Address by H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. President of the Islamic Republic of Iran before the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. (New York - 23 September 2011).

 

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

   

"All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe, and peace and blessing be upon our Master and Prophet, Mohammad, and his pure Household, and his noble Companions and on all divine messengers"

   

"Oh, God, hasten the arrival of Imam Al- Mahdi and grant him good health and victory and make us his followers and those who attest to his rightfulness"

 

***********************************************************

 

Mr. President,

 

Excellencies,

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

   

I am grateful to the Almighty Allah who granted me, once more, the opportunity to appear before this world assembly. I have the pleasure to express my sincere thanks to H.E. Joseph Deiss, president of the sixty-fifth session for his tremendous efforts during his tenure. I also would like to congratulate H.E Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on his election as the president of sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly and wish him all success.

   

Let me seize the moment to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the past year, particularly to the victims of the tragic famine in Somalia and the devastating flood in Pakistan and especially the earthquake and the ensuing explosions in the nuclear power plant in Japan. I urge everyone to intensify their assistance and aid to the affected populations in these countries.

   

Over the past years, I spoke about different global issues, and the need to introduce fundamental changes in the current international order.

 

- Today, considering the international developments, I will try to analyze the present situation from a different angle.

 

- As you all know the dominance and superiority of human beings over other creatures, lie in the very nature and the truth of humankind which is a divine gift and a manifestation of the divine spirit including:

 

- faith in God, who is the ever-lasting creator and planner of the entire universe.

 

- Showing compassion to others, generosity, justice-seeking, and having integrity both in words and in deeds.

 

- The quest for dignity to reach the pinnacles of perfection, the aspiration to elevate one’s material and spiritual status, and the longing to realize liberty;

 

- Defying oppression, corruption, and discrimination in trying to support the oppressed;

 

- Seeking happiness, and lasting prosperity and security for all;

 

- These are some of the manifestations of common divine and human attributes which can clearly be seen in the historical aspirations of human beings as reflected in the heritage of our search for art and literary works both in prose and poetry, and in the socio-cultural and political movements of human beings in the course of history;

 

- All divine prophets and social reformers invited human beings to tread on this righteous path;

 

- God has given dignity to humankind to elevate his status to assume his successor role on Earth;

   

Dear Colleagues and friends;

 

- It is vividly clear that despite all historical achievements, including creation of the United-Nations, which was a product of untiring struggles and efforts of free-minded and justice-seeking individuals as well as the international cooperation, human societies are yet far from fulfilling their noble desires and aspirations;

 

- Most nations of the world are unhappy with the current international circumstances;

 

- And despite the general longing and aspiration to promote peace, progress, and fraternity, wars, mass-murder, widespread poverty, and socioeconomic and political crises continue to infringe upon the rights and sovereignty of nations, leaving behind irreparable damage worldwide;

 

- Approximately, three billion people of the world live on less than 2.5 dollars a day, and over a billion people live without having even one sufficient meal on a daily basis;

 

- Forty-percent of the poorest world populations only share five percent of the global income, while twenty percent of the richest people share seventy-five percent of the total global income.

 

- More than twenty thousand innocent and destitute children die every day in the world because of poverty.

 

- In the United States, eighty percent of financial resources are controlled by ten percent of its population, while only twenty percent of these resources belong to the ninety percent of the population.

 

- What are the causes and reasons behind these inequalities? How can bone remedy such injustice?

 

- The rulers of the global management circles divide the social life from ethics and spirituality while claiming the situation is the outcome of the pursuit of the path of divine prophets or the vulnerability of nations or the ill performance of a few groups or individuals. They claim that only their views and approaches can save the human society.

   

Dear Colleagues and friends;

 

- Wouldn't you think that the root cause of the problems must be sought in the prevailing international order, or the way the world is governed?

 

I would like to draw your kind attention to the following questions:

 

- Who abducted forcefully tens of millions of people from their homes in Africa and other regions of the world during the dark period of slavery , making them a victim of their materialistic greed.

 

- Who imposed colonialism for over four centuries upon this world. Who occupied lands and massively plundered resources of other nations, destroyed talents, and alienated languages, cultures and identities of nations?

 

- Who triggered the first and second world wars, that left seventy millions killed and hundreds of millions injured or homeless. Who created the wars in Korean peninsula and in Vietnam?

 

- Who imposed, through deceits and hypocrisy, the Zionism and over sixty years of war, homelessness, terror and mass murder on the Palestinian people and on countries of the region?

 

- Who imposed and supported for decades military dictatorship and totalitarian regimes on Asian, African, and Latin American nations.

 

- Who used nuclear bomb against defenseless people, and stockpiled thousands of warheads in their arsenals?

 

- Whose economies rely on waging wars and selling arms?

 

- Who provoked and encouraged Saddam Hussein to invade and impose an eight-year war on Iran, and who assisted and equipped him to deploy chemical weapons against our cities and our people.

 

- Who used the mysterious September 11 incident as a pretext to attack Afghanistan and Iraq , killing, injuring, and displacing millions in two countries with the ultimate goal of bringing into its domination the Middle East and its oil resources?

 

- Who nullified the Breton Woods system by printing trillions of dollars without the backing of gold reserves or equivalent currency? A move that triggered inflation worldwide and was intended to prey on the economic gains of other nations.

 

- Which country’s military spending exceeds annually a thousand billion dollars, more than the military budgets of all countries of the world combined?

 

- Which governments are the most indebted ones in the world?

 

- Who dominates the policy-making establishments of the world economy?

 

- Who are responsible for the world economic recession, and are imposing the consequences on America, Europe and the world in general?

 

- Which governments are always ready to drop thousands of bombs on other countries, but ponder and hesitate to provide aid to famine-stricken people in Somalia or in other places?

 

- Who are the ones dominating the Security Council which is ostensibly responsible for safeguarding the international security?

 

- There exist tens of other similar questions. Of course, the answers are clear.

 

- The majority of nations and governments of the world have had no role in the creation of the current global crises, and as a matter of fact, they were themselves the victims of such policies.

 

- It is as lucid as daylight that the same slave masters and colonial powers that once instigated the two world wars have caused widespread misery and disorder with far-reaching effects across the globe since then.

   

Dear Colleagues and Friends;

 

- Do these arrogant powers really have the competence and ability to run or govern the world. Is it acceptable that they call themselves the sole defender of freedom, democracy, and human rights, while they militarily attack and occupy other countries?

 

- Can the flower of democracy blossom from NATO’s missiles, bombs and guns?

   

Ladies and Gentlemen;

 

- If some European countries still use the Holocaust, after six decades, as the excuse to pay fine or ransom to the Zionists, should it not be an obligation upon the slave masters or colonial powers to pay reparations to the affected nations?

 

- If the damage and losses of the period of slavery and colonialism were indeed compensated, what would happen to the manipulators and behind-the-scene political powers in the United States and in Europe? Would there remain any gaps between the North and the South?

 

- If only half of military expenditures of the United States and its allies in NATO was shifted to help solve the economic problems in their own countries, would they be witnessing any symptom of the economic crisis?

 

- What would happen, if the same amount was allocated to poor nations?

 

- What is the justification for the presence of hundreds of US military and intelligence bases in different parts of the world, including 268 bases in Germany, 124 in Japan, 87 in South Korea, 83 in Italy, 45 in the United-Kingdom, and 21 in Portugal? Does this mean anything other than military occupation?

 

- Don’t the bombs deployed in the said bases undermine the security of other nations?

   

Ladies and Gentlemen;

 

- The main question is the quest for the root cause of such attitudes.

 

- The prime reason should be sought in the beliefs and tendencies of the establishment.

 

- An assembly of people in contradiction with the inner human instincts and disposition who also have no faith in God and in the path of the divine prophets, replace their lust for power and materialistic ends with heavenly values.

 

- To them, only power and wealth prevail, and every attempt must bring into focus these sinister goals.

 

- Oppressed nations have no hope to restore or protect their legitimate rights against these powers.

 

- These powers seek their progress, prosperity and dignity through imposing poverty, humiliation and annihilation to others.

 

- They consider themselves superior to others, enjoying special privileges and concessions. They have no respect for others and easily violate the rights of all nations and governments.

 

- They proclaim themselves as the indisputable custodians of all governments and nations through intimidation, recourse to threat and force, and abuse the international mechanisms. They simply break all the internationally recognized regulations.

 

- They insist on imposing their lifestyle and beliefs on others.

 

- They officially support racism.

 

- They weaken countries through military intervention, and destroy their infrastructures, in order to plunder their resources by making them all the more dependent.

 

- They sow the seeds of hate and hostility among nations and people of different pursuits, in order to prevent them from fulfilling their goals of development and progress.

 

- All cultures, identities, lives, values and wealth of nations, women, youth, families as well as the wealth of nations are sacrificed to their imperialistic tendencies and their inclination to enslave and captivate others.

 

- Hypocrisy and deceit are allowed in order to secure their interests and imperialistic goals. Drug- trafficking and killing of innocent human beings are also allowed in pursuit of such diabolic goals. Despite NATO’s presence in the occupied Afghanistan, there has been a dramatic increase in the production of illicit drugs there.

 

- They tolerate no question or criticism, and instead of presenting a reason for their violations, they always put themselves in the position of a claimant.

 

- By using their imperialistic media network which is under the influence of colonialism they threaten anyone who questions the Holocaust and the September 11 event with sanctions and military action.

 

- Last year, when the need to form a fact-finding team to undertake a thorough investigation concerning the hidden elements involved in September 11 incident was brought up; an idea also endorsed by all independent governments and nations as well as by the majority in the United States, my country and myself came under pressure and threat by the government of the United States.

 

- Instead of assigning a fact-finding team, they killed the main perpetrator and threw his body into the sea.

 

- Would it not have been reasonable to bring to justice and openly bring to trial the main perpetrator of the incident in order to identify the elements behind the safe space provided for the invading aircraft to attack the twin world trade towers?

 

- Why should it not have been allowed to bring him to trial to help recognize those who launched terrorist groups and brought wars and other miseries into the region?

 

- Is there any classified information that must be kept secret?

 

- They view Zionism as a sacred notion and ideology. Any question concerning its very foundation and history is condemned by them as an unforgivable sin. However they endorse and allow sacrileges and insult against beliefs of other divine religions.

   

Dear Colleagues and Friends;

 

- Real freedom, justice,, dignity, well being, and lasting security are the rights of all nations.

 

- These values can neither be achieved by reliance on the current inefficient system of world governance, nor through the invasion of the world by arrogant powers and the gun barrels of NATO forces.

 

- These values could only be realized through independence and recognition of others’ rights and through harmony and cooperation.

 

- Is there any way to address the problems and challenges besetting the world by using the prevailing international mechanisms and tools to help humanity achieve the long-standing aspiration of peace, security and equality?

 

- All those who tried to introduce reforms whilst preserving the existing norms and tendencies have failed. The valuable efforts made by the Non-Aligned movement and Group 77 and Group15 as well as by some prominent individuals have failed to bring fundamental changes.

 

- Governance and management of the world require fundamental reforms.

 

- What should be done now?

   

Dear Colleagues and Friends;

 

- Efforts must be made with a firm resolve and through collective cooperation to map out a new plan, on the basis of principles and the very foundation of universal human values such as Monotheism, justice, freedom, love and the quest for happiness.

 

- The idea of creation of the United Nations remains a great and historical achievement of mankind. Its importance must be appreciated and its capacities must be used to the extent possible for our noble goals.

 

- We should not allow this organization which is the reflection of the collective will and shared aspiration of the community of nations, to deviate from its main course and play into the hands of the world powers.

 

- Conducive ground must be prepared to ensure collective participation and involvement of nations in an effort to promote lasting peace and security.

 

- Shared and collective management of the world must be achieved in its true sense, and based on the underlying principles enshrined in the international law. Justice must serve as the criterion and the basis for all international decisions and actions.

 

- All of us should acknowledge the fact that there is no other way than the shared and collective management of the world in order to put an end to the present disorders, tyranny, and discriminations worldwide.

 

- This is indeed the sole way to prosperity and welfare of human society which is an established and vivid truth.

 

- While acknowledging the above truth, one should note that acknowledgement alone is not enough. We must believe in it and spare no effort toward its realization.

   

Dear Colleagues and Friends;

 

- Shared and collective management of the world is the legitimate right of all nations, and we as their representatives, have an obligation to defend their rights. Although some powers continuously try to frustrate all international efforts aimed at promoting collective cooperation, we must, however, strengthen our belief in achieving the perceived goal of establishing a shared and collective cooperation to run the world.

 

- The United Nations was created to make effective participation of all nations in international decision-making processes, possible.

 

- We all know that this goal has not yet been fulfilled because of the absence of justice in the current management structures and mechanisms of the UN.

 

- The composition of the Security Council is unjust and inequitable. Therefore, changes including the restructuring of the United Nations are considered the basic demands of the nations that must be addressed by the General Assembly.

 

- During last year session, I emphasized the importance of this issue and called for the designation of the current decade as the decade of shared and collective Global Management.

 

- I would like to reiterate again my proposal. I am sure that through international cooperation, diligence and efforts by committed world leaders and governments and through insisting on the realization of justice and the support of all other nations, we can expedite the building of a common bright future.

 

- This movement is certainly on its rightful path of creation, ensuring a promising future for humanity.

 

- A future that will be built when humanity initiates to trend the path of the divine prophets and the righteous under the leadership of Imam al-Mahdi, the Ultimate Savior of mankind and the inheritor to all divine messengers and leaders and to the pure generation of our great Prophet.

 

- The creation of a supreme and ideal society with the arrival of a perfect human being who is a true and sincere lover of all human beings, is the guaranteed promise of Allah.

 

- He will come alongside with Jesus Christ to lead the freedom and justice lovers to eradicate tyranny and discrimination, and promote knowledge, peace, justice freedom and love across the world. He will present to every single individual all the beauties of the world and all good things which bring happiness for humankind.

 

- Today nations have been awakened. With the increase in public awareness, they no longer succumb to oppressions and discriminations.

 

- The world is now witnessing more than ever, the widespread awakening in Islamic lands, in Asia, Europe, and America. These movements are ever expanding their spirit everyday and influence the pursuit of the realization of justice, freedom and the creation of a better tomorrow.

 

- Our great nation stands ready to join hands with other nations to march on this beautiful path in harmony and in line with the shared aspirations of mankind.

 

- Let us salute love, freedom, justice, wisdom, and the bright future that awaits humankind.

 

Thank you.

  

"On Jan. 15, 2016, Wikipedia officially celebrates 15 years as the Internet’s 'free encyclopedia,' cataloging humankind’s achievements in real time [since 2001]. In that time, it has hastened the end of Microsoft’s Encarta encyclopedia and supplanted Britannica as the dominant reference work in English. While the digital landscape has changed drastically over the last decade, Wikipedia has not, and still delivers that rare site that strives for neutrality and accuracy, all with no commercial advertisements.

 

Each month, nearly 100,000 volunteers from around the world actively contribute content to Wikipedia so that anyone may freely read, copy or redistribute its articles.

 

Additionally, Wikidata, launched in 2012, was designed to help Wikipedia structure 15 years' worth of users’ text contributions into a database that allows for cross-referencing and linking to the outside world. By having precise technical descriptions of information in its database, Wikidata makes searching, filtering, and joining collections of human knowledge possible on a massive scale. It has been so successful that Google canceled its own similar project, Freebase, to throw its support to Wikidata. In its announcement, the search giant noted the superiority of the Wikimedia project as a 'community-driven effort to collect and curate structured knowledge.'

