Happy Eid 1434

Happy Eid El Fetr to All People Around The World

Wish that God redeems all sins and purifies your heart like when you were born

 

Hopefully you all in a happy and peaceful Eid

Wisdom and Benefits of Ramadan Fasting

Wisdom and Benefits of Ramadan Fasting

By: Yulio Adi Candra

1.     Ramadan Fasting is one of the islamic's pillar

Ramadan fasting is one of the pillar of Islam. By fasting during Ramadan, there will be relationship between human being and God. Doing fasting in this era is considered as the absolute time to ponder one's self from the worldly duties that never ends.

Thus, fasting during ramadan is one of the particular media, not only reduce the emotion but create good bond between human being and God also.

2.     Fasting for better health

Many people do not want to do fasting because they are afraid of being sick if they do not eat and drink all day long. One thing that must be remembered is that many researches prove that fasting is one of the effective ways to increase human's health and it makes life longer. The reduction of consuming unhealthy food is one of the reason.

The possibility of doing fast during ramadan makes the digestive system take a break and it also clears up the toxic (unhealthy food) that one's consume in daily life. Thus, fasting is often voiced as healing and and tissue repair. 

3.     Strengthen the Relation of Family and Community

In daily life, it is often that one family has a difficulty to gather all members, however during this month there will be more time to get along, at leat at the time of suhur and iftar including praying together and reading Quran after Taraweh.

    

In social life, ramadan is a month that everyone shows their solidarity. For those who never meet with their     partners, they will aften gather at tarwih praying or when preparing the event of iftar together with orphans.

4.      More Thankful

There are so many people wish that they want to see the next ramadan, so there is no reason for those people to thank to God. In Islam, thankful is one of the gratefulness to God on his virtues.

The sense of grateful can be felt when one's realizes that he or she can relish the dish at suhur and iftar, do praying with healthy body, share anything with the people in need (giving alm), have a family and relatives that love each other.

5.     Learn to be more humble

When Ramadan arrives, people will realize how they depend their lives on God's blessings to survive and has humble nature. Everything people have is a surrogate of God. It will not be worth that everything we have is just for showing off, vanity, and haughty.

When one's does fasting, he or she will learn how to refrain the haughty and vanity, become a humble person, respect to others, not be selfish. Those are the aims of Islam's morals.

6.     Increase Compassion and Sharing

Eventhough one's has much money and property, however all of those are the surrogate of God that must be kept and shared to the people in need. The affection and the sense of sharing with others also become one of the important foundation in Islam.

If it is seen further, how many people who hold in hunger and starve. When one's enjoys delicious food for example, he or she will question that whether the others can relish this dish or not. He or she will realize to share the affection to others.

7.      Practice to Discipline

Count how many times in daily life you think bad to others, even voice bad remarks that directly hurt others. When ramadan arrives, one's will learn how to control him or herself from the bad thoughts and remarks. In addition, one's will learn to make him or herself to be more discipline.

8.      Learn how to live in a simple way

Islam loves beauty and simplicity. Something that's exagerrating and excessive are detested by God. During this month, one's will try to not show off of worldly, even he or she will learn that praying is the relation one's self and God and not for showing off. 

When one's can apply the simplicity in daily life excluding ramadan, life will be more comfortable. No more envy and jealousy. By simplicity, one's can be more thankful to his or her God.

source : http://yyulio.blogspot.com/2013/07/8-manfaat-dan-hikmah-indah-puasa-ramadan.html

Ramadan

The Virtues of Ramadan

          Before we go thorugh to the main discussion, we should understand what ramadan is. I’ve writen the definition of Ramadan itself to this blog, so I may not talk too much about it. Well, this is the theorem of Ramadan based on HR. Khuzaimah “Ramadan is a month which is full of patience and the return is heaven. Ramadan is a month of compensation that Allah opens the gate of blessings widely. For those who give any food to the fasting people, they will be forgiven for their sins and freed from the shackle of the hell and also they will be given blessing which is same as those fasting people without decreasing the blessing of  those people.”

           Here are some virtues of ramadan, eventhough there are still many virtues during this month.

1. The appearance of Leylat El Qadr that is much better than nights of thousand months. Usually this night is sigened by the comfort that is sensed different from the other nights, the night looks lighter and no rain. During this night, we are recommended to pray due to the great blessing that we will get. This night is only one time and available in ramadan, however some theologians voice that Leylat El Qadr occurs among the dates of  23rd, 25th,27th,and 29th.

2. The second is that being shackled to all the seniors of demonds and devils. In this month, we have a little bit freedom from those things. By shackling those evil creatures, people have no doubt to do good and wise things during ramadan.

3. The next is Allah opens all the gates of heaven and closes the gate of the hell. It will be the good thing that all of our prays will be accepted by Allah. Out of ramadan, this thing only happens on Monday and Thursday.

