Common mistakes’ during holy month Sleeping all day, watching too much television and breaking the fast with a cigarette are among the “most common mistakes” that diminish the value of Ramadan for many Muslims, Dubai’s Islamic affairs body says. As part of its Ramadan package, the website of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department lists 14 examples of behaviour that are typical of many Muslim households during the holy month. Extravagant iftar tables and the amount of time they demand from the women are at the top of the list. Even families with modest incomes are expected to produce several dishes that include fresh ingredients, meat and a large choice of desserts and fruit, all beautifully presented. “A mistake typically committed by women is to waste too much time in food preparation,” it says. “They focus on making an extravagant quantity and presentation of food and drinks and end up spending their entire day in the kitchen ... forgetting to spend time in prayer and contemplation.” Six of the 14 mistakes specifically concern women, mainly reminding them to devote more time to prayer and to refrain from wearing too much perfume and make-up and from mixing with men when they join their families at the mosque. “Such behaviour may distract others from worship,” it says. Religious authorities have several times expressed concern about what they have described as seemingly diminished piety among women. Over the past year there have been campaigns to recruit female Emiratis and train them as religious advisers for other women. There has also been an unprecedented effort to recruit and train women as muftis, with the same responsibilities as their male counterparts. According to the department, among the complaints commonly heard about women is that they “use too many excuses to get out of their religious obligations”. “Women should not overuse the excuse of menstruation and miss out on all kinds of worship and prayers that should be made during Ramadan,” it says. Menstruating women are exempt from daily prayers, but not from other forms of worship. Sloth also features prominently. Habits such as sleeping all day and watching popular Ramadan programmes on television all evening – a habit for many households during the holy month – were particularly highlighted. “It is unfortunate that many Muslims end up with these distractions, losing reward and benefit for their fast,” says the department. Forgetting to make duaa (prayer) as the fast is broken, taking too long breaking the fast or breaking it with a cigarette were not condoned, especially the last. “This is a very major mistake,” it says. “Ramadan should be taken as an opportunity to quit this habit permanently.” According to some jurists, tobacco products are completely forbidden for Muslims because of their harm to health. Last year, the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments issued an unprecedented fatwa that said smoking in a public place was also forbidden because second-hand smoke was harmful to others. However, one of the most popular activities during Ramadan is to gather after iftar to smoke shisha well into the night. The air inside many iftar tents resembles a cloud of smoke in the hours leading up to sohour as many establishments allow shisha, cigars, pipes and cigarettes. Other mistakes listed include the tendency for fasting Muslims to focus only on abstaining from food, drink and sexual contact, but continuing to indulge in gossip, slander and cursing, which can render the fast void. Parents are also reminded to allow their children to fast once they reach puberty. Many parents discourage their prepubescent offspring from joining in the rituals and traditions of Ramadan. Shoppers are not left off the list, which reminds Muslims to avoid spending too long in the shops, especially during the last 10 days of Ramadan, which are considered to be the holiest. Many people go shopping in preparation for Eid, buying new things for themselves and others, including expensive items such as cars and houses. Instead, says the department, they should spend more time in worship and devotion, following in the footstep of the Prophet Mohammed. “This is how to make the most of the month of Ramadan.” The full list can be found at www. iacad.gov.ae.<;br> http://www.thenation al.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/ article?AID=/2009082 4/NATIONAL/708239847 /1010

Oz Girl, You have mentioned sinning a few times. Sinning in done by all Muslims (no one is perfect) and it is something that should be taken seriously. Your questioning of it show that you take it seriously and want to understand Islam's view on sin. In Islam, when one sins it does not mean he/she is going to hell and that there is no coming back. It does not mean they are banished for the rest of there lives and that there is no point in carrying on believing. No, no. Allah (SWT) is, as stated many times in the Quran, oft forgiving. One of Allah’s names is ‘Al Rahmaan’ (The Merciful). Allah (SWT) is willing to forgive sins as long as he/she who sinned; a) recognises the sin b) asks for forgiveness c) stays away from sinning (very difficult) It is a constant life-time battle and not a one off thing. In the Quran Allah (SWT) says: “and ask God to forgive you your sins: for, verily, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace” (2:199) It is therefore very important to UNDERSTAND that once you sin IT IS NOT the end of your life as you knew it. It is not something that banishes you to hell. Life is a constant test. He/she who passes this test will be among those in heaven. Hope I made sense. Now, how do you try to erase your sins you ask? Try and xix what has been done? Disclaimer: The poster's opinion only.