 

Overseeing the Wikimedia movement’s financial and legal issues is the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, based in San Francisco, which employs some 250 employees in a variety of fundraising, outreach and engineering positions."

— Washington Post, 15 January 2016.

 

***************

▶ Uploaded by Yours For Good Fermentables.com.

▶ For a larger image, type 'L' (without the quotation marks).

— Follow on Facebook: YoursForGoodFermentables.

— Follow on Instagram: @tcizauskas.

▶ Commercial use requires explicit permission, as per Creative Commons.

Tackling the greatest challenge known to humankind. Extreme poverty is more than just a number – it is the denial of basic freedoms and human dignity. USAID fights extreme poverty around the world each day.

 

Explore the story via USAID’s Extreme Possibilities storytelling hub: go.usa.gov/3fpVw

 

Photo Credit: Morgana Wingard / USAID

 

The Maropeng Visitor Centre is an award-winning, world-class exhibition, focusing on the development of humans and our ancestors over the past few million years. The Cradle of Humankind region in South Africa is approximately 90 minutes' drive from the Johannesburg city centre.

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maropeng_visitor_centre,_...

Ramadan (Arabic : رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn] ) (also Ramadhan, Ramadaan, Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar , which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting , in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking [1] and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Arabic : الله‎, trans: Allah ) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the solar calendar , the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon ; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet , Muhammad .

 

Contents

 

[hide ]

 

· 1 Origins of Ramadan

 

· 2 The Beginning of Ramadan

 

· 3 Practices during Ramadan

 

o 3.1 Fasting

 

o 3.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

o 3.3 Iftar

 

o 3.4 Charity

 

o 3.5 Laylat al-Qadr

 

· 4 Eid ul-Fitr

 

· 5 Cultural aspects

 

o 5.1 Decorations

 

· 6 Economic aspects

 

· 7 See also

 

· 8 References

 

· 9 External links

 

[edit ] Origins of Ramadan

 

The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[2] scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.[3] The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting. In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to a hadith , it might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur .[4] [5]

 

[edit ] The Beginning of Ramadan

 

Hilāl (the crescent ) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[6]

 

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[7] More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

 

For the year of 1432 Hijri , the first day of Ramadan was determined to be August 1, 2011.

 

[edit ] Practices during Ramadan

 

[edit ] Fasting

 

Main article: Sawm

   

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

 

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfil the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and perhaps you will be thankful.

 

Ayah 185, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara ), translation by Tarif Khalidi see:[2] [8]

 

Ramadan is a time of reflecting, believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse among spouse is allowed after one has ended the fast. During fasting intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, one is also encouraged to resist all temptations while you are fasting. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[9] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat ).[10]

 

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty , so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[11] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood , many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[12] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day as exempt.[10]

 

[edit ] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih , which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz' , which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

 

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar .

 

[edit ] Iftar

 

Main article: Iftar

 

Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Is Istanbul ,Turkey

 

Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar . The meal starts with the eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served. [13]

 

Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 

Most markets close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many Muslim countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.

 

[edit ] Charity

 

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadhan. According to tradition, Ramadhan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 700 times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadhan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 

[edit ] Laylat al-Qadr

 

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

 

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[15] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of Ramadan.

 

[edit ] Eid ul-Fitr

 

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

 

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic : عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah ; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr ); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad [16] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.

 

[edit ] Cultural aspects

 

[edit ] Decorations

 

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt , lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.

 

In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadhan a more special time for their children.

 

[edit ] Economic aspects

 

In Egypt, national statistics have pointed to substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.[17]

Temples of Humankind, Damanhur, Italy

Ramadan (Arabic : رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn] ) (also Ramadhan, Ramadaan, Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar , which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting , in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking [1] and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Arabic : الله‎, trans: Allah ) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the solar calendar , the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon ; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet , Muhammad .

 

Contents

 

[hide ]

 

· 1 Origins of Ramadan

 

· 2 The Beginning of Ramadan

 

· 3 Practices during Ramadan

 

o 3.1 Fasting

 

o 3.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

o 3.3 Iftar

 

o 3.4 Charity

 

o 3.5 Laylat al-Qadr

 

· 4 Eid ul-Fitr

 

· 5 Cultural aspects

 

o 5.1 Decorations

 

· 6 Economic aspects

 

· 7 See also

 

· 8 References

 

· 9 External links

 

[edit ] Origins of Ramadan

 

The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[2] scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.[3] The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting. In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to a hadith , it might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur .[4] [5]

 

[edit ] The Beginning of Ramadan

 

Hilāl (the crescent ) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[6]

 

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[7] More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

 

For the year of 1432 Hijri , the first day of Ramadan was determined to be August 1, 2011.

 

[edit ] Practices during Ramadan

 

[edit ] Fasting

 

Main article: Sawm

   

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

 

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfil the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and perhaps you will be thankful.

 

Ayah 185, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara ), translation by Tarif Khalidi see:[2] [8]

 

Ramadan is a time of reflecting, believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse among spouse is allowed after one has ended the fast. During fasting intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, one is also encouraged to resist all temptations while you are fasting. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[9] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat ).[10]

 

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty , so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[11] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood , many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[12] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day as exempt.[10]

 

[edit ] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih , which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz' , which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

 

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar .

 

[edit ] Iftar

 

Main article: Iftar

 

Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Is Istanbul ,Turkey

 

Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar . The meal starts with the eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served. [13]

 

Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 

Most markets close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many Muslim countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.

 

[edit ] Charity

 

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadhan. According to tradition, Ramadhan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 700 times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadhan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 

[edit ] Laylat al-Qadr

 

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

 

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[15] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of Ramadan.

 

[edit ] Eid ul-Fitr

 

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

 

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic : عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah ; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr ); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad [16] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.

 

[edit ] Cultural aspects

 

[edit ] Decorations

 

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt , lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.

 

In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadhan a more special time for their children.

 

[edit ] Economic aspects

 

In Egypt, national statistics have pointed to substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.[17]

www.damanhur.org/en/art-and-creativity/temples-of-humankind

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Mike Schore and Shelly Schore attend CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Drew Altizer Photography)

Homo Naledi fossil discovered at the Cradle of Humankind in Maropeng. (Photo: GCIS)

Wadada Movement, by Asha and Ayanna Diaz (Trinidad and Tobago).

 

Event: Plitzs New York City Fashion Week

Location: Park Central Hotel, New York, NY

Date: September 8, 2013

 

Plitzs Fashion Marketing

www.Plitzs.com/

Instagram: @PlitzsFashionMarketing

 

This is Revenge Fashion Magazine, fashion for all humankind.

 

Revenge Fashion Magazine

Fashion for all humankind

Instagram @RevengeFashionMagazine

www.Twitter.com/RevengeFashion

www.RevengeFashionMagazine.com

www.Facebook.com/RevengeFashionMagazine

Looking at the wooden canopy over the Books of Remembrance in the Kellogg Bay (right) on the north side of the nave of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The Boardman Bay (left), also known as the Humanitarian Bay, is dedicated to those who have been servants to humankind.

 

The canopy was originally part of the tomb of Woodrow Wilson. Wilson died on February 3, 1924, almost three years after his second term as president ended. He was buried in a private service (per his wishes; there was no state funeral) on February 6, 1924, at the Washington National Cathedral.

 

Wilson's body was interred in the burial vault beneath the Bethlehem Chapel -- the only part of the cathedral constructed at that time. There are eight vaults below the chapel, four to the east and four to the west. Each vault has an upper and lower shelf. Wilson's coffin was placed on the upper shelf of the southwesternmost vault (above the body of Henry Vaughn, first architect of the cathedral). A concrete slab five inches thick, topped by a three inch thick of Alabama marble, sealed the crypt.

 

Directly above the body, in the chapel, was a marble sill or seat. A glass window allowed someone sitting on the sill to see out into the south corridor of the crypt level. This sill was removed, and a marble slab inscribed with Wilson's name and his date of birth and dead installed. Constantly banked with flowers, this was the "tomb" of Woodrow Wilson.

 

Hundreds of people visited the tomb every day. In the first year alone, more than 189,425 people had visited the chapel to see where Wilson was buried.

 

It quickly became apparent that a larger memorial was needed. By May or June 1924, Mrs. Edith Wilson was consulting architects and designers about a larger tomb. The architectural firm of Cram & Ferguson designed a cenotaph (empty tomb) in the shape of a sarcophagus. The Wilson family chose a crusader's sword as the only emblem to be worked into the concave lid of the cenotaph, with only Wilson's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed into the lid. The sides of the cenotaph were plainly decorated with plinths. The cenotaph was carved in Boston, and cenotaph was quietly emplace without fanfare in November 1924.

 

Above the cenotaph was a richly carved wooden canopy. The words "I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord" were carved into the front of the canopy, and its major design elements incorporated thistles (a nod to Wilson's Scottish heritage). A black wrought-iron grille sealed off the cenotaph from the public.

 

In 1951, Wilson's grandson, Francis B. Sayre, Jr., was named Dean of the National Cathedral. Sayre's goal was to complete the cathedral, whose construction had stalled for decades. By 1956, the walls of the nave had gone up and been roofed over. Since Wilson's entombment at the cathedral, the plan had been to move his body into a sarcophagus in the nave. Sayre, Mrs. Wilson, and Wilson's surviving daughter, Eleanor, chose a bay on the south side of the nave about halfway between the crossing and the narthex. Sayre himself designed the tomb, consulting with Cram & Ferguson. The cenotaph was moved from the Bethlehem Chapel to the center of the arch facing the nave. The sarcophagus now faced inward toward the bay. New ends for the sarcophagus were fabricated to fit with the low wall helping to seal off the bay from the nave. The the cenotaph's original outward face and the lid were reused. A new back of the sarcophagus also had to be constructed. This surface, which faced the nave, contained the coat of arms of the six colleges Wilson had attended.

 

Two niches to the right and left of the bay were also used. The Wilson family chose four inscriptions typical of Wilson's views: To the east were quotations from his first inaugural address and his "War Message" to Congress; to the west were quotations from his submissal of the Treaty of Versailles to Congress, and his final published words.

 

Hungarian refugee Erwin Bessanyi designed the lancet windows in the bay, which are meditations on the theme of "Peace." A two foot wide bronze medallion depicting the Great Seal of the President of the United States was laid into the floor of the bay. Originally, three

historic flags stood in the niches to either side of the bay: the U.S. flag carried by the first detachment of troops to reach London in 1917, and the U.S. flags presented to Wilson at his inaugurals in 1913 and 1917.

 

The new sarcophagus cost $150,000, paid for by the Wilson family and admirers of the ex-president.

 

The Wilson Bay was dedicated on November 11, 1956 -- the 100th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson's birth. His body was moved from the burial vault to the new sarcophagus. His good friend, Bernard Baruch, was the keynote speaker at the event. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt read from "Pilgrim's Progress."

 

Today, the Wilson Bay is almost unchanged. However, the flags have been replaced with modern nylon flags. The three flags now depict the current flag of the United States, the Presidential Flag of the United States (which depicts the Great Seal of the President on a blue background), and the flag of Princeton University.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Yasmine Chelico and John Chelico attend CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)

Ramadan (Arabic : رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn] ) (also Ramadhan, Ramadaan, Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar , which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting , in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking [1] and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Arabic : الله‎, trans: Allah ) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the solar calendar , the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon ; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet , Muhammad .

 

Contents

 

[hide ]

 

· 1 Origins of Ramadan

 

· 2 The Beginning of Ramadan

 

· 3 Practices during Ramadan

 

o 3.1 Fasting

 

o 3.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

o 3.3 Iftar

 

o 3.4 Charity

 

o 3.5 Laylat al-Qadr

 

· 4 Eid ul-Fitr

 

· 5 Cultural aspects

 

o 5.1 Decorations

 

· 6 Economic aspects

 

· 7 See also

 

· 8 References

 

· 9 External links

 

[edit ] Origins of Ramadan

 

The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[2] scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.[3] The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting. In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to a hadith , it might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur .[4] [5]

 

[edit ] The Beginning of Ramadan

 

Hilāl (the crescent ) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[6]

 

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[7] More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

 

For the year of 1432 Hijri , the first day of Ramadan was determined to be August 1, 2011.

 

[edit ] Practices during Ramadan

 

[edit ] Fasting

 

Main article: Sawm

   

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

 

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfil the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and perhaps you will be thankful.

 

Ayah 185, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara ), translation by Tarif Khalidi see:[2] [8]

 

Ramadan is a time of reflecting, believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse among spouse is allowed after one has ended the fast. During fasting intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, one is also encouraged to resist all temptations while you are fasting. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[9] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat ).[10]

 

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty , so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[11] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood , many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[12] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day as exempt.[10]

 

[edit ] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih , which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz' , which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

 

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar .

 

[edit ] Iftar

 

Main article: Iftar

 

Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Is Istanbul ,Turkey

 

Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar . The meal starts with the eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served. [13]

 

Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 

Most markets close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many Muslim countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.

 

[edit ] Charity

 

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadhan. According to tradition, Ramadhan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 700 times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadhan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 

[edit ] Laylat al-Qadr

 

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

 

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[15] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of Ramadan.

 

[edit ] Eid ul-Fitr

 

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

 

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic : عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah ; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr ); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad [16] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.

 

[edit ] Cultural aspects

 

[edit ] Decorations

 

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt , lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.

 

In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadhan a more special time for their children.

 

[edit ] Economic aspects

 

In Egypt, national statistics have pointed to substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.[17]

Ramadan (Arabic : رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn] ) (also Ramadhan, Ramadaan, Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar , which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting , in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking [1] and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Arabic : الله‎, trans: Allah ) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the solar calendar , the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon ; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet , Muhammad .

 

Contents

 

[hide ]

 

· 1 Origins of Ramadan

 

· 2 The Beginning of Ramadan

 

· 3 Practices during Ramadan

 

o 3.1 Fasting

 

o 3.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

o 3.3 Iftar

 

o 3.4 Charity

 

o 3.5 Laylat al-Qadr

 

· 4 Eid ul-Fitr

 

· 5 Cultural aspects

 

o 5.1 Decorations

 

· 6 Economic aspects

 

· 7 See also

 

· 8 References

 

· 9 External links

 

[edit ] Origins of Ramadan

 

The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[2] scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.[3] The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting. In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to a hadith , it might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur .[4] [5]

 

[edit ] The Beginning of Ramadan

 

Hilāl (the crescent ) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[6]

 

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[7] More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

 

For the year of 1432 Hijri , the first day of Ramadan was determined to be August 1, 2011.

 

[edit ] Practices during Ramadan

 

[edit ] Fasting

 

Main article: Sawm

   

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

 

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfil the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and perhaps you will be thankful.

 

Ayah 185, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara ), translation by Tarif Khalidi see:[2] [8]

 

Ramadan is a time of reflecting, believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse among spouse is allowed after one has ended the fast. During fasting intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, one is also encouraged to resist all temptations while you are fasting. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[9] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat ).[10]

 

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty , so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[11] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood , many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[12] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day as exempt.[10]

 

[edit ] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih , which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz' , which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

 

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar .

 

[edit ] Iftar

 

Main article: Iftar

 

Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Is Istanbul ,Turkey

 

Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar . The meal starts with the eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served. [13]

 

Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 

Most markets close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many Muslim countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.

 

[edit ] Charity

 

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadhan. According to tradition, Ramadhan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 700 times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadhan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 

[edit ] Laylat al-Qadr

 

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

 

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[15] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of Ramadan.

 

[edit ] Eid ul-Fitr

 

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

 

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic : عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah ; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr ); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad [16] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.

 

[edit ] Cultural aspects

 

[edit ] Decorations

 

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt , lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.

 

In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadhan a more special time for their children.

 

[edit ] Economic aspects

 

In Egypt, national statistics have pointed to substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.[17]

Ramadan (Arabic : رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn] ) (also Ramadhan, Ramadaan, Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar , which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting , in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking [1] and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Arabic : الله‎, trans: Allah ) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the solar calendar , the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon ; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet , Muhammad .

 

Contents

 

[hide ]

 

· 1 Origins of Ramadan

 

· 2 The Beginning of Ramadan

 

· 3 Practices during Ramadan

 

o 3.1 Fasting

 

o 3.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

o 3.3 Iftar

 

o 3.4 Charity

 

o 3.5 Laylat al-Qadr

 

· 4 Eid ul-Fitr

 

· 5 Cultural aspects

 

o 5.1 Decorations

 

· 6 Economic aspects

 

· 7 See also

 

· 8 References

 

· 9 External links

 

[edit ] Origins of Ramadan

 

The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[2] scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.[3] The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting. In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to a hadith , it might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur .[4] [5]

 

[edit ] The Beginning of Ramadan

 

Hilāl (the crescent ) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[6]

 

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[7] More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

 

For the year of 1432 Hijri , the first day of Ramadan was determined to be August 1, 2011.

 

[edit ] Practices during Ramadan

 

[edit ] Fasting

 

Main article: Sawm

   

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

 

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfil the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and perhaps you will be thankful.

 

Ayah 185, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara ), translation by Tarif Khalidi see:[2] [8]

 

Ramadan is a time of reflecting, believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse among spouse is allowed after one has ended the fast. During fasting intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, one is also encouraged to resist all temptations while you are fasting. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[9] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat ).[10]

 

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty , so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[11] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood , many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[12] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day as exempt.[10]

 

[edit ] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih , which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz' , which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

 

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar .

 

[edit ] Iftar

 

Main article: Iftar

 

Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Is Istanbul ,Turkey

 

Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar . The meal starts with the eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served. [13]

 

Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 

Most markets close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many Muslim countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.

 

[edit ] Charity

 

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadhan. According to tradition, Ramadhan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 700 times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadhan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 

[edit ] Laylat al-Qadr

 

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

 

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[15] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of Ramadan.

 

[edit ] Eid ul-Fitr

 

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

 

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic : عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah ; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr ); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad [16] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.

 

[edit ] Cultural aspects

 

[edit ] Decorations

 

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt , lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.

 

In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadhan a more special time for their children.

 

[edit ] Economic aspects

 

In Egypt, national statistics have pointed to substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.[17]

The Robin's red breast and habit of living close to humankind makes it one of our most familiar birds.

Robins are widely distributed in Britain & Ireland throughout the year, from Shetland to the Channel Islands, apart from on the highest mountain tops. Robin breeding numbers increased through the last part of the 20th century and have been fairly stable since, albeit with some fluctuations.

The Robin is both a resident and also a migrant visitor to Britain during the winter months, when birds from northern and eastern Europe help to swell numbers. During particularly cold weather this pugnacious little bird can be seen sharing bird tables with several other Robins, all of them trying to defend the food source they have found.

 

Ramadan (Arabic : رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn] ) (also Ramadhan, Ramadaan, Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar , which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting , in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking [1] and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Arabic : الله‎, trans: Allah ) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the solar calendar , the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon ; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet , Muhammad .

 

Contents

 

[hide ]

 

· 1 Origins of Ramadan

 

· 2 The Beginning of Ramadan

 

· 3 Practices during Ramadan

 

o 3.1 Fasting

 

o 3.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

o 3.3 Iftar

 

o 3.4 Charity

 

o 3.5 Laylat al-Qadr

 

· 4 Eid ul-Fitr

 

· 5 Cultural aspects

 

o 5.1 Decorations

 

· 6 Economic aspects

 

· 7 See also

 

· 8 References

 

· 9 External links

 

[edit ] Origins of Ramadan

 

The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[2] scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.[3] The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting. In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to a hadith , it might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur .[4] [5]

 

[edit ] The Beginning of Ramadan

 

Hilāl (the crescent ) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[6]

 

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[7] More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

 

For the year of 1432 Hijri , the first day of Ramadan was determined to be August 1, 2011.

 

[edit ] Practices during Ramadan

 

[edit ] Fasting

 

Main article: Sawm

   

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

 

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfil the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and perhaps you will be thankful.

 

Ayah 185, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara ), translation by Tarif Khalidi see:[2] [8]

 

Ramadan is a time of reflecting, believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse among spouse is allowed after one has ended the fast. During fasting intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, one is also encouraged to resist all temptations while you are fasting. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[9] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat ).[10]

 

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty , so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[11] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood , many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[12] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day as exempt.[10]

 

[edit ] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih , which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz' , which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

 

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar .

 

[edit ] Iftar

 

Main article: Iftar

 

Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Is Istanbul ,Turkey

 

Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar . The meal starts with the eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served. [13]

 

Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 

Most markets close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many Muslim countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.

 

[edit ] Charity

 

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadhan. According to tradition, Ramadhan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 700 times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadhan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 

[edit ] Laylat al-Qadr

 

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

 

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[15] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of Ramadan.

 

[edit ] Eid ul-Fitr

 

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

 

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic : عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah ; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr ); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad [16] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.

 

[edit ] Cultural aspects

 

[edit ] Decorations

 

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt , lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.

 

In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadhan a more special time for their children.

 

[edit ] Economic aspects

 

In Egypt, national statistics have pointed to substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.[17]

The “Nuremberg Chronicle” is an illustrated world history that follows the story of humankind related in the Bible, from Creation to Last Judgment. It was written in Latin by Hartmann Schedel in the city of Nuremberg and is one of the best-documented early printed books – an incunabulum – and one of the first to successfully integrate illustrations and text. The publisher and printer was Anton Koberger, the godfather of Albrecht Durer. The large workshop of Michael Wolgemut, then Nuremberg’s leading artist, provided the unprecedented 1,809 woodcut illustrations. Albrecht Durer was an apprentice with Wolgemut from 1486 to 1489, so may well have participated in designing some of the illustrations for the specialist craftsmen who cut the blocks.

 

Approximately 400 Latin and 300 German copies of the Chronicle survived into the twenty-first century. Some copies were broken up for sale as decorative prints. The larger illustrations in the book were sold separately, often hand-colored in watercolor. Many copies of the book are also colored, with varying degrees of skill; there were specialist shops for this. The coloring on some examples has been added much later.

 

Ramadan (Arabic : رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn] ) (also Ramadhan, Ramadaan, Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar , which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting , in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking [1] and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Arabic : الله‎, trans: Allah ) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the solar calendar , the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon ; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet , Muhammad .

 

Contents

 

[hide ]

 

· 1 Origins of Ramadan

 

· 2 The Beginning of Ramadan

 

· 3 Practices during Ramadan

 

o 3.1 Fasting

 

o 3.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

o 3.3 Iftar

 

o 3.4 Charity

 

o 3.5 Laylat al-Qadr

 

· 4 Eid ul-Fitr

 

· 5 Cultural aspects

 

o 5.1 Decorations

 

· 6 Economic aspects

 

· 7 See also

 

· 8 References

 

· 9 External links

 

[edit ] Origins of Ramadan

 

The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[2] scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.[3] The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting. In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to a hadith , it might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur .[4] [5]

 

[edit ] The Beginning of Ramadan

 

Hilāl (the crescent ) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[6]

 

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[7] More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

 

For the year of 1432 Hijri , the first day of Ramadan was determined to be August 1, 2011.

 

[edit ] Practices during Ramadan

 

[edit ] Fasting

 

Main article: Sawm

   

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

 

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfil the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and perhaps you will be thankful.

 

Ayah 185, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara ), translation by Tarif Khalidi see:[2] [8]

 

Ramadan is a time of reflecting, believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse among spouse is allowed after one has ended the fast. During fasting intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, one is also encouraged to resist all temptations while you are fasting. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[9] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat ).[10]

 

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty , so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[11] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood , many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[12] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day as exempt.[10]

 

[edit ] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih , which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz' , which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

 

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar .

 

[edit ] Iftar

 

Main article: Iftar

 

Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Is Istanbul ,Turkey

 

Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar . The meal starts with the eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served. [13]

 

Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 

Most markets close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many Muslim countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.

 

[edit ] Charity

 

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadhan. According to tradition, Ramadhan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 700 times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadhan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 

[edit ] Laylat al-Qadr

 

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

 

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[15] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of Ramadan.

 

[edit ] Eid ul-Fitr

 

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

 

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic : عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah ; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr ); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad [16] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.

 

[edit ] Cultural aspects

 

[edit ] Decorations

 

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt , lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.

 

In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadhan a more special time for their children.

 

[edit ] Economic aspects

 

In Egypt, national statistics have pointed to substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.[17]

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Remi Kajogbola and Toni Waller attend CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Drew Altizer Photography)

www.damanhur.org/en/art-and-creativity/temples-of-humankind

Al-Fatiha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  

This article is about Sura al-fatiha. For other uses, see Al-Fatiha (disambiguation).

Quraysh

{{{Name_of_Surah}}}

Classification Makkan

Meaning of the name The Opening

Other names Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book)

Umm al-Qur'an (Mother of the Qur'an)

The Key

Surah al-Hamd (The Praise)

Time of revelation Early years of prophethood

Statistics

Sura number 1 106

Number of verses 7

Juz' number 1

Hizb number 1

Number of Rukus 1

Number of Sajdahs None

Harf-e-Mukatta'at No

Number of Ayats on particular subjects Praise of God: 3

Relation between Creator and creatures: 1

Prayer of the humankind: 3

Previous Sura —

Next Sura Al-Baqara

Listen to Surah Fatiha

  

This box: view • talk • edit

Sura Al-Fatiha (Arabic: سورة الفاتحة‎, Sūratu al-Fātihah, "The Opening") is the first chapter of the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an. Its seven verses are a prayer for God's guidance and stress the lordship and mercy of God. This chapter has a special role in daily prayers, being recited at the start of each unit of prayer.

 

Contents

1 Interpretation of the Meaning of Sura Al-Fatiha

2 Notes

3 Revelation

4 Alternate names

5 Statistics

6 Translations, interpretations and commentaries on Surah Al-Fatiha

7 See also

8 External links

   

Interpretation of the Meaning of Sura Al-Fatiha

Muslims believe that the Qur'an is a revelation from God in the Arabic language. Translations into other languages are considered by many to be merely superficial "interpretations" of the meanings and not authentic versions of the Qur'an. Although some Qur'an alone and liberal Muslims use translations as part of their daily prayers, they are used mainly for personal spiritual use by non-Arabic speakers.

 

The Arabic text with transliteration and translation in English is as follows: [Qur'an 1:1].

 

1:1 بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم

 

Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:

1:2 الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين

 

Al ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi l-'ālamīn

All Praise is due to God, Lord of the Universe.

1:3 الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيم

 

Ar raḥmāni r-raḥīm

The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1:4 مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّين

 

Māliki yawmi d-dīn

Sovereign of the Day of Judgment.

1:5 إِيَّاك نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين

 

Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn

You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help

1:6 اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ

 

Ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭ al mustaqīm

Guide us to the straight path;

1:7 صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّين

 

Ṣirāṭ al-laḏīna an'amta 'alayhim ġayril maġḍūbi 'alayhim walāḍ ḍāllīn

The path of those on whom You have bestowed your grace, not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who go astray.

When recited during daily prayers, some schools of thought follow Al-Fatihah by the word Amin.

   

The first verse, transliterated as "bismillāhir rahmānir rahīm", may be familiar to non-Arabic speakers and non-Muslims because of its ubiquity in Arabic and Muslim societies. This verse appears at the start of every chapter in the Qur'an with the exception of the ninth chapter. The verse is normally said before reciting a chapter or part of a chapter during daily prayer, and also before public proclamations and indeed before many personal and everyday activities in many Arabic and Muslim societies as a way to invoke God's blessing and proclaim one's motives before an undertaking.

 

The two words "ar rahmān" and "ar rahīm" are often translated in English as "the beneficent" and "the merciful" or "the generous" and "the merciful." They are often also translated as superlatives, for example, "the most generous" and "the most merciful". Grammatically the two words "rahmaan" and "raheem" are different linguistic forms of the triconsonantal root R-H-M, connoting "mercy". (For more information, see the section on root forms in Semitic languages). The form "rahmaan" denotes degree or extent, i.e., "most merciful," while "raheem" denotes time permanence, i.e., "ever merciful".

 

The reading of the first word of the fourth verse, translated as "master/king" above, has been the subject of debate. The two main recitations, of the Qur'an, Warsh and Hafs, differ on whether it should be "maliki" with a short "a," which means "king" (Warsh, from Nafi'; Ibn Kathir; Ibn Amir; Abu 'Amr; Hamza), or "māliki" with a long "a," which means "master" or "owner" (Hafs, from Asim, and al-Kisa'i). Both "maliki" and "māliki" derive from the same triconsonantal root in Arabic, M-L-K. Both readings are considered valid by many practitioners, since both can be seen as describing God.

 

In some Muslim societies, Al-Fatiha is traditionally read together by a couple to seal their engagement, however this act is not recorded in the sunnah and is seen by many to be an innovation.

  

Revelation

Islamic scholarly tradition is concerned, amongst other things, with when and where verses and chapters of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad - for example, whether a verse was revealed while Muhammad was in Mecca or Medina. According to Ibn Abbas and others, Sura Al-Fatiha is a Meccan surah; according to Abu Hurayrah and others, it is a Madinan surah. The former view is more widely accepted, although some believe that it was revealed in both Mecca and Medina.

  

Alternate names

This surah is sometimes known in English as "the Exordium". In various Hadith it is described as "the mother of the Book" (Umm al-Kitab) and "the mother of the Qur'an" (Umm al-Qur'an), and "the cure of diseases" ("Sura-tul-shifa") and said to be the seven verses alluded to in Al-Hijr [Qur'an 15:87].

  

Statistics

This sura contains 7 verses, 29 words and 139 letters (or 25 and 120, not counting the first verse), although Ibn Kathir says "The scholars say that Al-Fatiha consists of 25 words, and that it contains 113 letters." It falls in the first hizb, and hence the first juz', which are sections of the Qur'an.

 

Al-Fatiha

Da Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.

Vai a: Navigazione, cerca

Il titolo di questa voce non è corretto per via delle caratteristiche del software MediaWiki. Il titolo corretto è al-Fātiḥa.

La Fatiha arabo: الفاتحة , 'al-fātiḥa' costituisce la prima Sura del Corano (al-Fātiḥa vuol dire infatti "la Aprente").

