Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان‎) (also written Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, sexual conduct, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset ^[1] Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramaḍān is a time to fast for the sake of Allah, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramaḍān, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving forward about ten days each year. Ramadhan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed^{[Qur'an 2:185]} to the Prophet Muhammad.

Origins of Ramadan

The name “Ramadāma” had been the name of the ninth month in the Arab world long before the arrival of Islam; the word itself derived from an Arabic root rmd, as in words like “ramida” or “ar-ramad” denoting intense heat^[2], scorched ground and shortness of rations. In the Qu’ran, God proclaims that “fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you”. According to the earliest hadith, this refers to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur.^[3][4]

Laylat al-Qadr, considered the most holy night of the year, is the night in which the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad, the “Night of the Power”.^[5] Muslims believe it to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramaḍān, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th (in Sunni thought) or the 19th, 21st or 23rd (in Shi’a thought). Ramaḍān ends with Eid ul-Fitr on the 1 of Shawwal, with much celebration and feasts. During the month following Ramaḍān, called Shawwal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days, known as as-Sitta al-Bīḍ, or “the white six.” When fasting is over, Muslims go to Mosques in new clothes to pray the first Eid prayer. They give out presents to the young ones and greet their friends and families. They then thank God for what He has given them.

Practices during Ramadān

Fasting

The most prominent event of this month is fasting. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat Sahur, the pre-dawn meal, then they perform the fajr prayer. They have to stop eating and drinking before the call for prayer starts until the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib. Muslims may continue to eat and drink after the sun has set until the next morning’s fajr prayer call. Then the process starts all over.

Ramadān is a time of reflecting and worshipping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual thoughts and activities during fasting hours are also forbidden.^{[Qur'an 2:187]} Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to God.

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 allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control ^[6], sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity. However, a certain level of self-control can be lost by those who suffer from eating disorders.^[7]

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, 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.^[8] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood, many children endeavor to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.^{[Qur'an 2:184]} More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 14 miles in a day as exempt.^[7]. The elderly or those who suffer from a disability or disease and have no prospect of getting better in the future can pay the cost of Iftar for a person who cannot afford it, or else they can host him in their house and have him eat with them after sunset as a way of repaying for the days they could not fast. ^{[Qur'an 2:184]}

A person who is observing Ramadan might break the fast accidentally, due to having forgotten it. In such an instance, one should spit out the food being eaten or cease the forbidden activity, immediately upon remembering the fast.

When Ramadan came to overshadow Ashura in importance, it took on some characteristics of the latter. According to the well-known hadith, the person who observes Ramadan properly will have all their past sins forgiven. According to another, “When Ramadan arrives, Heaven’s gates are opened, Hell’s gates are closed, and the demons are chained up” and who ever passes away will enter paradise. ^[9]

There are exceptions in certain Muslim communities that deny practicing fasting in Ramadān such as Alevi people in Turkey.^{[citation needed]}

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.

Ramadān is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment, establishing 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 involved the preparing of special foods and inviting people for the Iftar meal (the meal to open the fast).

In many Muslim and non Muslim countries with large Muslim populations, markets close down in the evening to enable people to perform prayers and consume the Iftar meal – these markets 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 some Muslim countries, failing to fast or openly flaunting such behavior during Ramadan is considered a crime and is prosecuted as such. For instance, in Algeria, in October 2008 the court of Biskra condemned six people to 4 years in prison and heavy fines. ^[10].

Eid ul-Fitr

The Islamic 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, as per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast; 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 rakaahs only, and it is optional (sunat) prayer as opposed to the compulsory five daily prayers.

Determining the start date

Hilal (The Crescent) is typically a day (or more) after the Astronomical New Moon (No Moon). So, since there is only one new moon a month, we can safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan. ^[11]

In North America, Ramadan begins on Saturday, 22 August 2009 (1430 AH).^[12]

Turn down the lights, turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close, don’t patronize – don’t patronize me

Chorus:

Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t
Here in the dark, in these lonely hours
I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power
But you won’t, no you won’t
’cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t

I’ll close my eyes, then I won’t see
The love you don’t feel when you’re holding me
Morning will come and I’ll do what’s right
Just give me till then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight

Chorus:

Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t
Here in the dark, in these lonely hours
I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power
But you won’t, no you won’t
’cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t

July 10, 2009 – 2nd outing ng grupo sa taong ito..  kaaunti lang ngunit kahit papaano masaya..  Kasama ang pamilya ng kapatid ni Adobo… Dodie , sunod ko na lang i post yung mga picture kasi nde ko dala camera ko.. hehehe

I WILL BE THERE
By: KYLA

Whenever you feel, all alone
Whenever you feel there is no reason to go on
When there is doubt, in your heart
When there is no one in this world that you can find
Who will give you support in everything you do
And who will believe that you will see things through

