The most eagerly awaited month in Islamic calendar is Ramadan and this year, 2008 this will be Ramadan of 1429 Hijri Year. Exactly 1441 years ago (12 year prior of the Hijra), during his annual retreat and seclusion in the small cave called Hira on Jabal al-Nur (the Mountain of Light), Holy Prophet Muhammad, blessed be his soul, received the first divine revelation of the Quran.This year Ramadan begins in most part of the world on 1st of September. According to my teacher, Sidi Said al-Jamal, may God be pleased with him, the Head of the Sufi Council in Jerusalem and the Holy Land and teacher at the Masjid al-Aqsa (the Dome of the Rock); and also according to the Moon Sighting site: "The holy fasting month of Ramadan will start Monday, September 1, in most Arab and Gulf countries as well as North America and European countries.
August 31, will be the last day of the month of Sha'ban and Ramadan will fall on Monday, September 1, added the council. Based on calculations, more than 35 countries have announced that the first day of Ramadan will be on Monday, September 1."
Zaytuna Institute, however announcing the Ramadan on Tuesday (Monday Evening). They mentioned, as they did not receive any reliably confirmed reports of the new crescent moon being sighted in North America on Sunday evening. Will complete the 30 days of Sha’ban and begin Ramadan Monday evening with the first day of the fast on Tuesday. (credit)
Notable sufi muslim poet Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore writes beautifully in one of his Ramadan Sonnets:THE INEVITABLE
It's like practicing for death.
No food or drink
during daylight hours no matter
what, in the
heat of summer or
cold of winter ..
... each year it makes its visit, and year after
year it builds up to be a
sweet thing,
which makes it like death, the way it's
always on the
horizon, and an
absolute obligation, which must be
why Muslims often die well. They've had a
lifetime of Ramadans tenderizing them
for The Inevitable. And The
Inevitable surely comes.
Wish you a blessed and generous month of Ramadan. As they greet and congratulate in most muslim countries, they say, 'Ramadan Mubarak' (Ramadan Blessings) or 'Ramadan Kareem' (Generous be your Ramadan)! So be it.
News:
. Ramadan begins Monday
. Ramadan begins
. Ramadan Monday in Most Countries
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