 

Secondo i musulmani essa racchiude l'essenza dell'intero Libro Sacro dell'Islam ed è spesso usata come preghiera (specie nella salāt) e come formula rituale per sottolineare la pietas islamica di chi la recita.

 

In particolari cerimonie, in particolare la stipula di contratti che comportano l'assunzione di diritti e doveri (ad esempio, il matrimonio, che nell'islam non è altro che un contratto), la recitazione della Fatiha costituisce il momento essenziale.

 

Indice

1 Testo

2 Contenuto

3 Bibliografia

4 Note

5 Voci correlate

   

Testo

Il suo testo è il seguente:

 

1. Nel nome di Allah, il Clemente il Misericordioso

 

2. Lode ad Allah il Signore dei mondi

 

3. Il Clemente, il Misericordioso

 

4. Signore del Giorno del Giudizio

 

5. Te noi adoriamo ed a Te ci rivolgiamo per aiuto

 

6. Mostraci la retta via

 

7. La via di coloro cui hai concesso la Tua grazia, di coloro che non suscitano la Tua ira e che non vagano nell'errore. Amen

  

La traslitterazione in caratteri latini del testo arabo della Fātiha è la seguente:

 

1. Bi-smi llāhi al-Rahmāni al-Rahīm

 

2. Al-hamdu li-llāhi Rabbi l-ˁālamīn

 

3. Al-Rahmāni al-rahīm

 

4. Maliki yawmi al-dīn

 

5. Iyya-Ka naˁbudu wa iyya-Ka nastaˁīn

 

6. Ihdi-nā al-Sirāta al-Mustaqīm

 

7. Sirāta alladhīna anˁamta ˁalay-him ghayra al-maghdūbi ˁalay-him wa lā al-dāllīn. Amīn

  

Contenuto

Questa sura è per molti versi "anomala" rispetto a tutte le altre che compongono il Corano, e questa sua condizione particolare è evidenziata già dal solo fatto di essere posta al principio del Libro, nonostante la sua brevità (le altre sure, infatti, sono collocate in ordine di grandezza decrescente, con le più lunghe al principio e le più brevi alla fine).

 

La maggiore diversità rispetto alle altre sure sta nel fatto che, mentre le altre sono espressione della parola di Dio, e quindi Dio è in prima persona e si rivolge a Maometto, usando di solito la terza persona per gli altri uomini (spesso con una formula introduttiva: "di' (loro): ..."), la Fatiha si presenta con l'aspetto di una preghiera rivolta a Dio dagli uomini (in questo senso, è stata da molti avvicinata al Padre Nostro dei cristiani, in quanto preghiera fornita ai fedeli dalla stessa divinità)[1].

 

Da osservare che la formula iniziale "Nel nome di Iddio, il Clemente il Misericordioso", la cosiddetta basmala, presente all'inizio di tutte le sure (ad eccezione della IX), viene qui considerata un versetto a pieno titolo, e computata quindi nel numero totale dei versetti, contrariamente a quanto avviene in tutte la altre sure, in cui la basmala è un incipit che sta "al di fuori" dei versetti veri e propri.

 

Riguardo al contenuto, molti punti hanno suscitato perplessità nell'interpretazione, in particolar modo l'identificazione di coloro cui si fa riferimento quando si parla di quelli che "suscitano la Tua ira" e quelli che "vagano nell'errore". Le interpretazioni tradizionali vogliono che nei primi siano adombrati gli ebrei e nei secondi i cristiani[2].

 

Un'ultima osservazione interessante riguarda il Sirāt al-Mustaqīm cui si fa cenno in questa sura. L'interpretazione più immediata è quella di "la via diritta", con evidente significato spirituale, ma questo elemento è ben presto stato interpretato, in chiave escatologica, come qualcosa di reale, una sorta di immenso ponte, arcuato e sottile come il filo di una spada, che i defunti dovranno attraversare per giungere al paradiso. I beati non troveranno difficoltà nell'impresa (per essi sarà una vera e propria "strada"), mentre i malvagi non riusciranno ad attraversarlo e precipiteranno nell'inferno[3].

  

Bibliografia

H. Winkler, "Fatiha und Vaterunser", Zeitschrift für Semitistik und verwandte Gebiete Bd. 6 (1928) 238-246

Hasan al-Banna, Tafsir Fatihat al-Kitab, Tunis, matba'a al-shahsi, 1396h/1976

B.H. Stricker, "Sirāt al-Mustaqīm", in A la croisée des études libyco-berbères. Mélanges offerts à Paulette et Lionel Galand, Paris, Geuthner, 1993, pp. 419-428

  

^ Si veda, tra gli altri, Winkler 1928

^ Si veda al-Banna 1976: 46 "al-maghdūb ˁalay-him hum al-yahud (...) al-dāllūn hum al-nasara"

^ Sull'evoluzione di questa concezione, v. Stricker 1993.

 

Voci correlate

Pilastri dell'Islam

sharī‘a

 

سورة الفاتحة

من ويكيبيديا، الموسوعة الحرة

 

سورة الفاتحة هي أول سورة في القرآن الكريم، و حسب العقيدة الإسلامية لا تصح صلاة المسلم بدونها، إذ أن قراءتها ركن من أركان الصلاة. وقد سمى نبي الله محمد (صلى الله عليه و سلم) هذه السورة بـأم الكتاب وأم القرآن في عدة أحاديث. ولا تصح الصلاة دون قراءتها.

 

محتويات

1 نبذة عن سورة الفاتحة

2 سورة الفاتحة والصلاة

3 نص سورة الفاتحة (بالكامل)

4 أحاديث في فضل سورة الفاتحة

5 وصلات خارجية اِسلامية

   

[عدل] نبذة عن سورة الفاتحة

 

فاتحة الكتابسورة الفاتحة هي سورة مكية يبلغ عدد أياتها 7 آيات. وقد سميت هذه السورة بالفاتحة لانها تفتتح القرآن أي أنها أول سورة فيه. ولسورة الفاتحة كما ذكر السيوطي في كتابه "الاتقان في علون القرآن" أكثر من عشرين أسم، وهذا يدل على شرفها لان كثرة الأسماء تدل على شرف المسمى. ومن أسمائها: أم الكتاب والشافية والوافية والكافية والحمد والسبع المثاني وغيرها الكثير .

 

عن أبي هريرة قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (أم القرآن هي السبع المثاني والقرآن العظيم) .

 

وسورة الفاتحة تشمل جميع معاني القرآن الكريم ومقاصده فهي كمقدمة للقرآن ككل. فقد تحدثت عن العقيدة، والعبادة والاعتقاد باليوم الآخر والإيمان بالله عز وجل وصفاته، وأفردت الله عز وجل بالعبادة والدعاء وطلب الهداية إلى الطريق المستقيم.

 

و يؤمن المسلمون أن سورة الفاتحة تعلمهم كيفية التعامل مع الله فأولها ثناء على الله (الحمد لله رب العالمين) وآخرها دعاء لله بالهداية (إهدنا الصراط المستقيم).

  

[] سورة الفاتحة والصلاة

من أهمية سورة الفاتحة انه لا تصح أي صلاة بدونها فعن عائشة قالت: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: (كل صلاة لم يُقرأ فيها بفاتحة الكتاب فهو خداج) أي أن كل صلاة من دونها غير كاملة. ويمكن للمصلي أن يكتفي بقراءة الفاتحة فقط في كل ركعة وهي أقل مقدار مسموح به.

 

[نص اقتباس][[عنوان وصلة[[عنوان وصلة'نص مائل'نص مائل== ملف:نص عنوان رئيسي

 

ملف:اسم الصورة

تعليق==']]]]

وقد أخبر النبي محمد أن سورة الفاتحة المقروءة في الصلاة مقسمة بين العبد وربه، كلما ذكر العبد منها آية رد الله عليه... ففي الحديث عن أبي هريرة قال:

 

«سمعت رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يقول: قال الله: (قسمت الصلاة بيني وبين عبدي نصفين ولعبدي ما سأل، فإذا قال العبد: الحمد لله رب العالمين، قال الله: حمدني عبدي، وإذا قال: الرحمن الرحيم، قال الله: أثنى علي عبدي، وإذا قال: مالك يوم الدين، قال: مجدني عبدي، فإذا قال: إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين، قال: هذا بيني وبين عبدي ولعبدي ما سأل، فإذا قال: اهدنا الصراط المستقيم، صراط الذين أنعمت عليهم، غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين، قال: هذا لعبدي ولعبدي ما سأل). »

 

[] نص سورة الفاتحة (بالكامل)

{{{ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ (1) الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (2) الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ (3) مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (4) إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ (5) اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (6) صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ (7) }}}

 

عنوان وصلة== للاستماع للسوره == esnips.com/doc/a4c93432-b02a-48ff-b65b-1b142aff360c/ال

Humankind has not woven the web of life.

We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

All things are bound together.

All things connect.

 

~ Chief Seattle

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    

if you were mine

i'd hold onto you so tightly

not even a sliver

of desire

to let you go

 

if you were mine

i'd listen to all your dreams

speaking softly

you can tell me

anything

 

CHORUS

if you were my girl

you would be safe

like a dreamcatcher

i'll make the nightmares fall away

 

if i was yours

i'd keep every promise i made

nothing to hide

i'll never tell a lie

i'll let you in

 

if i was yours

i'd let you see my dreams

if life is a book

im the author and

i'll write you in

 

(chorus)

 

now that you're mine

my heart is always warm

now that i'm yours

all that i've known

has only grown

 

now that i'm yours

they say you always glow

now that you're mine

everything is fine

so fine

 

* Dreamcatcher * ~ by Athena Radford

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXd905YQCA

 

** i've been photographing my collection of dreamcatcher's making a collage for a special project...i just wanted 2 share my simplest dreamcatcher in my collection...hopefully this week i'll be completed =o).....i'm dreaming

^i^

 

The following narrative was adapted from Chapter II of an early science fiction/science fantasy novel (published 1912), "The Night Land", by William Hope Hodgson. All of the words are Hodgson's with the exception of a few inserted to bridge various passages - to create a coherent narrative of the excerpts extracted from the novel.

 

In the novel, a 17th Century man dreams of another incarnation of his life, not a past life, but an incarnation in the far future where the world has been long bereft of our dying sun's light, and the darkness has bred forces antithetical (and inimical) to humankind. It is a world where, with the light, also went any semblance of complacent perceptual veneer, where now the full Nature of Great Powers are evident – the darker Ones vastly abundant and mortal to both body and soul.

 

The novel is written in a faux 17th century style that you may find hard to get into - but it's worth it for the power of the nightmarish imagery evoked through Hodgson's skill in writing primal horror – horror of the nature that yearns to consume you, to possess your very being, to enslave your waking soul for eternity and eternity and eternities more....

 

The text chosen here is meant to accompany my latest illustration of The Night Land (take a look at it in the large or the original size): The Watcher of the South.

 

I was at the South-Eastern wall of the Pyramid, and looking out through The Great Embrasure. As I stood there in the quietness of the Sleeping-Time on the One Thousandth Plateau, I heard a far, dreadful sound, down in the lightless East; and, presently, again - a strange, dreadful laughter, deep as a low thunder among the mountains. And because this sound came odd whiles from the Unknown Lands beyond the Valley of The Hounds, we had named that far and never-seen Place “The Country Whence Comes The Great Laughter.” And though I had heard the sound many a time, yet did I never hear it without a strange thrilling, and a sense of my littleness - and of the utter terror which had beset the last millions of the world.

 

Before me ran the Road Where The Silent Ones Walk. Searching the road with my gaze, I passed beyond this the place where the road, sweeping vastly to the South-East, was lit a space, strangely, by the light from the Silver-fire Holes.

 

And thus at last to where it swayed to the South of the Dark Palace, and thence Southward still, until it passed round to the Westward, beyond the mountain bulk of the Watching Thing in the South - the hugest monster in all the visible Night Lands.

 

My spy-glass showed it to me with clearness - a living hill of watchfulness, known to us as The Watcher Of The South. It brooded there, squat and tremendous, hunched over the pale radiance of the Glowing Dome.

 

Much, I know, had been writ concerning this Odd, Vast Watcher; for it had grown out of the blackness of the South Unknown Lands a million years gone; and the steady growing nearness of it had been noted and set out at length by the men they called Monstruwacans; so that it was possible to search in our libraries, and learn of the very coming of this Beast in the olden-time.

 

And, while I mind me, there were even then, and always, men named Monstruwacans, whose duty it was to take heed of the great Forces, and to watch the Monsters and the Beasts that beset the great Pyramid, and measure and record, and have so full a knowledge of these same that, did one but sway an head in the darkness, the same matter was set down with particularness in the Records.

 

And, so to tell more about the South Watcher. A million years gone, as I have told, came it out from the blackness of the South, and grew steadily nearer through twenty thousand years; but so slow that in no one year could a man perceive that it had moved.

 

Yet it had movement, and had come thus far upon its road to the Redoubt, when the Glowing Dome rose out of the ground before it - growing slowly. And this had stayed the way of the Monster; so that through an eternity it had looked towards the Pyramid across the pale glare of the Dome, and seeming to have no power to advance nearer.

 

And because of this, much had been writ to prove that there were other forces than evil at work in the Night Lands, about the Last Redoubt. And this I have always thought to be wisely said; and, indeed, there to be no doubt to the matter, for there were many things in the time of which I have knowledge, which seemed to make clear that, even as the Forces of Darkness were loose upon the End of Man; so were there other Forces out to do battle with the Terror; though in ways most strange and unthought of by the human mind....

 

The Watcher of the South was, as I have made known, a monster differing from the other Watching Things, of which there were in all four. One to the North-West, and one to the South-East,, one to the South-West, and the other to the North-East; and thus the four watchers kept ward through the darkness, upon the Pyramid, and moved not, neither gave they out any sound. Yet did we know them to be mountains of living watchfulness and hideous and steadfast intelligence.

 

Of the coming of these monstrosities and evil Forces, no man could say much with verity; for the evil of it began before the Histories of the Great Redoubt were shaped; aye, even before the sun had lost all power to light; though, it must not be a thing of certainty, that even at this far time the invisible, black heavens held no warmth for this world

 

Long ago, when the Great Pyramid was built, the last millions went within its ageless grey-metal walls, and made themselves a great house and city of this Last Redoubt, upon the height of which I observe and relate the particulars of the Night Land, which is ever encroaching, and only ever just at bay.

 

Through hundreds and thousands of years, there grew up in these Outer Lands, beyond those which lay under the guard of the Redoubt, mighty and lost races of terrible creatures, half men and half beast, and evil and dreadful; and these made war upon the Redoubt; but were beaten off from that grim, metal mountain, with a vast slaughter. Yet, must there have been many such attacks, until the electric circle was put about the Pyramid, and lit from the Earth-Current. And the lowest half-mile of the Pyramid was sealed; and so at last there was a peace, and the beginnings of that Eternity of quiet watching for the day when the Earth-Current shall become exhausted.

 

Through the forgotten centuries, had the Creatures been glutted time and again upon such odd bands of daring ones as had adventured forth to explore through the mystery of the Night Lands; for of those who went, scarce any did ever return; for there were eyes in all that dark; and Powers and Forces abroad....

 

As that Eternal Night lengthened itself upon the world, the power of terror grew and strengthened. And fresh and greater monsters developed and bred out of all space and Outward Dimensions, attracted, even as it might be Infernal sharks, by that lonely and mighty hill of humanity, facing its end - so near to the Eternal, and yet so far deferred in the minds and to the senses of those humans.

 

And thus hath it been ever....

   

See related images and text in my flickr set dedicated to The Night Land.

 

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATION:

 

The image was created by setting up a cool-looking stone (which, btw, is by no means sinister - it hasn't a malevolent mineral in its composition - though it did a fine job playing the role for this shoot) and, in front it, a clear plastic undrilled bowling ball I found many years ago. I positioned the stone toward the top of the ball to get the “dome” effect. At the bottom of the bowling ball, I placed a small flashlight between the stone and the ball, facing into the ball to make the top glow. On the other side of the ball at the bottom, I position another flashlight, facing it up through the ball toward the stone. This would lightly illuminate the stone from the ball’s (“dome’s”) direction and at the proper angle. I wrapped this flashlight in cloth to muffle and diffuse the light. After turning off all the other lights in the place, I set up my tripod, taking a series of shots, turning the stone various ways, adjusting the light, etc.

 

After downloading the images to my laptop, I did the rest in Photoshop Elements 5. Through trial and error, I converting the raw elements of the image into The Watcher of the South that I envision (the dome should be more of a softly-glowing baby blue and more diffuse, but I’ll eventually do another version). The basic stone is what was originally shot, except that I added more to on both sides and on top by copying other views of the stone from other shots. I then changed the color to tones more consistent with the dome’s glow.

 

The dome itself is a composite of the original bowling ball top and an inverted copy of it added to the underside of the image to create the 3-D look – a three-quarter view. It took many attempts to get it to the point you see it in the above image. (I’d like to see the whole dome more symmetrical, and with cleaner arcs instead of the slightly wavering arcs you might notice on it, but I’ve spent enough time on this particular illustration and will live with its imperfections.) The inside of the dome is the culmination of – again – many reworkings to give it a low-illumination-yet-dynamic glow. Finally, I selected and moved the dome numerous times, horizontally/vertically as well as skewing it, until I was relatively satisfied with its position in relation to the Watcher behind it.

 

That’s about it, other than trying various crops. I’m happy to have a visual of The Watcher of the South seen in my mind’s eye.

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Fred Najjar, Samira Najjar and Sally Miller attend CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)

A new day breaks in the "Cradle of Humankind" (a World Heritage Site in Kromdraai, Gauteng, South Africa).

 

"Mrs. Ples" (Australopithecus africanus) was found in this area in 1947, and is currently the oldest human fossil found to date. this gave rise to the idea that Africa is the "Cradle of Humankind".

 

In 2008 two fossilised skeletons of a new species of early human "Australopithecus sediba" were discovered.

 

Winter, June 2007.

 

Best viewed LARGE.

 

Martin

-

Administrator of:

Stapeliad & Asclepiad Group

All things beautiful in Nature Group

Succulent Treasures of the Desert Group

The World Up-Close (Nature Macro) Group

1. I am so happy, I could cry..., 2. Humankind has not woven the web of life... we are but one thread within it..., 3. Untitled, 4. ..., 5. summer, 6. ~Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal~, 7. Untitled, 8. Sisters, 9. Elsa Mae, 10. Cross's six months pics, 11. Untitled, 12. frozen roses, 13. You are where you are because that's where you need to be. And if you need to move on, you'll move on..., 14. 13/365, 15. "I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show." ~Andrew Wyeth, 16. urban, 17. long legged ballerina!, 18. :: There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ::, 19. Day 106: Deep in thought, 20. Clusters, 21. Clusters, 22. Cheeky, 23. Punk Rock baby, 24. "Can we conceive what humanity would be if it did not know the flowers?" Maurice Maeterlinck, 25. Little Miss M

 

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Jennifer List and Mark DeClue attend CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)

Mercy General employees showing Humankindness.

B/fwd from 2013......

 

I don't fully understand why ..but this, as a human, is the most embarrassing situation of my life ... as part of humankind.

 

Maybe it is because we saw so much footage yet were doing ' nothing ' ...... even though there is drought, starvation, war, trafficking and children dying from no meds... somehow this is different for me... I don't know why.

There is an inertia whilst it all takes place... we don't fight, we don't help.... at least not enough........... It is all so wrong ..the news becoming just as though another advertisement for the norm..the everyday, the grocery shop ... so bad .

 

I am going to contact someone out there and see what, if anything I can do...

Yet even with some small amount of money in their pocket they will need it to pay someone to help them get away - find a way out - to help their escape onto a route and there is no food to buy..no water to be had....... No protection from the bombing and no safety for the vulnerable... nowhere to stop and bury the dead...... Under stocked refugee settlements ... Countries finding them such a burden.......

 

Yet today I saw a photo of two sisters walking arms around each other's shoulders as they picked their way through one of these settlements to find water. Holding each other... Together .

 

www.unicef.org.uk/landing-pages/donate-syria-unicef/?gcli...

You may ignore the donation amount suggestions and type your own amount.

 

.................................................

 

GENEVA, July 16 (UNHCR) – UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres on Tuesday urged countries against restricting cross-border access for Syrian refugees while warning that immediate measures must be taken to mitigate the enormous risks of spill-over and to stabilize Syria's neighbours.

 

"I reiterate my call to all states, in the region and further afield, to keep borders open and receive all Syrians who seek protection"

 

Help Syrian Children

The ongoing violence in Syria is taking a toll on children and their families. Donate to help UNICEF meet the urgent needs of children.

This is the Link.........

 

www.unicef.org.uk/landing-pages/donate-syria-unicef/?gcli...

You may ignore the donation amount suggestions and type your own amount.

  

.........................................................

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Dr. Narinder and Theresa Shargill attend CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)

Ramadan (Arabic : رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn] ) (also Ramadhan, Ramadaan, Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar , which lasts 29 to 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting , in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking [1] and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God (Arabic : الله‎, trans: Allah ) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the solar calendar , the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon ; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet , Muhammad .

 

Contents

 

[hide ]

 

· 1 Origins of Ramadan

 

· 2 The Beginning of Ramadan

 

· 3 Practices during Ramadan

 

o 3.1 Fasting

 

o 3.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

o 3.3 Iftar

 

o 3.4 Charity

 

o 3.5 Laylat al-Qadr

 

· 4 Eid ul-Fitr

 

· 5 Cultural aspects

 

o 5.1 Decorations

 

· 6 Economic aspects

 

· 7 See also

 

· 8 References

 

· 9 External links

 

[edit ] Origins of Ramadan

 

The word Ramadan is derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[2] scorched ground and shortness of rations. Ramadan, as a name for the month, is of Islamic origin. Prior to Islam and the exclusion of intercalary days from the Islamic calendar, the name of the month was Natiq and the month fell in the warm season.[3] The word was thus chosen as it well represented the original climate of the month and the physiological conditions precipitated from fasting. In the Qur'an, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to a hadith , it might refer to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur .[4] [5]

 

[edit ] The Beginning of Ramadan

 

Hilāl (the crescent ) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[6]

 

There are many disagreements each year however, on when Ramadan starts. This stems from the tradition to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[7] More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.

 

For the year of 1432 Hijri , the first day of Ramadan was determined to be August 1, 2011.

 

[edit ] Practices during Ramadan

 

[edit ] Fasting

 

Main article: Sawm

   

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

 

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood. Those among you who witness it, let him fast therein. Whoever is sick or on a journey, then a number of other days. God desires ease for you, and desires not hardship. Thus may you fulfil the number of days assigned, magnify God for having guided you, and perhaps you will be thankful.

 

Ayah 185, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara ), translation by Tarif Khalidi see:[2] [8]

 

Ramadan is a time of reflecting, believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual intercourse among spouse is allowed after one has ended the fast. During fasting intercourse is prohibited as well as eating and drinking, one is also encouraged to resist all temptations while you are fasting. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[9] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat ).[10]

 

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty , so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women if they believe it would be harmful to them or the unborn baby, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[11] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood , many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[12] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 mi (23 km) in a day as exempt.[10]

 

[edit ] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an

 

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih , which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz' , which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

 

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparation of special foods and inviting people for Iftar .

 

[edit ] Iftar

 

Main article: Iftar

 

Iftar in Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Is Istanbul ,Turkey

 

Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. At sunset, the family will gather the fast-breaking meal known as Iftar . The meal starts with the eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad used to do. Then it's time for the Maghrib prayer, which is the fourth of the five daily prayers, after which the main meal is served. [13]

 

Over time, Iftar has grown into banquet festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.[14]

 

Most markets close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many Muslim countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.

 

[edit ] Charity

 

Charity is very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadhan. According to tradition, Ramadhan is a particularly blessed time to give in charity, as the reward is 700 times greater than any other time of the year. For that reason, Muslims will spend more in charity (sadaqa), and many will pay their zakat during Ramadhan, to receive the blessings (reward). In many Muslim countries, it is not uncommon to see people giving food to the poor and the homeless, and to even see large public areas for the poor to come and break their fast. It is said that if a person helps a fasting person to break their fast, then they receive a reward for that fast, without diminishing the reward that the fasting person got for their fast.

 

[edit ] Laylat al-Qadr

 

Main article: Laylat al-Qadr

 

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year.[15] Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Also, it is believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. Shiites also commemorate the attack on Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib and his subsequent martyrdom every year on the 19th, 21st and 23rd of Ramadan.

 

[edit ] Eid ul-Fitr

 

Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

 

The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic : عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the back to the fitrah ; usually a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr ); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ah only, and it is sunnah muakkad [16] as opposed to the compulsory (Fard) five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.

 

[edit ] Cultural aspects

 

[edit ] Decorations

 

Ramadan is met with various decorations throughout the streets. In Egypt , lanterns are known to be a symbol of Ramadan. They are hung across the cities of Egypt, part of an 800 year old tradition, the origin of which is said to lie in the Fatimid era where the Caliph Al-Muizz Lideenillah was greeted by people holding lanterns to celebrate his ruling. From that time lanterns were used to light mosques and houses throughout the city.

 

In other Muslim countries, lights are strung up in public squares, and across city streets, to add to the festivities of the month. In the West, many Muslim households have taken to decorating the inside of their homes to make Ramadhan a more special time for their children.

 

[edit ] Economic aspects

 

In Egypt, national statistics have pointed to substantial increase in consumption of food, electricity, and medications related to digestive disorders during the month of Ramadan as compared with the monthly average in the rest of the year.[17]

Normally I don't do nudes, but I couldn't resist these gorgeous bodies. "Cradle of Humankind" Visitor's Centre, Maropeng, Kromdraai, Gauteng, South Africa.

"Television and Fire"

 

Jeff Nisbet and Johnny Andrew Gigliotti Bailik (Godfuel)

  

Curated by:

Liza Mitchell

 

Contact:

Liza Mitchell 310-489-8998

liza4lov@aol.com

 

Dates:

Sept. 26th - October 29th 2009

Artist reception: Sat., Oct. 17th, 2009 6-9 PM

Preview: Sat, Sept. 26th 6-9 PM

2nd Saturday ArtWalk: Oct. 10th, 6-9 PM

 

Location:

309 Pine Avenue

 

Phantom Galleries LA Long Beach invites you to experience the imposing and vibrant paintings of Jeff Nisbet and Johnny Bailik (Godfuel). The themes of “Television and Fire” ignite the room with the two of the most culture changing inventions of humankind. Join us to explore these talented artists’ exploration and interpretations.

-------

The following should be linked and then on a separate page. Thanks

 

Should appear on the gallery page as

Jeff Nisbet Bio

GODFUEL Bio

  

Jeff Nisbet Bio

 

‘television’ is a body of work that deals with physical application processes, light projection, and aleatory operations. It focuses on the object quality of television. Juxtaposed are tiles drawn from commercial signage, emphasizing the social politics of the television as a network for consumerism. The tiles have been consciously situated to subvert an advertising message. The true chance occurrence is the smear.

 

Jeff Nisbet is as an artist and curator living and working in Long Beach. After graduating with a B.F.A. in painting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in spring 2009, he moved to Long Beach and has recently taken up the position of curator at Sipology Galerie. Jeff has been showing in Honolulu for the last three years at the Loft Gallery, the Common’s Gallery, the University of Hawaii Main Gallery, Soullenz Gallery, bar35 Bar and Gallery, and The Manifest. He has had two solo shows at the Loft Gallery, located in Honolulu’s Chinatown District, and has performed twice in April of 2008 and 2009 at Art Mania using the innards of disused computers.

  

www.jeffnisbet.com

---------

GODFUEL Bio

  

JOHNNY ANDREW GIGLIOTTI BAILIK (GODFUEL)

 

Johnny Andrew Gigliotti Bailik was born in the same steel town as the late Andy Warhol; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1989 he studied privately at the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts and in 1992 he moved to the Cleveland, Ohio area to attend the Nationally Accredited Bliss Hall School of Fine and Performing Arts.

 

In 1994 Bailik organized with other fellow art students an Anti-Censorship exhibition which featured a lecture by Andres Serrano, most known for his photograph entitled "Piss Christ", as well as a speech by Dennis Barrie, who was the director of the Contemporary Arts Center of Cincinnati during the infamous Robert Mapplethorpe obscenity trial. In 1996 Bailik helped to organize a regionally legendary show entitled "Spectacle", a multi-media, collaborative, outdoor performance that contained everything from static art to interactive sculpture to extravagant performance art.

 

Bailik's travels and life as an artist has also made it possible for him to meet such artists as Paul Jenkins, Dennis Oppenheim, Julian Schnabel, Ed Moses, Mark DiSuvero, Dennis Hopper, and Robert Rauschenberg to name a few, as well as to work with artists of varying degrees and aesthetics.

 

Since 1991 Bailik's work has been primarily painting, but has also included sculpture, video, and installations. It has been displayed internationally in contemporary and modern museums, commercial galleries, and private collections. He has also won awards and grants in multi-media, video installation, and painting. Bailik moved to Los Angeles, California at the end of 1999. He states, "I have been profoundly affected by the 'City of Angels'. The energy, spirituality, diversity, the eclecticism of the culture and the land has altered my work dramatically. It is a beautiful time and place to explore." Johnny Bailik continues to live and work in his Venice studio.

  

(awards)

 

2000, 2003, 2004; J. Miletta Award in Painting

 

1997; Stephen Stackhouse Memorial Award in Art

 

1996, 1997; Butler Institute of American Art Award

 

1994 - 1997; Florence Simon Beecher Art Grant

 

1993 - 1997; Bliss Hall Fine Art Scholarship

 

1993; John Mitchell Award in Design

  

(education)

 

1997; BFA (Painting), Bliss Hall, Youngstown, OH.

 

1992; Hoyt Institute of Fine Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

  

(exhibitions)

 

2009, Phantom Galleries LA., Long Beach, CA.

2009, T. Lambert Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

2008, Joined Medea Gallery, San Pedro, CA.

2007, Final Round Art Dubai, Dubai U.A.E.

2007, DCA Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.

2006, Group Show, The Brick House, Venice, CA.

2006, Group Show, Montagna Galleria, Rome, Italy

2005, DCA Gallery, Venice, CA.

2004, Joined DCA Gallery, Venice, CA.

2003, Group Show, Cleenewerck Group Show, Venice, CA.

2003, Group Show, T. Lambert Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

2001, Private Show, Curated by Kaat Cleenewerck, Venice, CA.

