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Quote:

Originally Posted by Salman! (Post 6740239)

This ramadan I'll be fasting (no eating, drinking or even deeply inhaling the smell of food) from 4am to around 9pm, before going to the hot crowded mosque for a 1h 45m 'taraweeh' prayer (specific prayer during Ramadan) at 10pm, every single day. Muslim prayer is like this btw http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._positions.jpg and in Taraweeh the prayer lasts for about 7 minutes, and we do 20 prayers in total. The Imaam leads the prayer and recites the Qur'an. Taraweeh prayer is so exhausting, you're legs ache. And we don't just do taraweeh prayer we have to do the usual daily 5 prayers too (one at sunrise, one at midday, one in the afternoon, one in sunset and one prayed in conjunction with taraweh) which you have to make an effort to go mosque each time to do. Women get it easy tbh they're not obliged to go to mosque so all of their prayers are shorter and from the comfort of their own home. In Ramadan you should also regularly read the Qur'an, and although masturbation is regarded as a sin anyway it completely breaks your fast during Ramadan so you absolutely cannot do it under any circumstances during that time. You can't have sex either when fasting and stuff like swearing makes your fast 'weak" so you should avoid that too. There's a load of other things you need to avoid too. This is all for one month straight

It probably sounds like torture to you all but most Muslims are really committed during the month so it soon enough just becomes routine, some even feel at peace and enjoy it. The hours spent fasting sound harsh but that's just because this particular Ramadan takes place in July where the day is much longer.. eventually Ramadan will be in the winter months again where the fast ends at around 4pm but there's a loooong way to go til that happens (to give you an idea of how long it takes, Ramadan 2006 began in late September. so it took eight years for it to get to early June, only like 2-3 months). Here's a link to the dates actually (scroll down) http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/ramadan-begins

I admit it's hard, but it goes pretty quick and I really love how you gather with all your extended family on loads of days to break fast, it's always fun

soz for the essay :elephant:

Thank you it was worth the effort IMO. It's fascinating to read about other faiths.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anne666 (Post 6741482)

Thanks it was worth the effort IMO. Fascinating to read about other faiths.

No worries! thanks for taking the time to read it :)

To be honest I bet more people worship at the alter of IKEA on a sunday morning than any church :laugh:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cherie (Post 6740618)

You ever been to Church at Christmas Vicky? Easter and Christmas the places are heaving.

Not since my grandma dragged me when I was about 6 :laugh:

Churches might be busy, but in general these days xmas means gifts and family time, not church and jesus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zee (Post 6741253)

To be honest I feel the same way about IKEA flat pack furniture instructions but I soldier on with it regardless

:laugh2: :love:

..Salman, that was a really interesting read..(wow, disciplined..)..but I can see how good that must make you feel as well and what a sense of well being it must give you...we have a copy of the Qur'an at school although it's a children's version so I'm not sure how that differs but I've been meaning to read it and I'll try to find time in the Easter break...

..in reply to the OP, no I'm not giving anything up for lent..I'm not giving anything up just because I don't generally, not because of any religious reasons or lack of them, I just don't...

..I will say though that I know some people who have a faith and that faith does help them in times when they need it...that's sometimes interpreted by none believers as..'oh, so they're weak then..'...well no, actually they're not..they're strong enough to realise that if something you believe in/the good of it/what it stands for etc can make you a better person then none of us are above that...I also don't think that religion causes violence etc..it's people who use that religion as an excuse for their wrong doings to try and justify...

Now I got to remember what I said I would give up for the next 40 days.

I'm giving up halal and kosher food for lent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammi (Post 6742094)

Good post, sums it up nicely.

Smoking and masturbation. Finding it really tough though, because I'm a 20 a day man.

And I smoke like a chimney.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammi (Post 6742094)

As is generally the case with you Ammi, a really strong and thought inspiring post.
Your last sentence is really spot on and a powerful point.

get off the cross, we need the wood.

Youtube video

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammi (Post 6742094)

I take your well made point about religion does not cause violence its the people but sadly as violence can only be caused by people it does not add up. You could also say that drink does not cause violence, guns dont, knives dont, football does not, land rights does not etc.

Listen to any religious channel of your choice for an hour and you will soon hear a common phrase

"what this tells us, what Jesus, Allah etc is saying is" "what god is saying to us here" "what the bible/quran is telling us is"

Written literature by men being interpretated by men to suit agendas and justify means and that is the problem. Take any 1000 odd page book by any author and you can virtually bend it to justify any behavoir and that is the problem.

People over the ages learn that to become an expert in the said book will give them power, people will look up to them and the power soon corrupts and they find that they can use this power and knowledge to their advantage. Humans are not that evolved from base animals and everyone on earth seeks to feel important and to get on and make money and gain power like animals aim to climb up the pecking order at every turn.

Currently Christians and Muslims are using their book to subjugate homosexuals and women for example and muslims are using it to justify violence against who they see as infidels and so it goes on. and on and on.

As i have stated many times, no one cares what you believe or worship but keep it away from children and away from politics and life will get better. :spin::spin: