[Aaron757]

I break fast with a date and some savouries. Every day is 2 or 3 different savouries and ranges anything from the common samoosas to the lavish cutlets and others whose names I've given up trying to pronounce.

Maghrib salaah.

Then comes the meal, which I almost always skip as I have an unsettling penchant for sweet foods. The meal comes accompanied with one 'sweet' item. Daintera, Biscotti, etc.

Finally, there's dessert. Firni, Gateax's, etc. and, this is, for me, the main meal.

Sehri is usually tea, a roti and some biscuits. Sometimes we get badaam milk, etc.

I make shukr to Allah that we are blessed enough to have food on the table.

[ThzinChang]

I break fast with a date and some savouries. Every day is 2 or 3 different savouries and ranges anything from the common samoosas to the lavish cutlets and others whose names I've given up trying to pronounce.

Maghrib salaah.

Then comes the meal, which I almost always skip as I have an unsettling penchant for sweet foods. The meal comes accompanied with one 'sweet' item. Daintera, Biscotti, etc.

Finally, there's dessert. Firni, Gateax's, etc. and, this is, for me, the main meal.

Sehri is usually tea, a roti and some biscuits. Sometimes we get badaam milk, etc.

I make shukr to Allah that we are blessed enough to have food on the table.

Ameen x3

[baskentt]

Is it really part of the spirit of Ramadhan to have so many savouries and lavish foods?

[lesso73]

uncle muadh these south africans man they live a luxurious life compared to us... many servents, always having bbqs etc... mashallah may ALLAH bless the south africans and the rest of the ummah ameen.... I've always found south africans to be a jolly bunch of guys....

Asslamo Allaikum,

Agreed....


South Africans are Jolly with a very good sense of humour, Masha'Allah

Good people to have around, Masha'Allah

Its just their Accent is bloody annoying, Only if South Africans could speak English, communication would be a damn side easier.

[MichaelfromSpace]

The reality is that most muslims go out of there way to make nice things in Ramadhaan, this will never stop

Unless it becomes a barrier to ibadat nobody will speak out against it

[Kthzltje]

Asslamo Allaikum,

Agreed....


South Africans are Jolly with a very good sense of humour, Masha'Allah

Good people to have around, Masha'Allah

Its just their Accent is bloody annoying, Only if South Africans could speak English, communication would be a damn side easier.

I found SAers to be as jolly as anyone else, to be honest.

I agree with the accent. After five years I am still trying to understand some. KZN accent I pretty much understand now.. PE accent goes over my head. Jozy accent isn't too hard to understand..

Anyway, back to the topic.
The reality is that most muslims go out of there way to make nice things in Ramadhaan, this will never stop

Unless it becomes a barrier to ibadat nobody will speak out against it

And a person can do loads of dhikr while preparing food.

[P3bWjm1j]

Asslamo Allaikum,

Agreed....


South Africans are Jolly with a very good sense of humour, Masha'Allah

Good people to have around, Masha'Allah

Its just their Accent is bloody annoying, Only if South Africans could speak English, communication would be a damn side easier.

Slm,

What's wrong with our accent/way we speak English?

Wslm,

[PaulCameron]

Is it really part of the spirit of Ramadhan to have so many savouries and lavish foods?

Lets say that without it, the women folk would brood and mope around. And the women folk generally tend to be the glue at home. They keep the family connected in a way the male members cannot.

Then again, I suppose you could say that it's a South African thing. Extravagant foods are part of and parcel of our Ramadhaan's.

And, while I do not condone lavish feasts, Allah has provided, so we express gratitude and partake of the bounties Allah has bestowed upon us.

Asslamo Allaikum,

Agreed....


South Africans are Jolly with a very good sense of humour, Masha'Allah

Good people to have around, Masha'Allah

Its just their Accent is bloody annoying, Only if South Africans could speak English, communication would be a damn side easier.