2001, Group Show, Montagna Galleria, Rome, Italy

2001, Solo Exhibit, Pergandy Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

2001; Solo Exhibit, T. Lambert Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

2000, Group Show, gallerie 119, Bruxelles, Belgium

1999; Solo Exhibit, T. Lambert Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

1998; Group show of selected Abstract Painting, T. Lambert Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA.

1998; Solo Exhibit, Pergandy Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

1997; Solo Exhibit, "The Dissolution Series", The Artists Guild, Warren, OH.

1997; "Collaborative Project", selected group, site specific installation, Cleveland, OH.

1997; Selected pieces from "The Dissolution Series", Cedar Gallery, Youngstown, OH.

1997; Senior Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1997; Juried Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1996; "Spectacle", a multi-media, collaborative, outdoor performance, Cleveland, OH.

1996; Juried Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1995; Juried "Works on Paper", McDonough Museum of Art

1995; "D2" Group show, Cleveland, OH.

1994; Anti-Censorship Exhibit, Bliss Gallery, Youngstown, OH.

1994; Juried Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1994; Juried "Works on Paper", McDonough Museum of Art

1993; Juried Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1992; Hoyt Institute of Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

1991; Hoyt Institute of Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

  

(positions)

 

2003; Ace Institute of Contemporary Art, Installations Preparator, Los Angeles, CA.

 

2000 - 2009; godfuel studios, Creative Director, Venice, CA.

 

1997; Gallery Preparator, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH.

 

1994 - 1997; Installations Coordinator, McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown, OH.

 

1993 - 1996; "The Art Association" Officer, Cleveland, OH.

  

(publications)

 

"Kunst en Culture" magazine - 2000

 

"Deze Week in Brussel" weekly newspaper - 2000

 

"The Art of Digital Imaging: Principles & Processes" by Jon Krasner 1998

 

"Pig Iron Press" publication featuring an article on Bailik’s work, which also covered work by Andres Serrano - 1994

  

Is it true that only humankind can dream ? No, my ants can dream too !!! And definitely aphids are part of their dream !!!

Here are some scenes from their dreams !!!

 

Friends, weekend is fast approaching; plan well. Till then work like an ant !!!

 

You can see here how a black dream would be !!!

"Television and Fire"

 

Jeff Nisbet and Johnny Andrew Gigliotti Bailik (Godfuel)

  

Curated by:

Liza Mitchell

 

Contact:

Liza Mitchell 310-489-8998

liza4lov@aol.com

 

Dates:

Sept. 26th - October 29th 2009

Artist reception: Sat., Oct. 17th, 2009 6-9 PM

Preview: Sat, Sept. 26th 6-9 PM

2nd Saturday ArtWalk: Oct. 10th, 6-9 PM

 

Location:

309 Pine Avenue

 

Phantom Galleries LA Long Beach invites you to experience the imposing and vibrant paintings of Jeff Nisbet and Johnny Bailik (Godfuel). The themes of “Television and Fire” ignite the room with the two of the most culture changing inventions of humankind. Join us to explore these talented artists’ exploration and interpretations.

-------

The following should be linked and then on a separate page. Thanks

 

Should appear on the gallery page as

Jeff Nisbet Bio

GODFUEL Bio

  

Jeff Nisbet Bio

 

‘television’ is a body of work that deals with physical application processes, light projection, and aleatory operations. It focuses on the object quality of television. Juxtaposed are tiles drawn from commercial signage, emphasizing the social politics of the television as a network for consumerism. The tiles have been consciously situated to subvert an advertising message. The true chance occurrence is the smear.

 

Jeff Nisbet is as an artist and curator living and working in Long Beach. After graduating with a B.F.A. in painting from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in spring 2009, he moved to Long Beach and has recently taken up the position of curator at Sipology Galerie. Jeff has been showing in Honolulu for the last three years at the Loft Gallery, the Common’s Gallery, the University of Hawaii Main Gallery, Soullenz Gallery, bar35 Bar and Gallery, and The Manifest. He has had two solo shows at the Loft Gallery, located in Honolulu’s Chinatown District, and has performed twice in April of 2008 and 2009 at Art Mania using the innards of disused computers.

  

www.jeffnisbet.com

---------

GODFUEL Bio

  

JOHNNY ANDREW GIGLIOTTI BAILIK (GODFUEL)

 

Johnny Andrew Gigliotti Bailik was born in the same steel town as the late Andy Warhol; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1989 he studied privately at the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts and in 1992 he moved to the Cleveland, Ohio area to attend the Nationally Accredited Bliss Hall School of Fine and Performing Arts.

 

In 1994 Bailik organized with other fellow art students an Anti-Censorship exhibition which featured a lecture by Andres Serrano, most known for his photograph entitled "Piss Christ", as well as a speech by Dennis Barrie, who was the director of the Contemporary Arts Center of Cincinnati during the infamous Robert Mapplethorpe obscenity trial. In 1996 Bailik helped to organize a regionally legendary show entitled "Spectacle", a multi-media, collaborative, outdoor performance that contained everything from static art to interactive sculpture to extravagant performance art.

 

Bailik's travels and life as an artist has also made it possible for him to meet such artists as Paul Jenkins, Dennis Oppenheim, Julian Schnabel, Ed Moses, Mark DiSuvero, Dennis Hopper, and Robert Rauschenberg to name a few, as well as to work with artists of varying degrees and aesthetics.

 

Since 1991 Bailik's work has been primarily painting, but has also included sculpture, video, and installations. It has been displayed internationally in contemporary and modern museums, commercial galleries, and private collections. He has also won awards and grants in multi-media, video installation, and painting. Bailik moved to Los Angeles, California at the end of 1999. He states, "I have been profoundly affected by the 'City of Angels'. The energy, spirituality, diversity, the eclecticism of the culture and the land has altered my work dramatically. It is a beautiful time and place to explore." Johnny Bailik continues to live and work in his Venice studio.

  

(awards)

 

2000, 2003, 2004; J. Miletta Award in Painting

 

1997; Stephen Stackhouse Memorial Award in Art

 

1996, 1997; Butler Institute of American Art Award

 

1994 - 1997; Florence Simon Beecher Art Grant

 

1993 - 1997; Bliss Hall Fine Art Scholarship

 

1993; John Mitchell Award in Design

  

(education)

 

1997; BFA (Painting), Bliss Hall, Youngstown, OH.

 

1992; Hoyt Institute of Fine Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

  

(exhibitions)

 

2009, Phantom Galleries LA., Long Beach, CA.

2009, T. Lambert Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

2008, Joined Medea Gallery, San Pedro, CA.

2007, Final Round Art Dubai, Dubai U.A.E.

2007, DCA Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.

2006, Group Show, The Brick House, Venice, CA.

2006, Group Show, Montagna Galleria, Rome, Italy

2005, DCA Gallery, Venice, CA.

2004, Joined DCA Gallery, Venice, CA.

2003, Group Show, Cleenewerck Group Show, Venice, CA.

2003, Group Show, T. Lambert Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

2001, Private Show, Curated by Kaat Cleenewerck, Venice, CA.

2001, Group Show, Montagna Galleria, Rome, Italy

2001, Solo Exhibit, Pergandy Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

2001; Solo Exhibit, T. Lambert Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

2000, Group Show, gallerie 119, Bruxelles, Belgium

1999; Solo Exhibit, T. Lambert Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

1998; Group show of selected Abstract Painting, T. Lambert Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA.

1998; Solo Exhibit, Pergandy Gallery, Cleveland, OH.

1997; Solo Exhibit, "The Dissolution Series", The Artists Guild, Warren, OH.

1997; "Collaborative Project", selected group, site specific installation, Cleveland, OH.

1997; Selected pieces from "The Dissolution Series", Cedar Gallery, Youngstown, OH.

1997; Senior Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1997; Juried Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1996; "Spectacle", a multi-media, collaborative, outdoor performance, Cleveland, OH.

1996; Juried Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1995; Juried "Works on Paper", McDonough Museum of Art

1995; "D2" Group show, Cleveland, OH.

1994; Anti-Censorship Exhibit, Bliss Gallery, Youngstown, OH.

1994; Juried Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1994; Juried "Works on Paper", McDonough Museum of Art

1993; Juried Exhibition, McDonough Museum of Art

1992; Hoyt Institute of Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

1991; Hoyt Institute of Art, Pittsburgh, PA.

  

(positions)

 

2003; Ace Institute of Contemporary Art, Installations Preparator, Los Angeles, CA.

 

2000 - 2009; godfuel studios, Creative Director, Venice, CA.

 

1997; Gallery Preparator, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH.

 

1994 - 1997; Installations Coordinator, McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown, OH.

 

1993 - 1996; "The Art Association" Officer, Cleveland, OH.

  

(publications)

 

"Kunst en Culture" magazine - 2000

 

"Deze Week in Brussel" weekly newspaper - 2000

 

"The Art of Digital Imaging: Principles & Processes" by Jon Krasner 1998

 

"Pig Iron Press" publication featuring an article on Bailik’s work, which also covered work by Andres Serrano - 1994

  

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Jill Pietrowiak attends CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)

Hi there

 

This image taken from Magaliesburg in the Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng,

South Africa

 

Photographer:

Mitchell Krog (

 

GPS:

 

S 26 00'33" E 27 28'18"

 

Camera Details:

 

Nikon D3x

 

Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8

 

1/250 @ F/8

 

ISO 100

 

8-Stop Neutral Density Filter (2 stacked)

 

Description:

Taken from my farm in the North-West corner of Gauteng bordering the North

West Province. We awoke to cloudy skies and rain but luckily at the height

of the event we had some breaks in the clouds. I took this one showing the

whole view that presented itself to me. It's small but look closely and you

can clearly see the eclipsed sun.

 

Kind Regards

 

Mitchell Krog

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Fred Najjar, Sally Miller, Samira Najjar, Dr. Narinder and Theresa Shargill attend CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Natalie Shrik for Drew Altizer Photography)

   

Foreign Press Center Briefing with Under Secretary Catherine Novelli and Foreign Minister of Chile Heraldo Muñoz

 

MODERATOR: (In progress) to the New York Foreign Press Center. We are very honored to have with us today Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, and Heraldo Muñoz, the Foreign Minister of Chile. The under secretary and the foreign minister are here to preview the Ocean Conference that Chile is hosting next week. This briefing is on the record. After opening remarks, we will open the floor to questions from the media and conclude the press conference after journalists have had the opportunity to ask their questions. The under secretary and the foreign minister have agreed to remain after the official press conference to answer some questions from students. Journalists, please wait for the microphone, and state your name and media affiliation when you’re called upon.

Before I turn it over to Under Secretary Novelli, let’s watch a message from Secretary of State John Kerry that features Foreign Minister Muñoz:

  

“SECRETARY KERRY: Growing up along the coast of Massachusetts, I developed a powerful connection to the ocean at a very early age. But it wasn’t until much later that I discovered how significant the ocean is to all of humankind.

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: (In Spanish.)

  

SECRETARY KERRY: Last year I asked for your help in protecting our oceans, and I encouraged leaders around the world to take action. Together we are making progress. We’ve established new marine protected areas across the globe. Efforts to end illegal fishing and seafood fraud are gaining momentum. We’re raising awareness about how plastic waste harms our ocean, and we are working on solutions.

  

Many countries are cutting carbon emissions that cause ocean acidification.

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: (In Spanish.)

  

SECRETARY KERRY: Show your support and make a commitment to leave behind a healthy and vibrant ocean for future generations. Recycle more and reduce the amount of plastic that you use. Only eat legally caught sustainable seafood. Reduce your carbon footprint to help stop ocean acidification and climate change.

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: (In Spanish.)

  

SECRETARY KERRY: Que hara usted para ayudar a proteger nuestro oceano?

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: Let us know on social media using #OurOcean2015.”

  

MODERATOR: And with that, I’ll turn it over to Under Secretary Novelli.

  

UNDER SECRETARY NOVELLI: Thank you very much. It is an absolute honor to be here today with Foreign Minister Muñoz. He and his government have shown incredible leadership on ocean issues, not just for this conference but all along the way. And I am really excited that both the Secretary and myself will be visiting Valparaiso, Chile next week for the second Our Ocean Conference, and I just want to thank him for his commitment.

  

As the world leaders gather here in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly, the fate of our ocean is as an important part of the agenda. The UN has just adopted a 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which will guide the work of the UN and member-states for the next 15 years, and a critical component of achieving all of the global goals will be conservation and sustainable use of the world’s oceans and marine resources.

  

This is the good news. And the good news is that there is a growing understanding that a healthy and resilient ocean will help drive widespread and shared prosperity, including economic, food, energy security, and will ensure the health of our planet for generations to come. It’s been about a year since Secretary Kerry convened the first Our Ocean Conference in Washington, D.C., and that conference aimed to spur action on the threats to our ocean. Since then, the United States and its partners around the world have been working together to tackle challenges such as ocean acidification, sustainable fishing, and marine debris. And we’ve made a lot of progress, and so our momentum going forward is only going stronger.

  

And so we’re very pleased that all of you came here to cover this event in such a busy UNGA week, and I think we’re all here because we recognize that a healthy ocean is essential to life on Earth. Phytoplankton in the ocean produces more than half of the oxygen we breathe. A healthy ocean provides us with millions of jobs through fishing, tourism, other industries, and with a nutritious source of protein for billions of people. In short, we can’t live without a healthy ocean, and the well-being of our citizens depends heavily on how we treat it. That’s why the United States, Chile, and other governments around the world, civil society, the private sector, are all working together to protect the ocean and ensure that we use its valuable resources in a sustainable manner.

  

Just to go over a few things of where we’ve been in terms of last year’s Ocean Conference and the tremendous commitments that came out of that, we are moving closer – the United States and all of our partners – to the goal of having 10 percent of the ocean and coastal areas managed by marine protected areas. Those are areas where we don’t allow fishing or other economic activity. And we are working to ensure that these areas, the ones that have been declared, are properly enforced. Shortly after the conference last year, President Obama expanded the Pacific Remote Islands Monument, making it the largest marine protected area in the world closed to commercial extractive activities.

  

Illegal fishing and seafood fraud are also seriously undermining the economic and environmental sustainability of fisheries around the world, and it’s estimated that we lose billions of dollars to illegal fishing around the globe. In the U.S., for us it’s especially important because we import 90 percent of our seafood. So to address this problem, U.S. Government agencies, in consultation with environment groups, the seafood industry, and other governments are implementing the recommendations that the U.S. Presidential Task Force to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Seafood Fraud, which is a long name – short name is IUU – and that task force was set up as part of the Our Ocean Conference last year. It has now come out with recommendations, including an exciting new traceability program that’s going to track seafood from the harvest anywhere in the world to entry into the United States and is going to allow consumers to know where their seafood’s come from and whether or not it was sustainably harvested.

  

We think this is extremely important because we want to create a level playing field and reward honest fishermen and women both here in the United States as well as around the world globally. We’re also working to reduce marine pollution and concentrating on marine plastics. It’s estimated that about 80 percent of the plastics in the ocean are land-based, and so we’re focusing our efforts on improving waste management systems and programs in key countries across Asia, as well as innovative waste-to-energy solutions, so actually turning the waste into energy.