4. During this day, sleeping is counted to be a pray. As far as we know, sleeping means a lazy guy. But during this month, it is not. However do not be too much, it is better reading Quran than too much sleeping.

5. The next is that every breath is counted as a tasbih (Franco : Tsbee7). We never stop breathing everyday and for these special days, Allah will make our single breathe as a tasbih. What a great blessing!

6. The sixth is that our prays will be multiplied a thousand time by Allah. Thus, during this month, increasing the worship such as giving alm/sadaqoh (franco: sada2), etc. It will be very great. Every alm that we give, it is multiplied as 1000 blessings. The great amount that we have during ramadan.

source: https://lalumakan.wordpress.com/2013/06/28/keutamaan-bulan-ramadhan/

The Ways that Rasul Did during Ramadhan

The Ways that Rasul Did during Ramadhan

            Ramadhan is a holy month which is full of blessing and virtue. Muslims are recommended to gain its virtues as much as possible. If we expand a little further on what Rasul did in ramadhan. We will find some ways such as:

1. He always beetles to fulfill and do all virtues, like praying in Jamea way, sonnah, giving alm, reading Quran, etc. He voiced “if the first night of ramadhan is coming, all satans and jinns are shackled. The gate of hell is closed and the gate of heaven is open widely.It is also voiced: To all people who crave much blessing and virtue, come and get it! And to all who do not want it, just be lazy!” (Imam Al-Turmuzi).

2. Narrated by Salman, that some day at the begining of Shaban, Rasul voiced “To all of his followers, having come to you all the great month, full of blessings, there is a night that is better than a thousand month inside ramadhan, it is an obligatory to do fasting, and is recommened to liven up its night. So anyone who does the virtues during this month , as if he/she does a command in another month and anyone who does a compulsory worhip, as if he /she does  70 times its obligatory in another month.” That’s the blessing of doing sonnah worship that its virtue is same as doing a compulsory worship, while the compulsory worship itself will be multiplied as 70 times of virtues.

3. He (Rasul) is very generous. He like to give alm and also give food to the fasting person. Narrated by Imam Al-Bokhary that Rasul is the one who is the most bountiful mainly in Ramadhan. It is depicted that he is just like soft breeze, carrying much blessing and sowing happiness to all muslims.

He is also depicted that he is very large-hearted, even he never denies any demand that submitted to him.

4. He did much prayer mainly when he is about to break the fast. He voiced that it is the right time to do prayer (read surrahs, Quran, etc) when iftar is about to come. And the prayer that he did is that he said “Ya Allah, just because of you, I do fasting and through your blessings, I do iftar. Having gone the thrist, however I am still thristy of your blessings and virtues Ya Allah.”

5. He always did tadarus (reading Quran). Every single night, Jibril always came to meet him and read Quran together. The wisdom of his tadarus is that persuading his followers to read Quran, particularly everytime in Ramadhan or in the night after doing night prayer or tahajud.

6. Rasul increased his prayer mainly at the last ten days of ramadhan, it was done to gain the night of Laitalul Qadar. Abu Hurairah narrated that Rasul voiced “anyone who does prayer during this night with full of loyality and hope, Allah will pardon the sins that he/she has done.” As we know that doing prayer during this night, it is same as we do prayer during thousand months. And the most prayer that is voiced is that Ya Allah , you are the great merciful, bountiful and also forgiving. So forgive all my mistakes and sins Ya Allah.

Narrated that anyone who does maghrib and Isha prayer together (Jamea) at the night of Lailatul Qadar, he/she has got largely of virtue of Lailatul Qadar. Another narration said that anyone who does prayer Isha together at the night of Lailatul Qadar, he/she has completed a half of its night and anyone who does prayer together to its Subuh, he /she has completed fully the night of Lailatul Qadar.

            Those are all things that Rasul did during Ramadhan which is basically, he taught all of his followers to be more serious to gain the virtues such as doing the obedient, prayer, etc mainly social worship like helping another one, decreasing one’s burden of life, giving alm to an orphan. Besides it, Rasul taught his followers to avoid and get away of the deed of munkar, makruh, mubah and haram. Even he advised his followers that anyone who does not leave his bad and dirty deeds, his/her fast is useless, he/she does not gain anything except thrist and starve. Thus the way Allah multipies our acts of worship.

http://www.pesantrenvirtual.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1011:jejak-rasulullah-saw-dalam-menyambut-bulan-suci-ramadhan&catid=15:pengajian&Itemid=63

Mar7ba Ya Ramadan

Mar7ba Ya Ramadan

Welcome Ramadan 1434 and Happy Ramadan to All People Around the World

Wishing that This Month is Full of Blessings and Virtues

Amin

Happy Adha, October 2012

Happy Adha!