I honestly smiled a big smile when I read this. We think the Brits speak rubbish. In fact, one day a debate broke out in class and a somewhat furious SA bloke went rummaging through his books and the internet, and finally produced an authentic article that declared South Africa higher than the UK in terms of the level of English quality based on accent, usage etc.
However, we are still considered to speak a dialect of English.

But, accents aside, anytime you guys are down here, do let us know. Time allowing, it would be great to socialise a bit. We can poke fun at each other's accents, yeah?

[HotboTgameR]

The reality is that most muslims go out of there way to make nice things in Ramadhaan, this will never stop

Like many other things, its a matter of educating the masses.

Unless it becomes a barrier to ibadat nobody will speak out against it Its also an issue of killing the desires as much as anything else.

[wvbwxol]

Our falooda recipe comes straight out of the Indian delights with cat eyes (tukmooria) and all....


Otherwise in Joburg and Durban you can drive staright to your nearest Kulfi Ice Cream outlet and they have ready made falooda. The green one and the strawberry one

I come from a family who owns 5 butcheries and we love our meat so we Braai often......

[zoppereurvito]

I come from a family who owns 5 butcheries and we love our meat so we Braai often......

Braai. From among the thoughts that make your fast makrooh.

[JetePlentuara]

The reality is that most muslims go out of there way to make nice things in Ramadhaan, this will never stop

Unless it becomes a barrier to ibadat nobody will speak out against it

Asslamo Allaikum,

Brother Ali has a very important point, the object of this month should be to try to subjugate the Nafs.

This is my goal for this year's Ramadhan to NOT EAT much and see how far I can push myself; something I am trying to see what happens

[egexgfczc]

The reality is that most muslims go out of there way to make nice things in Ramadhaan, this will never stop

Unless it becomes a barrier to ibadat nobody will speak out against it

salaam brother
i just wanted to pick out a quote on your previous post
but id appreciate the help from anyone else
how do muslims go out their way to make things nice in ramadhan?
its just a general question
ive noticed this but id just like to understand what you mean by that

to me and my family ramadhan is a simple every day thing

i think muslims dont realise that their fasting because others dont have this kind of luxury so they load up on food at iftar.

i mean how often have our parents told us that we are fasting because their are people that are starving and Allah would like us to remember that?

wsalaam.

[maxtp]

Lets say that without it, the women folk would brood and mope around. And the women folk generally tend to be the glue at home. They keep the family connected in a way the male members cannot.

Ramadhaan is the month for Ibaadah. Everyone, both men and women should be encouraged to perform as much worship as possible instead of being engaged in activities that may not be so beneficial or necessary. Then again, maybe its just my conservative attitude towards things.

Then again, I suppose you could say that it's a South African thing. Extravagant foods are part of and parcel of our Ramadhaan's.
It happens everywhere, unfortunately.

And, while I do not condone lavish feasts, Allah has provided, so we express gratitude and partake of the bounties Allah has bestowed upon us. Allah provides throughout the entire year. Why do we make it a point to go the extra mile in satisfying our nafs in Ramadhaan when in this month, we are supposed to do the opposite?

[Kryfamid]

Like many other things, its a matter of educating the masses.

Its also an issue of killing the desires as much as anything else.

Personally, I do not see it necessary to do away with some savories etc. (obviously overdoing it is another thing) What is permissible is left permissible. Allah tasked us to refrain from all the halal foods etc in the day time. Allah in His immense hikmah knows that many, rather most of us cannot do away with the leisure of halal tayyab food. Hence we have fast from dawn to dusk.

Those who can reduce in their food intake are indeed of higher spirituality and taqwa, but we cannot impose that on to the masses.

In some khanqah in India they would serve Pulao for sehri. I would think that is lavish too, but in the end it will all depend on what the urf of the place is.

I had just translated something from Maulana Thanvi r.a's talks on Ramadhan. Perhaps you can check that out. We shouldn't become so strict on the masses too.
http://qafila.wordpress.com/2009/08/...ing-ramadhaan/

As for the issue of suppressing desires, then it is not mahdood to Ramadhan. Sufiyaa practiced qillat ta'aam throughout the year. The subjugation of nafs is prevalent in every aspect not only in food. This is why many of our senior Shuyukh mention that the aspect of qillat ta'am has been laxed, and more focus is sought in the other avenues. The avenues of ibadat in Ramadhan is not restricted..

[antiggill]

I feel as if a woman making food for iftaar is being downplayed for not doing extra ibaadaat... when in fact if niyyat is correct and she remembers Allah/makes du'aa/ recites Qur'aan from memory while making the food, not only will she be rewarded, but the food will be filled with baraka, . A person who feeds a fasting person gets the reward of a perfect fast.

Let's keep this thread light-hearted rather than making it into an academic/spiritual issue. I doubt anyone does not want to be spiritually uplifted in Ramadhaan. But, not everyone is at the same level of taqwa. For many, it is enough that they are actually fasting.

[Weislenalkata]

Allah provides throughout the entire year. Why do we make it a point to go the extra mile in satisfying our nafs in Ramadhaan when in this month, we are supposed to do the opposite?

I would say that is a personal preference. I see my Father in Law fasting Mon and thursday throughout the year and he still has his pakoras after iftaar. This not being lavish or anything. It just a feel of being content with the ibadaat one does. Someone may like to keep it all stern and strict, while other may like to keep it in a more lively manner.

Before Mufti Desai db. left for England this year he gave an advice to on of the workers at Iftaa not to strain himself in extra ibadaat, muraqabas or those things, rather use that time in the office and have the proper sincere niyah of ibadah. The ibadah. he said, which the person would do spending time in office is very very rewarding.

I think women can enjoy making bhajiyas/pakoras and samosa as long as they make khuloos niyah of doing ibadah while they do it. Serving the family for the pleasure of Allah is indeed an ibadah. Overdoing in it, or anything else is obviously another issue. Also I would say that all that should be avoided is making it the SOLE purpose of ramadhan. Perhaps that is what you were referring to.

[BoattyGonm]

Iftaar time we have khajoor and water, pray Maghrib, then have a proper meal, we are trying not to have too much fried stuff this year.

[CreativeSuiteDown]

@Ali - You make good points, but, alhamdulillah, ibaadat is never sacrificed. For example between Iftaar and Taraweeh I can comfortably complete one para.

Also, the women folk tend to cramp in as much ibadat as possible in this month. For example, my mother is close to one khatam already and I haven't seen her hand barren from a tasbeeh.
That's why the savouries etc. are all prepared before Ramadhaan. Food preparation, and, consumption time is downed to a minimum despite the hordes of food that are available.

And, like brother Abu Hajira stated, it's a matter of urf.

@sudoku - Agreed. My brother is performing Taraweeh in Namibia and he says that people smoke during roza, fast when they feel like it.
I'd also prefer this thread see a light-hearted approach as far as possible.

I'd like some assistance. I've been asked to give a short tafsir program in one of our local masajid after taraweeh namaaz. Now I have part of Ma'ariful Quraan (from where I will derive a brief introduction of the compilation, etc. of the Quraan.) and Tafseer Uthmani. I have Jalalain as well, though I do, unfortunately have difficulty extracting the gist of what was read during the night from Jalalain Shareef in comparison to the above kitaabs.

Any pointers?
If I recall correctly Mufti Desai Saheb compiled a Ramadhaan specific tafsir kitaab.

[Malinguenem]

Asslamo Allaikum,

1 date (if not around) then glass of Water.

Pray Maghrib

Eat proper food (whatever is around).

I personally absolutely dislike eating elaborate Iftaar because it means burdening the women-folk who are also fasting and even if its not a burden they should spend their time in Ibaadah rather then wasting their time in cooking and making food.

But then I am weird because most people like a million different things

i do exactly the same
have 1 date
read my maghrib
then come back sit down and eat whats there ...