  

As you also know, the United States is playing a strong leadership role in addressing greenhouse gas emissions that not only lead to climate change, which is well known, but also lead to acidification of the ocean. And this acidification has very significant consequences for marine ecosystems and shellfish industries. The ocean has absorbed 30 percent of the carbon that has been put into the atmosphere, so it’s a great bellwether of what is going on. President Obama and Secretary Kerry are fully committed to achieving an ambitious and durable international agreement at the COP 21 in Paris later this year, and our stated intention is to cut greenhouse gas emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels in 2025. And this is relevant to this discussion today because it’s going to contribute substantially to the international efforts to reduce ocean acidification as well as climate change.

  

We’re looking forward to moving the ball forward on all of these things in Chile next week in Valparaiso. There’s already an incredible lineup of participants as well as concrete commitments that the United States and other participants expect to unveil, and that will – the unveiling will wait until then. And this is really due to the fantastic leadership of Foreign Minister Muñoz and his team, and so we are very gratified that we have had the opportunity to work with them on this oceans – Our Ocean II Conference. And I’m going to hand this over to him to describe more their efforts, but again, I just want to commend the foreign minister for his courage and his vision. Thank you. (Applause.)

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: Thank you very much. First of all, let me thank Under Secretary Cathy Novelli and Secretary of State John Kerry for their initiative to have organized the first Our Ocean Conference and now to have given us the baton to continue on to the second conference that will take place in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar on the 5th and 6th of October.

  

We are very pleased to be partners in this endeavor because protecting our oceans is betting on the future. The ocean – and the conference is called Our Ocean, in singular – not in plural – because scientists have proven that through maritime currents, really there’s only one single ocean and that belongs to all of us and it is the responsibility of all to protect for the present and future generations. So that’s why a country like Chile, that has a very long coast, our future depends on the sustainable use of the ocean, and that’s why we’ve taken up this challenge of organizing this second conference and to confront the dangers that ail the ocean.

  

And these are basically three that I think Under Secretary Novelli has described very well: First of all, illegal and unregulated and unreported fishing. It is estimated that illegal fishing could amount to up to $20 billion in terms of business. And this would be like the third most profitable illegal business in the world after drug trafficking and illegal trade of arms. And this is because the consumption of fish and products of the sea by individuals has increased enormously. FAO has estimated that during the 1960s, the per capita consumption at the world level was about 9.9 kilograms of fishing products. That has increased to almost 20 kilos per capita during the present – during present days. So that’s one danger that we have. We have to control, we have to regulate illegal fishing.

  

Second, acidification of the oceans which affect the corals and the change – the chain of biodiversity on which fish and mammals in the ocean feed. And that acidification, it is estimated by some studies, has increased about 30 percent since the Industrial Revolution.

  

And the third danger is the pollution of the ocean, particularly plastics. And here there’s a huge responsibility about recycling and reducing the use of plastics because plastics in the ocean accumulate and constitute veritable islands and then disintegrate. So that it is estimated that there is at least five concentrations of plastic, one in the so-called Indian Ocean, one in the north Atlantic, one in the south Atlantic, one in the north Pacific Ocean and in the south. In the one in the south – it’s near Rapa Nui – Easter Island – which is part of Chilean territory. And it is estimated that some of these concentrations of plastic reach a depth almost 80 meters and then disintegrate and affect, of course, fish and biodiversity.

  

So we have to tackle this. In order to do that, I think one of the elements that attracted Chile to support the initiative taken by Secretary Kerry and Cathy was that this is not a talk shop that we’re going to have in Chile. Certainly, there will be speeches, but more important than that, we want commitments – voluntary commitment by governments and by institutions of civil society, because this is not only a government responsibility. It is first and foremost, but it’s also civil society that can also contribute in a major way, so that we are asking those that are attending and speaking up to make voluntary commitments, to tell us what they are going to do to protect the ocean, whether it be a bill, whether it be a protected area – maritime protected area, or any other initiatives that will contribute to tackle the three problems that I’ve just listed.

  

And those of us who went to Washington last year when John Kerry organized the first conference will have to report on what we did and what we promised. Chile promised three things: First, that we would organize the second conference; we are doing that. Second, that we would have a new policy on illegal fishing, and we’ve done that, and we’re going to report specifically on what. And third, that we will join the United Nations fish stock agreement – the so-called New York agreement that would allow us to fiscalize better what goes on beyond the 200-mile exclusive economic zone, and we’re going to do that.

  

And now, the idea is that reporting what we’d promised, we do new commitments. And I’m not going to speak about that, because I’ll leave it as a surprise for Valparaiso where we will be talking about new commitments that Chile will be making and all other countries attending will do the same as well as, as I said, civil society. So we’re very excited about what’s coming soon in Valparaiso.

  

We are very happy to be working also with important foundations and NGOs like National Geographic, like Oceana, like Pew, many others that will be attending there at the high level where we’ll have some high-level personalities, as well as government officials. For certain Cathy and John will be there. But anybody from Prince Albert of Monaco to many foreign ministers, the commissioner of fishing from the European Union, the director general of the FAO – well, it’s a long list of government officials and representatives of civil society. So I – we hope that Valparaiso will be a major step forward.

  

And as Cathy Novelli was just saying, we just approved the SDGs, the Sustainable Development Goals, and goal number 14 is the protection of the oceans. So this is a way to begin honoring a commitment that we just approved at the highest level. This is the way we are honoring the commitments, we feel, so that we’re very excited about what will transpire in Valparaiso within a week or so. Thank you. (Applause.)

  

MODERATOR: Thank you very much, Under Secretary Novelli, Minister Muñoz, for those opening remarks. We’ll go to questions.

  

Right here.

  

QUESTION: Hi. My name is Kahraman Haliscelik from Turkish radio and television. It’s great to see you again, Mr. Foreign Minister, here. Now, the issue of marine pollution. There are a lot of private companies, conglomerates that are actually also polluting the ocean – ships in the ocean. How do you think preventing this could be enforced? Thank you.

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: Well, about – let’s see, about plastic, which is one of the major threats – clearly, recycling is one answer. Less use of plastics, and the key is that all the plastic in the ocean comes from land, from us. So that is the first realization that we have to have, and we have to stop throwing waste into the ocean. In addition to that, we are seeing now that increasingly there are companies that are picking up that and recycling. It’s very difficult to pick it up once concentrated because it begins to disintegrate into tiny little pieces. And that’s one of the challenges that we have. But, for example, I know of companies that will be present in this second conference that are picking up the plastic in islands, bringing it up to the continent, and recycling it. And that – I think anything that goes in that direction, I think it would be very positive.

  

Evidently, in terms of longer term, education is fundamental. This is in a sense a pedagogic endeavor as well, because to create consciousness that the oceans are fundamental for our future. Why are we creating maritime protected areas? Because they’re like saving accounts for the future. And we have to have those saving accounts, obviously, free of plastic waste. So that to the extent that we’re creating consciousness with this conference, this – that will also be a great of – deal of help, I think.

  

UNDER SECRETARY NOVELLI: If I could just add one thing to the fantastic answer of the foreign minister, I think there’s also some long-term things that we can think about. In the short term we have to concentrate on keeping the waste from going into the ocean. And in the longer term, we need to really think about how do we redesign packaging, how do we both use less and also how do we use different materials so that we really can be in what’s been referred to as the circular economy so that everything that’s used gets re-used, but that depends on what’s used in the first place. And there’s some really good work that’s being done, pioneering work that’s being done both on how to redesign packaging, but also on using biopolymers and other things. And so those folks are going to be present at the conference, too. And this is going to be a whole-of-Earth effort to be able to tackle this.

  

QUESTION: Actually, two questions. Alexey Osipov from Novosty. With all respect to the United States and Chile with – as a strong country with the longest coastal lane, it looks too weak. Where is China, Russia, Australia? Who invited to the conference to the Valparaiso? Who supported the program that you presented today?

  

UNDER SECRETARY NOVELLI: Well, let me just talk about the conference, the first conference, and I’ll let the minister talk about this one. But we invited – there were countries from everywhere at the first Our Ocean Conference. It wasn’t just the United States and Chile; there were foreign ministers from all over the world. And all of those folks made significant commitments as to what their countries were going to do. So I think the reason why the minister and I are up here is because we hosted the first one and Chile’s hosting the second one, but it’s not that we’re just the only two people standing up here. But I’ll let the minister talk about who’s coming to the second one.

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: Well, we’ve invited a representation of countries from all over the world. In fact, you asked about Russia, and we’ve invited Foreign Minister Lavrov. In fact, I’m still waiting for an answer. I hope that he can be there, and I will be seeing him in the next couple of days, and I hope to get a positive answer. We invited China as well at the highest level, and we know that there’s a high official attending from China.

  

So there’s been a very wide representation of countries that will be there, large countries and small countries, because here, you have to have due respect for small countries that – their own survival is sort of at stake. So we’ve invited Caribbean countries because we wanted this time, since it is in Chile, to have a little bit of a more regional dimension, so that – for instance, the foreign minister of Jamaica is attending; very possibly, the first lady of Belize, who is very involved in these issues. We’ve invited the foreign minister of Trinidad and Tobago. We hope that he’ll be coming. We’ve invited the foreign minister of Guyana.

  

So we still, in the – as it always occurs with these conferences, we sometimes have confirmations in the last minute. But it’s a very wide range of countries, no discrimination of any region, but – large countries and small, and many have a large stake because their future is very much at stake if we don’t act.

  

QUESTION: And one more question: Today, largest oil and gas producer is looking there, oil and gas far from even the coastal line. And you mentioned already the marine pollution and plastic – yeah, it’s huge issues, big issues. And what about oil and gas?

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: Well, look. The ocean – Our Ocean Conference, that’s not aimed at impeding the exploration, exploitation of oil and gas. That’s a reality. We also need gas even though I would prefer that we increasingly use renewables as a source of energy. But that’s part of life.

  

But what are we doing? There is three elements in this conference that I think are relatively new as regards to the first one. One is marine-protected areas that we are underlining even more than the first conference. And marine-protected areas is – as I said before, it’s like a savings account, and it will mean that in the future then, we will protect it from these type of activities and from illegal fishing and et cetera, and from any fishing that is not – from any fishing. So that, I think, is something that I should underline.

  

Second element that I think is very important: We are going to underline oceanic island communities this time so that we will have the mayor of Easter Island, as it is known here – but in Chile we know it as Rapa Nui – we will have the mayor of Juan Fernandez, which is a major island. You know the story of Robinson Crusoe happened in those islands. Because communities – oceanic island communities have very much at stake and they have very much of a high interest in protecting the oceans – the waters that surround them. So that, I think, will be an element.

  

And third, philanthropic initiatives. Increasingly, there is civil society and philanthropists that are very interested in contributing. And there will be a strong presence of philanthropists as well.

  

All of this makes us confident that we can make a difference with these conferences, particularly because, as I said, the idea is voluntary commitments. Nobody’s forcing anybody to sign anything if they don’t want to. If they come, we expect them to make announcement to make promises and to comply by them.

  

UNDER SECRETARY NOVELLI: Can I just add to that? I think that the concept of the blue economy is really starting to be discussed more and more. And the meaning of that term comes from the idea that you can have blue, meaning sort of sustainable, but also economic activity at the same time, and that you don’t have to say that economic activity is somehow the enemy of conservation. And in fact, the goal is to find a way to have both. It’s not an either/or, it’s an “and.” And that is also something that I think is going to be more and more discussed as we go forward, because there is an incredible source of natural resources and fish themselves which are feeding huge swaths of the world. So we do have to think about how do we conserve that, but we conserve it so that we can continue to use it.

  

QUESTION: Hello, my name is Seana Magee from Kyodo News. I’m sorry. I didn’t know if Japan participated in your first meeting. And I’m wondering, will they be participating, at what level, and what contributions do you feel Japan can make as a seafood nation of importance?

  

And also, could you tell us a little bit about how you plan to tackle the illegal fishing – I’m sorry. Illegal fishing – do you have any proposals that are on the table or that you hope to present at this next meeting? Thank you.

  

FOREIGN MINISTER MUÑOZ: I don’t recall if Japan was represented in the first conference, and I don’t know whether they will be represented at the second one. I hope they will be. I don’t recall whether there’s a high official, though. They would be welcome for certain.

  

As regards how to combat illegal fishing, there are various tools. One of them is the New York Fish Stock Agreement, for example, because joining that instrument allows us to exercise control beyond the 200-mile zone over illegal fishing, particularly because a lot of these illegal ships position themselves right by the 200-mile limit and they go in and out. And since this New York agreement is aimed at highly migratory species, the idea is that we can exercise control that we didn’t have if we didn’t join the New York agreement. So this is one of the instruments.

  

Evidently, there is more technological instruments, so that we need satellite observation, for example. We need satellite instruments to know exactly where they are, these boats fishing illegally. And we’ve discovered them even within our exclusive economic zone. Happily, in Chile we have a very active navy, and that navy’s always trying to spot the illegal ships fishing illegally. And that – we’ve had many instances where we have captured those boats, taken them to port, and fined them heavily for fishing in our zone.

  

So that’s happening just about every day. Our navy picks up – when it’s bigger ships, we’ve had observation. I myself was at the Desventuradas Island. These islands are in the north of Chile, and we went with the navy in an observation plane. We went to the island – which is a beautiful island, by the way; Oceana has done a film about the richness that we have below there – and as we were coming back, there was a major ship that is known for fishing illegally. And we went over to spot it, and they were fishing just beyond the 200-mile limit. They were just there. And we went down in the plane about 20 meters above it so that – to make them nervous at least. I’m not going to give the name of the ship.

  

So that’s a way to exercise control over illegal fishing, but one needs resources. That’s the key. And when you have such a long coast and you are a developing country, then satellite observation, data gathering is absolutely fundamental.

  

UNDER SECRETARY NOVELLI: And I would add to that – and I completely agree with all of those things – there’s another agreement called the Port State Measures Agreement. That’s a treaty Chile’s already ratified and that we’re – the United States is working on ratified – we’ve acceded to, and so have a number of other countries. And what’s wonderful about this is that it basically says that if you sign it, you’re not going to allow these boats who have been illegally fishing and identified as such to actually enter your port. And so they don’t have anywhere to then go and sell their fish, which is, I think, a fantastic way to dis-incentivize this fishing.

  

The other thing that, as I said, we’re going to do in the United States is to institute what we hope is going to be a state-of-the-art traceability program, so that we’re going to basically say that unless you can show where this fish has come from, it’s not going to enter the commerce of the United States. And what we’re hoping is that we can work with other countries to also help them institute these kind of things, and we’re already speaking – the European Union has a system that’s slightly different than ours but also very strict, and we’re both speaking with Japan. We are the three largest seafood markets among us, and so we’re hoping that that can have an impact.

  

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Unfortunately, we’re out of time for the press conference. Thank you all for attending. The transcript will be posted soon to fpc.state.gov.

  

# # #

  

TOPIC: WAVES OF CHANGE: AN UPDATE ON OCEAN POLICY AND PRACTICES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015, 12:30 P.M. EDT

  

NEW YORK FOREIGN PRESS CENTER 799 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA, 10TH FLOOR

Article sourced from

 

www.gsbkerala.com/satyanar.htm

  

Satya Narayan is the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. Satyanarayana is worshipped commonly by Hindus in their homes with family and friends, usually on a full moon (purnima) day of the month. In this puja called Satyanarayana Pooja, people worship by reciting the gracious story of Lord Satyanarayana. This story was originally told by Lord Vishnu himself to the sage Narada for the benefit of humankind.