Duray baa igu dhacay, too much traffic in Ramadan for some reason other than that it's all good.

Everyone has had enough. The future is green and gold folks,,,,

Oz Girl, thanks for the questions, much appreciated. I think it is important that we re-visit the basic tenets of Islam before we get to answer your questions. I ask that you stay patient and read carefully and reflect on what will be posted here. read this

Oz Girl, I think you need to elaborate on your situation in order for you to hopefully find answers to your questions. For example; Why do you no longer have the same level of belief? What happened for you to get to that stage? On what days are you weary about God's existance? Bad days? What about the good days? Please share. Inshallah you will find the answers you're looking for here. Ramadan Kareem.

Simpleton AA isn't doing justice to the real goings on in SL. JB enjoy. Laakin runta waan isla ognahay

We usually gather the clothes we no longer need and other general household stuff and take them down to the Red Crescent office for distribution during Ramadan.

I will be taking it easy with the sambuusas this month. Post Ramadan calool can be embarrassing.

My weekly running around a park chasing a spherical object with the aim of kicking it in one direction.

^ya?? You fasted on Fri?

Originally posted by rudy-Diiriye: ngonge has no teeth! lool. holly-smoke. No wonder he goes to sland to chew mo! lool

Is a 4 hour nap normal? So much for one last day of footy :rolleyes: Where is Ngonge today tolow?

Ramadan Kareem all. I plan to get one last game of footy in this afternoon. *must buy sun block*

Originally posted by sheherazade: I mean the picture, Norf! Sorry on am Blackberry n can't keep up with Troll pace! Dubai Metro launch on 9/9/09 at 09.09am :cool: Ngonge, qof ba cowryey

Actually let me post a poll. Do not reveal your answers yet. Pass rate in 8

Did he say that? LoooL

^I know you are but are you eligable?

Sheh, the satisfaction of knowing you did an act of worship successfully.

Return to Somalia 2015,,,,but are you eligible? Just like the citizenship tests currently done in most western countries, Somalia will adopt the same. Failure in the test means that you will not be a citizen of the country nor will your previous citizenship be re-validated. Three failures in the citizenship test means you will always be treated as a foreigner who requires a visa to live and work there. Have a go and see if you make the cut. Answers will be given later. 1 - Wadanka Soomaaliya imisa gobol ayuu ka koobanyahay? 2 - Sadexda magaala madax ama caasimado ee ugu waaween Soomaaliya waa kuwee? 3 - Meeqa wabi ayaa maro wadanka Soomaaliya iyo magacyadooda? 4 - Meeqa madaxweyne ayuu wadanka soo marey tan iyo xornimadii illaa iyo 1990kii? 5 - Qoraalka Afka Soomaaliga ee laatiinka goormaa la aas aasey? 6 - Af Soomaaliga imisa lahjadood ayuu leeyahay? 7 - Dagaalkii ugu horreeyey ee itoobiya iyo Soomaalita u dhaxeeyey goormuu biloowdey? 8 - Dagaalyahan Ahmed Gurey wadankee buu dagaal kula jirey xiligii uu noolaa? 9 - Yaa aas aasey qoraalka osmaaniya script ee uu wadanka lahaan jirey, goormaana la aas aasey sanadka? 10 - Heesta ku magac dheer BEERLULA yaa allifey ee uu xasan aadan samatar qaadey?

Sharjah Police fire the cannon to mark the start of Iftar in this snap from January 1996. In 1960 the firing of the cannon was entrusted to the police in the UAE. Since then, the Ramadan cannon has remained under their supervision.

^Every time I log on the whole screen is taken up by his posts, pics etc.

Since the time of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), dates have been recommended as an excellent start to Iftar and an important element in the Ramadan diet. Here, dates are sold at the Mina Vegetable and Fruit Market in Abu Dhabi in this shot from December 1997.

The Ramadan crescent moon, along with lanterns and the cannon, is a distinguishing symbol of the holy month. The moon is seen above a mosque in this photo from February 1995.

JB, i have put you on ignore in FB. Meesho dhan baad qabsatay! In 20 days IA