilio Morenatti
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- Pakistan Muslims perform evening prayer called ‘tarawih’, the night before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins, in Karachi, Pakistan on Monday, Sept 1, 2008. During Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. AP / Shakil Adil
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- A Kashmiri Muslim woman, hand alone seen, holds an iron chain as she prays at the entrance of the shrine of Naqashband Sahib in Srinagar, India, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. Muslims all over the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan, abstaining from consuming food and drinks from dawn to dusk. AP / Dar Yasin
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- A view of Mecca Masjid, or mosque, during the evening prayers on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. AP / Mahesh Kumar A
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- Kashmiri Muslim women pray as a girl looks on inside the Jamia Masjid, or Grand Mosque, on the first Friday of Ramadan in Srinagar, India, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. Muslims all over the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan, abstaining from consuming food and drinks from dawn to dusk. AP / Dar Yasin
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- A Palestinian Muslim worshipper is framed by the Russian Orthodox Church as she prays during the first Friday prayers of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. Around 90,000 Muslims congregated in Jerusalem for the first Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. He said “thousands” of police were deployed around the city to “prevent any disturbances.” AP / Muhammed Muheisen
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- Palestinian Muslim women pray inside the Dome of the Rock Mosque, during the first Friday prayers of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. Around 90,000 Muslims congregated in Jerusalem for the first Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan. AP / Muhammed Muheisen
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- With the Dome of the Rock Mosque seen in the background, Palestinian Muslim worshippers pray, during the first Friday prayers of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. AP / Muhammed Muheisen
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- Palestinians wait to cross a checkpoint on their way to Jerusalem during the first Friday of Ramadan, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. AP / Tara Todras-Whitehill
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- Kashmiri Muslims offer prayers inside the Jamia Masjid, or Grand Mosque, on the first Friday of Ramadan in Srinagar, India, Friday, Sept. 5, 2008. Muslims all over the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan, abstaining from consuming food and drinks from dawn to dusk. AP / Dar Yasin
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