 

This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. The satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja. Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast.

  

The prasad for this vrita is known as Sapaad which is prepared thus: Take an equal measure of rava, Milk, Ghee, Banana, Sugar ( the measure should be 1 1/4 or multiples thereof ) cook it till all mix into a paste.

 

The Pooja or Vrata

 

The vrata is explained in five chapters. The first or the introductory chapter deals with the timing of the vrata and the procedure to go about it. The remaining four chapters contain three stories to reassert the greatness and benevolence of the Almighty. The stories weave out such anecdotes, which reveal the significance of the vrata quite effectively. The vrata is also revealed in nine chapters in some books.

 

On the day of the vrata, it is required to fast and perform the pooja towards the evening. In a sacred pooja room, a new cloth has to be spread on an elevated platform. Rice about a Kg is to be spread on the cloth and in the centre and a kalash capped with a new cloth piece should be placed and on that the token or a small idol of the Lord has to be positioned. A Panchamruta (a mixture of ghee, milk, sugar, honey and curds) abhishekam has to be performed.

 

Vrata begins with the lighting of the lamp, a symbolic gesture of lighting the lamp of devotion in one's heart. Then we pray to Lord Ganesha, the dispeller of obstacles, Lakshmi, the giver of prosperity, Vishnu, the sustainer, Lord Shiva and Parvathi, the primordial couple who dance their way to cosmic rhythm, Sun God, the giver of good health, the nine planets and Ashtadikpaalakas including Lord Indra.

 

Shri Satyanarayana

  

Lord Ganesha and Panchaloka Paalakaas should be positioned to the north of the Kalasha and can be worshipped through areca nuts or almonds or turmeric pods or dry dates. Later, the nine planets should be worshipped by placing areca nuts on betel leaves followed by Lord Indra and other Dikpaalakaas. Later the Lord Satyanarayana's idol or image on betel leaf should be worshipped through panchamruta abhisheka. The pooja runs in ashtottara or satanaama attributes and culminates with haarathi and taamboolam. At the end of the vrata there is udvaasana, a formal way of concluding the pooja. The vrata can be performed by every devout individual by inviting brahmins, friends and relatives. The underlying spirit is to bring in as many people as possible into the divine cult.

 

Pooja Materials:

 

A book on the vrata (It is preferable to seek help of a purohit), a square platform, mango leaves, two new cloth pieces, kalasha, lord's idol or a photograph, turmeric, kumkum, panchamruta, six coconuts, prasada, four oil lamps, sandal paste, incense sticks, betel leaves, two garlands, areca nuts, turmeric pods, dry dates or almonds, camphor, offerings in form of cash or coins, tulsi leaves and flowers.

 

Satyanarayana Katha

 

CHAPTER 1

Shri Sathyanaranayana katha is from Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Sutha Puraanikji was the narrator of these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the rishis lead by Shounakji who were performing a 1000 year yajna for the benefit of mankind.

 

Shounakaji and others now ask Suta Puranikji an important question. "When a man has a desire, how can he fulfill that ethically sound desire? By worshipping whom, by what vrita, or tapas? Please let us know.

 

Sutaji was pleased to know that this question they asked, was for the benefit of the mankind and not for their personal benefit, for, they had abandoned their homes and all desires. Sutaji said " this question was also asked by Devarshi Naradaji once to Lord Narayana Himself; Let me tell you that story.

 

Once Naradaji was traveling all over the worlds and finally came to Bhuloka, where he found almost everyone was suffering one or the other misery on account of their past Karmas and were not knowing how to extricate themselves from their untold miseries which were multiplying everyday on account of their ignorance. Being a Satjana his heart felt their agonies and immediately he reached Vaikunta, to Lord Narayana to find the right answer for getting the people out of their miseries. But when he sees the Lord, being a great devotee of the Lord, he forgets his purpose and starts praising the Lord. The Lord Narayana smiles at him and asks the purpose of his visit, knowing that normally Naradaji does not visit Him without a purpose. Naradaji tells Him what he saw and requests Him a panacea for all such miseries. The Lord is now happy at this question of Naradaji because of Naradaji’s intention of benefiting the world by seeking the right answer. The Lord said:

 

Yes, there is a vrita called Sri Satyanarayana vrita which is not known to the inhabitants of the Bhuloka. This is a secret and yet since your interest is the benefit of the mankind, I shall narrate to you this vrita. This can be performed by anyone (anyone means it does not need an expert or a priest to worship the Lord - ANYONE of any caste, community, creed can worship the Lord directly) and very easily. One who does this, will get all the benefits and the pleasures of this world and will eventually get Moksha too. Now Narada wants to know more details of this vrita. The Lord says, this can be done any day, in the evening. Gather friends and relatives and perform this vrita with faith and devotion. The night should be spent in Bhajans and praise of the Lord. All those attending Pooja should be given food and respect. Thus the performer will get all his wishes fulfilled.

 

CHAPTER 2

Sri Lord Narayana tells Narada the further story:

 

There was an old and poor Brahmin in the city of Kashi. He was a man of virtue and yet extremely poor and was always begging for the next meal. Since the Lord is Viprapriya- (Brahmana priya means Lover of Brahmana- Brahmana means anyone on the devotional path ) - He came in the guise of an old Brahmin and accosted him " Tell me my friend, what ails you?". The brahmin replied "I am an old and very poor man and I shall be grateful if you can tell me how to get rid of this poverty of mine which does not seem to leave me". The Lord replied "Why don’t you perform Sri Satyanarayana Vrita", and He told him how to perform the Vrita.

 

The poor man now desires to do this vrita and thinking over these thoughts of the Lord he goes to bed. He could not sleep on account of these thoughts. Again in the morning he had same thoughts and he says to himself, "whatever I earn today by begging I shall use it to perform the vrita". Since the Lord likes such feelings, (Bhavena Devam - Lord does not want our material possessions, he is won by the genuineness of our feelings) that day, he got plenty of money while begging and thus pleased, he took the necessary articles and performed the vrita.

 

Very soon he became rich and had all the things of the world and thereafter he started performing the vrita every month and thus he enjoyed all the pleasures of the world and finally reached the Moksha too.

 

Now Shaunakji and other rishis want to know how this vrita spread in the world. Also those who have heard the story, what benefits they got.

 

Sutaji replies:

 

Once when this brahmin was performing the Sri Satyanarayana Pooja there came to his house a woodcutter. He saw the pooja and wanted to know what it is and what are its fruits. The brahmin said, "This is Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. Whatever desires you have in your mind will be fulfilled by performing this vrita. My own poverty and troubles all ended by my very decision to perform this vrita". On hearing this, the woodcutter prostrates to the Lord, takes prasad, and decides to perform this pooja next day. He thought in his mind, "Whatever amount I get from the sale of the wood tomorrow, I will use it for the performance of the vrita." That day he sold the wood for twice the price. Happily thinking of the Lord Satyanarayana he proceeds to do this pooja, inviting his friends and relatives. Thus performing regularly he became rich and happy and finally reached Satyaloka.

 

CHAPTER III

Suta Puranikji continues the story:

 

Once there was a good king called Ulkamukha. He was wedded to truth and sense- control. Everyday he used to go to the temple, worship the Lord, distribute alms to the needy. Once he was performing Sri Satyanarayana Vrita on the banks of a river. At that time there came a merchant in a ship loaded with precious goods. He approached the king and wanted to know the details of the pooja and also its fruits. The king said, "My friend, what we are doing is a vrita called Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. This is done with a desire to have progeny, wealth, property, etc. By this, we are worshipping Lord Narayana or Mahavishnu".

 

The merchant said, "Please tell me the details as to how to perform this vrita, because I would like to have children whom I have not been fortunate to have till now." The king tells him the details of the vrita and the merchant returns home. He tells the details to his wife and they decide to perform this vrita if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Lilavathi became pregnant and delivered a girl who was named Kalavathi. Lilavathi reminded her husband about the vrita and he kept postponing it, till his daughter grew of age and was ready to be married. The father finds a suitable groom and marries her off and again forgot to perform the vrita although he had decided to do so at the time of marriage of his daughtier. The Lord now wanted to remind him.

 

The merchant and his son-in-law were in a city called Ratnasara where king Chandrakethu was ruling. There was a theft at the palace and the burglars were chased by the police. The running burglar saw these two merchants resting near a tree and they left the booty with them and ran off. The police caught the two merchants with the stolen goods and they were straight away sent to the prison. The king himself overlooked to investigate. It is this time the merchant suddenly realized that this was all on account of his forgetting the promise to the Lord. At about this time, back home both Lilavathi and her daughter Kalavathi lost all their belongings due to thefts at home and were rendered beggars. During one such wandering trying to find some food Kalavathi sees Sri Satyanarayana Pooja being performed at one house. She goes in, hears the story and details and returns to tell her mother what had taken place. Lilavathi now knows that it is their forgetting to do the Pooja that had created all these problems. Next day she calls her relatives and friends and performs the Pooja, begs for forgiveness. Accordingly, the king had a dream that the merchants were innocent and he releases them on inquiry and gives them lot of wealth.

 

CHAPTER IV

Suta Puranik continues the story:

 

Thus released from the custody the merchants were returning home. They reached the outskirts of their town in their ship. The Lord in order to test them again comes in the form of an old Sanyasi and inquires as to what the load in the ship is. The merchant bluffs and says that it contains dried leaves. The sanyasi says "Tathasthu". When the merchant returns to the ship he finds that it does contain now dried leaves only. He swoons and when he regains his consciousness he realizes that these are doings of the Sanyasi whom he had cursorily dismissed earlier. He seeks him out and begs for forgiveness. The ever-merciful Lord again forgives him. Now that the merchant was near the town, he sends a messenger in advance to Lilavathi to let her know that they are on their way home. Lilavathi. tells her daughter to complete the Satyanarayana poola they were performing and goes ahead to meet her husband. Kalavathi does the pooja, but in a hurry to meet her husband, she neglects to take the prasad; and when she nears the anchorage, she does not find the ship nor her husband! It looked to her that they both sank/drowned. She swoons and now she decides to die.

 

The merchant thinks that this must be on account of some fault on their part in ignoring the Lord and then and there he decides to do the pooja as a part of expiation from his side for mistakes of omission or commission. The Lord now pleased makes him realize that it is the daughter’s oversight in not accepting the prasad that has created this problem and now if she goes and takes the prasad, everything would be all right.

 

Kalavathi returned to the altar and took prasad with all faith and reverence. And her husband returned and from then onwards, they all performed Sri Sathyanarayana Pooja regularly till the end of their life and finally after death, they reached Satyaloka.

 

CHAPTER V

This chapter is important to us as we too tend to behave like the King in this story, in respect of pooja/worship/religion of other people.

 

In the woods of Nemisharanya, Suta Puranikji continued the story narrating the greatness of this Vrita to Shounaka and other Rishies:

 

In ancient times, there was a King called Angadwaja. He was good and righteous king {like all of us, good and righteous}; and yet once he ignored the prasad of Sri Satyanarayana Pooja and had to suffer very dearly to that.

 

Once this king was returning from hunting the wild animals in the forests. He rested under a tree for a while. A few yards away a small group of cowherd boys had gathered to perform Sri Satyanarayana Pooja. They did not have anything except their daily bread they were carrying and a talkative among them became their priest and they played the game of doing a pooja. At the end of the pooja, they offered the prasad to the king who, out of contempt and pride, left it untouched.

 

Pretty soon all his wealth was lost; his hundred children died and he now knew, being a good king that this was all on account of his contempt for those children’s pooja. Without any delay the king goes to that very spot where the cowherd boys had done the pooja earlier, gathers them all around him performs the Satyanarayana Pooja with all shraddha and bhakthi.

 

Thus the king again got all his wealth and kingdom and kins.

 

Suta now tells the Rishis that this Vrita is specially effective in Kaliyuga. This Lord of Lord is called Ishwara, Satyadeva, Sri Satyanarayana and by many other names. He alone has taken names and forms.

 

One who reads this story and one who hears it will be rid of all woes and difficulties.

   

Types of Vishnu

Pauranikas consider Narayana or Vishnu as of four types based on the celestial world — 1. The Lord of Paradise (Vaikunta Nadha) 2. The Lord-lying on the ocean of celestial waters (Anantha sayana) 3. The inhabitant of the white Island (Sweta Dvipa), and 4. The Lord of Goloka (Golokanadha).

 

1. Jyotistoma is the region of light from the earth to 21st plane. It is full of fire. It is Vaikuntanatha–the first sacrifice. "This fiery and divine sacrifice (Swaha yajna) consists of 34 utterances and the 21st plane is its establishment (Pratista). Thirty three fire-deities related to Vishnu are its limbs. The whole of these deities is Vaikuntanadha Vishnu". He will be awake for eight months and sleeps for four months. During these four months, there will be dominating influence of water and the fire becomes recessive. So the sacrifices will be destroyed. This is what we call ‘sleep of Vishnu’.

 

2. Dwadasa yajna extends from 22nd plane to 33rd plane which is full of spiritual water (Apa) and essence (Soma). This is the Lord Vishnu lying on the Ocean. He is said to be having 34 utterances including Prajapati (Pridvi). He is the second Vishnu. Vishnu of the celestial ocean, always sleeps and often awakes. The Splendour of ignition (Agni) is the waking state. The ignition will be weak in the sea and hence the sacrifice will be slackened. The word ‘sleep’ denotes this condition.

 

3. Navaha yajna starts from 17th plane to 25th plane. The sacrificial Vishnu of this region will have white island as His habitation but is established at 21st level. He is the third Vishnu called Lord Satyanarayana. As Satyanarayana will always be in self-mortification, He is always awake. He never sleeps since Navaha yajna at 21st plane uniformly continues throughout the year.

 

4. Pancha Dasaha yajna extends from 22nd plane to 36th plane. It is uttered by Sama Veda. Here Gau spirits are born and hence is called Gosava or Goloka. It is established at 29th plane. This region is pervaded by the ocean, a form of spiritual water, air and essence. The spiritual waters are the form of cows (Gua Spirits). They are of spreading nature. This is the supreme world (Paramesti). Lord Vishnu of this world is called Govinda.

 

These four divisions belong to Pridvi that extends up to 33rd level. Thus they are the four dwellings places of the four types of Vishnu. The Lord of Goloka has two arms but the others are four-armed.

 

Lord Satyanarayana owing to utter blackness is white in complexion. The other three are blue in color. As Satyanarayana is an embodiment of Tapas, (self- mortification). He has no wife.

 

The others forms have wives. Govinda Vishnu’s wife is Radha. She is the splendour of Vak (Vagjyoti) and carrier of wisdom (Janana Vahini). Lakshmi is the consort of Samudra Seyana Vishnu. She should be considered as Padma (Pridvi) born of the sea having the quality of terrestrial atoms (mrit paramanu lakshana). Vaikuntanatha has five wives – Pridvi, Tulasi, Ganga, Saraswati and Lakshmi.

       

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 18 - Katie Hellman and Jennifer Dickerson attend CommonSpirit's Humankindness Gala 2023 on May 18th 2023 at San Francisco in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography)

DAF XF 105 from the Series Herpa shows World History -# 1 The Cradle of Humankind-

/

DAF XF 105 aus der Serie Herpa präsentiert Weltgeschichte -# 1 Die Wiege der Menschheit-