Eid ul fitr, the feast to mark the end of Ramadan, the yearly month in which practising, able-bodied Muslims fast throughout the day, will soon be upon as, God willing.
Together with lots of joy, good food, prayer and fun, in Holland, Eid ul Fitr also comes with an endless yearly discussion about the “proper” name for it.
Eid ul fitr, the Arabic name for it, literally means “Breakfast Feast” or “Feast of the Breaking of the Fast” (See the etymological similarities between the meaning of the word Eid ul fitr and the English word “breakfast”?)
The name “Eid ul fitr” is used quite widely, but it has many nicknames, including Eid Saghir (small Eid) in Morocco, Chothi (small) or Meethi (sweet) in Pakistan, Eid-e Fitr/Feast of the Lesser Bayram in Iran, Eid ul Fitr and Bodo in Surinam, Lebaran, or Hari Raya Idul Fitri in Indonesia, Ramazan Bayrami and Șeker Bayrami in Turkey and so on.
(It’s interesting that in many countries, Eid is associated with sweets, and/or with being a “smaller/lesser” version of Eid ul adha, the Feast of Sacrifice.)
In Holland, however, the name “Sugar Feast” is used by the majority of Dutch non-Muslims for this feast, and every year, some, mainly Arabic-speaking Muslims have a fit about it, claiming that “Sugar Feast” is a white Dutch name and that Eid is not about sugar.
Well, I get the last argument, but the first one is not true. “Sugar Feast” is a literal translation of the Turkish “Șeker Bayrami” which is a nickname for Eid ul Fitr invented by Turks, so no white-Dutch agenda here.
Also, many countries and cultures do see a link with the eating of sweets. And even though the essence of Eid ul Fitr isn’t about sugar, Muslims do indulge, just like Western Christians as well as non-Christian do with Christmas.
In my opinion, it is better to enjoy Eid, for both its spiritual and worldly aspects, than bicker about its name, or keep – erroneously- repeating that the term “Sugar Feast” is a white Dutch invention.
Ramadan 2024!
Happy belated Ramadan! I wish a blessed, beautiful and bountiful Ramadan to all of God’s creation.
On knowledge.
“Reason is the greatest gift of God, and knowledge is the best form of prayer.” – Fatima Mernissi. (The late, great Moroccan sociologist, teacher and feminist activist)
Transatlantic slavery as a story.
“Transatlantic slavery is a horrific story, with a happy ending.” – Rosalinda Wijks.
Eid ul Adha!
Have a happy, blessed, belated Eid!
Viral Video of Christian Lady which Enter to Masjid and start Praying with Muslims……..and my comments.
Wow. A born Muslim woman of color, let alone a black female convert like me should try to enter the men’s section dressed like that and pray with the men. All hell would break loose. Amina Wadud was dragged worldwide for leading a gender mixed prayer. But yeah, let’s keep that racial hierarchy and white privilege in place, guys, and let a white non-Muslim do what no Muslim woman could, and celebrate and propagandize it for the whole world to see. This is utterly disgusting. Your racism shows.
Ramadan affirmations by the Village Auntie.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillageAuntie/
Reclaiming the Village Auntie
Source: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillageAuntie/
Reclaiming the Village Auntie
22 maart om 15:15 · Instagram ·
Ramadan is only hours away and some of us are struggling. Maybe the house isn’t ‘ready’ or we haven’t prayed in a while. Perhaps we are dreading the endless hosting, cooking, and cleaning that folks the days of Ramadan as family expectations are higher. Or maybe you’re just feeling anxious about the month and really looking for a way to shift your thinking.
I wrote these affirmations for myself as reminders when negative thoughts creep in. I am sharing these with you in hopes that it might help.
May Allah allow us to see the month of Ramadan and experience an increased closeness with Him.
Today, I am focusing on number 1. Which number resonates with you?
Reflections on Juz 7, by Kori Majeed.
بسم ٱللَّٰه ٱلرحمن ٱلرحيم
I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station,
through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.
– George Washington Carver
Come and sit next to Prophet Ibrahim (alayhi salaam).
His people worshiped bodies of light
— the radiant sun, the luminous moon, Venus shining brighter than any star.
But Allah showed him the wonders of the heavens and the earth
so that his faith would be certain.
Come and sit, beloved.
Sit and reconnect with the natural world.
Sit and recalibrate your senses.
Sit and cultivate your awareness of Allah’s signs in the environment surrounding you.
Sit and reflect on His ayat in the heavens and the earth,
in the darkness and the light,
in falling leaves,
in seeds embraced by black soil,
in things moist or dry,
in the daybreak and the twilight,
in the sun and the moon,
in the stars that guide,
in the rain that makes things grow,
in the palm trees with clusters of fruit hanging low,
in vineyards,
in orchards of olives and pomegranates,
in fruit-bearing plants,
in the ripening of that fruit,
and in each and every ayat written in a clear record,
signs for those who seek to know and understand,
signs made clear for those who know how to read the signs.
All these ayat repeat the same refrain: Allah, our Lord, is One.
So, beloved, find your sit spot:
Sit on your front stoop watching a solitary tree
planted in the narrow strip of earth between the sidewalk and the street.
Sit on a bench in an urban arboretum.
Sit on a flat rock at a national park.
Let nature gradually, gently deprogram your senses with tendrils of wind,
wisps of earthy scents,
and beams of warm sunlight.
Let the veil of mental busyness and algorithms,
of news cycles and social media evanesce.
Then, like a burr on a seed, attach yourself to the seasons and cycles of the natural world.
Surrender all your senses and be a witness testifying that there is no god but Allah.
Listen as the community of creation continuously calls you to join in their constant dhikr.
Harmonize with them.
Resuscitate your fitrah, your innate knowledge of the oneness of Allah
and the oneness of all of creation as worshippers of the One.
Regain your sense of awe at Allah’s Majesty and Mastery
clearly presented in the universe
and within us.
Allow the natural world to be your North Star and reorient you toward tawheed.
This certainty is certainly yours, by the will of Allah,
when you sit in sincerity with a sound mind
and an intention to know Allah.
Beloved, nature is not the backdrop to human life.
Nature is the message.
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Since 2013, Kori Majeed has used her Green Ramadan platform to encourage Muslims to eat mindfully and tread lightly by cultivating sustainable habits during Ramadan. These habits are based on Islamic teachings and principles that call humanity to give all of Allah’s creation their rights. Kori is a GreenFaith fellow, master naturalist trainee, and chair of the Green Team at Masjid Muhammad, the Nation’s Mosque, in Washington DC. In 2022, she completed a masters degree in Islamic Studies from Bayan Islamic Graduate School. Kori is also co-author of the ebook Forty Green Hadith: Sayings of the Prophet Muhammadﷺ on Environmental Justice & Sustainability.
Instagram: @greenramadan
Facebook: @GreenRamadan
Twitter: @green_ramadan
Web: greenramadan.com
Email: kori@greenramadan.com
Source: https://sapelosquare.com/2023/03/29/reflection-on-juz-07-by-kori-majeed/
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