That was the greatest event I'd ever spent with those kids.

They were very enthusiastic and cheerful. At the first time I came there, the place was very quiet, I didn't even see any kid. However when the Eid was about to come, at the night before it I heard little laughters. The angels appeared from afar with their parents to visit the mosque where I was. I saw their innocent faces covered by happiness. They hailed the name of God while bringing their little torchs and as arriving there we had fun during that night. They came to listen religious speech delivered by my friend. While the parents were listening to it, the kids played together at the front yard of the mosque and I joined them. I just saw the innocence with no burden of life. It seemed I went back to my childhood.

After the night gone, the rising of noon appeared. we all celebrated that big day by slaughtering some goats. While the adults were doing it, My friends and I held some games for the kids related to Adha. They were so spunky that we got difficulty to control them, but it was the most beautiful moment I spent during the Eid. The kids competed themselves to get the prize.

That day was full of glory, I wish I can do that again with the angels for next time.

I love you all.

The Ways to Celebrate Muharam and Messiah

New year is the turn of the year which is identical with the celebration and party. It is done to welcome the new year which is going to come and say good bye to the last year. Especially in Indonesia, people are enthusiastic to greet the new year by holding such kinds of celebration like party, dinner, or blowing a trumpet at mid night. On the other hand, there is another new year for muslims, it is called as Muharram. In Indonesia of which the people are majorly moslems, they celebrate Muharram in different ways, although the Messiah is not less interesting. There are some kinds of celebrating both new years in Indonesia.

Many people especially in Indonesia celebrate the Messiah by going outside with partners or friends and having fun. Most teenagers go outside with their partners or friends joining the party or festival that is held in certain places. It is because the festival is held only one time in new year eve, moreover such kind of this celebration is very populer in Indonesia like in Yogyakarta city.  They go to the town square and spend the whole night until the turn of the year comes. Not only teenagers who go out for having fun, but it also happens with families. They often choose to have dinner together, it purposes to make their relationship between all family members get closer especially for those who live in capital city. Most of them have career and business, it rarely happens that they can have dinner together like in the new year eve due to they are busy with their jobs. The celebration then continued by having trumpets together at mid night to welcome the new year and say good bye to the late year. It is purposed to start the new lives and a wish that they should be better than what they did in last year. Not only trumpets, but it can be also having fireworks party. Some say that it is better to celebrate new eve by doing so, because it will not be forgotten during the their lives.

Similarly, the celebration between Messiah and Muharam can be alsmost the same. However, in celebrating muharram, people do fasting. It is sunah for muslims to do fasting in Muharam, because God will give them much more bless during their lives. “Seutama-utama puasa setelah Ramadaan ialah puasa di bulan Muharram.” (HR. Muslim no. 1163) It can be interpreted that after fasting in Ramadhan (the main fasting), the first sunah is fasitng in Muharam. It is the first sunah after ramdhan. So fasting in Muharam is the first sunah between the other fastings.

Another thing is that in Muharam, the celebration can be done by fireworks or having trumpets and vacation also. In this case, people can celebrate it while visiting poor people in a certain place or in orphanage and doing social service. These things are very wise jobs. Besides it, Ulamas say that Muharam is a month for fatherless children. Giving alms to the people who are less than us is much more valuable than spending money for nothing. In celebrating Muharam, it can be also by having trumpets and fireworks with them, we can feel the happiness each other and moreover, it is useful for the relationship between muslims regardless the gaps between them. It is like a thank to God for the rich that they are given anough sustenance. The celebration will be more valuable and unforgettable by doing useful things.

Based on the paragraphs above, it can be compared that the celebration of both new years are not much different. In messiah most people spend their money for going outside and celebtaring party or dinner. It is what most people do to make the new year to be unforgettable and luxurious. However, in Muharam, people can spend money for helping the poor, it is a thankfulness for God on his bless and still remember the people who still need us. Moreover, it can also build the social care and also loyality in a society. In additon, doing vacation during the holiday of new year is also good. People do this to refresh their minds and ready to start the new life. Another hand, In Muharram, people can also visit an orphanage to celebrate the new year. It is very gerat job that they can also astablish the relation between ecah other. Because all moslems are brothers.

So in Muharam, many things can be done to make it meaningful and also the messiah. The celebrations are for commemorating the new years which only come one time during a year. Although the celebrations are little bit different but they both go in balance. 