I will be there, I’ll be there
I’ll be your shoulder you can lean on
I’ll be your friend you can depend on
I will be there (2x)

There are times when things go wrong
Yes there were times when you just feel, you don’t belong
And there are days, when things don’t go right
Yes there were days when you’re not willing to fight
You will need someone who will tell you it’s okay
Someone who believes, believes in you all the way
I will be there, I’ll be there
I’ll be your shoulder you can lean on
I’ll be your friend you can depend on
I will be there (2x)

(Repeat twice)

Oohh
I will be there, I’ll be there
I’ll be your shoulder you can lean on
I’ll be your friend you can depend on
I will be there (2x)

July 7 ngayon.. 14 days to go….. haaaaaaaayy hirap naman…. dati gusto mo tumanda para makapasok ka sa mga sinehan, ngayon naman gusto mong bumata kasi natatakot ka  na mawala na ang edad mo sa kalendaryo.. .. ang gulo talaga ng utak ng tao.. hehehehe..

It is a phase where the persons
involved are
more than friends, but not quite
lovers.

Puwedeng may verbal agreement,
puwedeng wala.

One or both of you may have admitted
your
feelings, possible ding hindi.

You just let your gestures do the
talking for
you.

Walang pormal na ligawan na nangyari.

Hindi kayo mag-dyowa. Pero sa kilos
niyo,
sa mga sinasabi niyo, parang kayo,pero
hindi.

This kind of “relationship” can happen
at
different stages for different reasons.

It can happen after a break-up.

You still love each other, and you
want to be
with each other but you broke up for a
reason.

And for reasons that you alone know,
ayaw
niyo na muna magkabalikan.

It can also happen before a
relationship,
iyong pareho kayong nakikiramdam.

Possible din na ayaw niyo munang mag-
seryoso kaya kunwa-kunwarian lang muna.

Testing lang. (tama ba un?! ang sakit
ah!!!)

Puwede ring hindi puwedeng maging kayo
kasi isa sa inyo may ka-relasyon na.
(SANA
NGA!!!!!!!)

Kaya habang hindi pa siya nakikipag-
break
doon sa boy/girl (sabi niya makikipag-
break
siya soon pero di naman niya ginagawa),
wala muna kayong relasyon para nga

naman hindi siya nangangaliwa

kasi “hindi naman kayo.”

This pseudo-relationship stage, for a
time,
can be fun.

Lalo na kung naghahanap ka lang naman
ng “KALARO.”

Pero huwag ka lang mag-e-expect na may
patutunguhan kayo kze wala talagang
kasiguraduhan.

So bakit ang daming nagse-settle sa
ganitong set up ganoong hindi naman
sigurado kung may patutunguhan?

Iba’t ibang dahilan.

Puwedeng for fun lang.

Puwedeng “buti na iyan kesa wala” or
puwede na iyang “pantawid-gutom.”

Meaning, habang wala pa iyong the real
thing, doon muna sa kunwa-kunwarian.

For those who are not in a serious
relationship, they would think that

pseudo-
relationship is better than no
relationship at
all.

It would be fun, if all you’re after
is that “kilig”
feeling.

But then I learned that although it was
only a pseudo-relationship, the
emotions
were REAL.

And usually, in this kind of set up,
merong
malulugi..

“ung nainlove sa taong taken na..”

Una, you can’t ask him/her to commit.

Since it’s not really a relationship,
you CANT
DEMAND COMMITMENT from your partner.

Ano ba kayo?

You will always be uncertain
about your role in his/her life.

You can’t expect him/her
to be always there with you.

And if you feel jealous of the other
boys/girls,
you just have to keep it to yourself.

Ano ka ba niya para magselos?

Pangalawa, what if
you fall deeply in love with him/her?

You can’t be sure if he/she feels the
same
way.

Baka nag-a-assume ka lang
na mahal ka rin niya.

Even if you are dying
to tell him/her you love him/her,
you can’t.

Because you’re not sure
if he/she will like it.

Baka mapahiya ka lang.

This stage will always make you wonder
where you are in the relationship.

Or if there is a relationship at all.

Pangatlo, what if you become attached
too

much?

What if you have invested
all your emotions and this man/woman
hasn’t?

What if you remain faithful to him/her,
not entertaining other guys/gals,
only to find out that he/she is seeing
other girls/boys?

isa pang downside ng pseudo-
relaionships, it is fleeting

when a disagreement sets in,
or when one of you gets cold,
then that would be the end of it.

Unlike in a serious relationship
hindi mo alam kung saan ka lulugar sa
isang pseudo-relationship.

wla kang ping-hahawakan.
Kasi sa pseudo-relationship,

there is no “us”.

Meron lang “you and Me”,

hindi “US”

*******

taken from: Carcalvin (http://carcalvin.multiply.com), thanks bro.

The passing is the show
That you will always grow
Ever more beautiful in my eyes…