The Celebration of Eid El-Fetr in Indonesia and Egypt

Eid El-Fetr is a Muslims’ big day in the world. This day is very important to celebrate, because it is the day which marks the end of the Ramadhan (Fasting days). Eid-El Fetr is also called as the feast day of breaking the fast. During this day, all muslims are not allowed to do fasting, because they have been fasting for a month before this day falls. Therefore, this day falls at the first of Syawal (Islamic Calendar). This big day is also identical with a festival which is purposed to celebrate the winning day for the muslims, due to they have been fasting started from the dawn until the sunset. For muslims, this is the day to show the main goal of their unities. In some countries, like Indonesia and Egypt, the festivals can be similar due to they have a strong relationship between the other muslims or society in their cultures. These are the similarities of Eid celebration in both countries.

In Indonesia, around the three or two days before Eid, the road, harbor, and airport become crowded. All people who are far away from their families, because of their jobs or careers, come home to meet their parents and celebrate Eid together. This is like a loyality that Indonesians have by celebrating Eid in their childhood place with their extended families. They think that it is better than doing it alone after long time they never meet each other. They also bring some presents, commonly food, for their parents or even for given to their neighborhoods or relatives, some of them buy some new clothes especially for children and women or wives. During the night before Eid or Eid eve, all people go to the Mosque including women and children. Usually in a village, women cook at noon for Eid then they leave home at night together with the other women to the Eid eve for cooking near the mosque. Then, men celebrate the Eid eve by saying The Great Allah by using microphone inside the mosque. For children, they usually celebrate the Eid eve by bringing the torchs or lamps, walking around the village and saying The Great Allah together with some men guide them and give them some candies during the walk. Afterward, they come back to the mosque with the men. Woman then then give them food and eat together while listening to the speech held by a spokesman. Then, on the day of Eid, people go to a wide field to do an Eid prayer at the morning. After the prayer ends, they go home for eating or taking a rest for a while. In this case based on Indonesian culture, every family asks for the redemption each other. The children will say to their parents an apologize of whether they do any mistake during their lives and so do the parents. It purposes that in Eid, everyone is like reborn with their innocence like a baby who is just given birth, no sins and just like a white paper. Then they continue it by visiting their relatives and neighbors, mainly the young visits to the old, like a family visits to their grandparents. After all, Usually the Eid celebration is continued by vacation to some places with family during the holiday. Then they go back to their jobs and careers, for those whose jobs far from the family, the road will be crowded again as their departures.

In Egypt, during the days before Eid, there will be more crowded because most egyptians like celebrating eid with their relatives. Egyptian people have a strong relationship among their societies. So that for those who live far away from their neighborhood, they come home to celebrate Eid. Some of them also buy some new clothes for presents such as men usually give their wives clothes for Eid. Then wives usually cook something at home, sweet food and the famous food of Eid called Fesekh. Especially the ten days before Eid, some men go to mosque for praying, even they do not go home although just for a while. Said, an egyptian man, usually goes to the mosque on the days before Eid to do I’tikaf until the last day before Eid, then he goes home for celebrating the Eid eve with his family. Then during the night before Eid, some children often celebrate the Eid eve by playing fireworks and firecrackers. Mostly they do not sleep until the Eid comes while the wives are preparing their clothes and food for Eid. As the day of Eid, they go for praying in wide land but not often, for Eid prayer. After it ends, some people greet each other and mostly say Happy eid (Eid Mbarak), however, some say happy eid and wish that they can celebrate eid together next year. (Said Hamdy Al-Sharef, Email interview, 2013). Implicitly, it means that they wish to be given a long life by Allah so that they can celebrate Eid together next year. Some people usually visit to their relatives to greet them happy eid and for children, they are given some money to spend the holiday during Eid.(Omar Abd El-Hamied Mohammed, Email interview,2013). It can be meant that based on the culture of Egypt, most people care and wish to be the best for each other during the Eid. Then the final session of this celebration, children or family go to some places such as going to the parks, cinemas, or visiting Neil as the last of their holiday (from wikipedia).

By the two paragraphs above, they can be compared that similarly, the celebration of Eid El-Fetr of both countries is not much different. The days before Eid, there will be crowded due to the visit of people who want to celebrate Eid with their relatives in neighborhoods. Then, also the celebration during Eid eve is similar, in Egypt, women cook something at home while in Indonesia, women cook something at home in the afternoon until evenin. After the preparation of food finishes, they go to the mosque at night to cook together for celebrating Eid eve. The kids also playing together with their torchs and fireworks in both countries. In Egypt, After the Eid prayer ends, they give a happy eid or eid mubarak to each other, while in Indonesia, it is continued by asking for redemption each other among the relatives. Then afterward, as the last of their celebration, they usually go to some places for vacation, it happens to both countires.

It can be concluded that in celebrating the day of Eid, it might be similar to one and another due to both of the countries likes to celebrate Eid with their relatives. It means that they have a strong relationship in society. Then, the purpose is just one, it is to celebrate the big day of Muslims after they do fasting for a month and commemorate it by holding such kinds of celebrations.