Speed leads to crashes - Oman Daily Observer

By Ali Ahmed al Riyami
THE month of Ramadhan
that is ordained as the
month of fasting for all
adult, able-bodied Muslims, is a
true blessing from the Almighty
to mankind.
This is more so considering
that Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him), the final chosen
messenger of God, said:
Allah — The Glorified and
Exalted — said, “All the deeds
of man are for himself, except
for fasting, which is for Me and
I shall reward it Myself.”
This not only shows how
much The Creator (Al Khalaq)
is pleased with his devotees
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when they fast and the high
level of divine reward fasting
during Ramadhan earns those
who observe it, it also makes it
clear that fasting at this time is
indeed a very high, sublime virtue,
when it is performed correctly
and to earn the pleasure
of God.
This is why everyone who
observes the fast is very fortunate.
It provides a full month
every year when one can think
less and act less about worldly
matters and concentrate more
on being devout, spiritual and
enlightened, and on doing what
is good and avoiding what is
forbidden, as well as helping
those who are in need through
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28 RAMADHAN SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2012
Ramadhan a true blessing from Almighty
Fasting in Ramadhan is not
simply a matter of not eating
and drinking from dawn to dusk,
but it includes and implies a
whole host of things that are
beneficial to the fasting person,
his family, friends and the
community at large
good deeds or charitable acts.
Further, observers of the
fast also spend more time reciting
the Quran and attending
to the month’s special Taraweh
prayers. All of this — combined
together with the emphasis on
upholding fraternal relations
with kith and kin and within
the community and doing one’s
best to remain pure physically,
spiritually and mentally —
makes it a complete, monthlong
package of truly positive
self-improvement.
Hence, fasting in Ramadhan
is not simply a matter of not eating
and drinking from dawn to
dusk, but it includes and implies
a whole host of things that are
beneficial to the fasting person,
his family, friends and the community
at large.
This is why Ramadhan is
such a blessed and fortunate
month; bringing with it peace,
harmony and greater human
fellowship — brought about
by increased consideration and
benevolent actions for one’s fellow
man and woman.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RAMADHAN
Exchange social visits and intensify humanitarian services
Observe the supererogatory prayers known as Taraweh
Increase study and recitation of the Holy Quran
Exert utmost patience and humbleness
Use the senses with due care and caution — and the mind and especially the tongue;
abstaining from careless chats, gossip and unfounded suspicions
Ramadhan nights in Delhi
IT’S the time for fasting but
also for feasting, and not
just for devout Muslims
observing the 30-day fast. For
foodies all over, Ramadhan is
the time to soak in the Eid spirit
and what better place than the
historic walled city of the Indian
capital with the majestic
Jama Masjid looming in the
backdrop.
Come dusk and the winding
lanes of the Jama Masjid
area come alive with the sights
and sounds — and smells — of
celebrations. Of chicken tikkas
sizzling, mutton kebabs roasting
over blazing fires, giant
woks with puris being fried and
massive cauldrons of curries,
biryanis, steaming milk and
what have you.
The crowds gather at iftar
and continue right up till dawn,
when the sehri meal is eaten.
While iftar marks the end of
the meal at nightfall, sehri is the
early morning meal before the
dawn of another fasting day.
As important as it is to not
let a morsel of food or a drop
of liquid pass through one’s lips
during Ramadhan, it is equally
important to have a nutritious
and healthy diet before and after
the fast.
The fast is traditionally broken
with a small meal of dates,
fruits and pakodas. And sehri
usually constitutes specialties
like khajla (round bread),
pheni (spiral crusty cakes) and
sheermaal (sweet buns, usually
served with butter and jam),
providing the required energy
without wreaking havoc on the
digestive system.
Khajla and pheni are made
in pure ghee and soaked in milk
overnight. Sugar is added at the
time of consumption. Some also
like to add dry fruits.
“People usually go to bed after
eating the sehri; so the meal
should be light and digestable,
but at the same time energetic,”
Javed Ali, a shopowner selling
khajla in one of the many bylanes
near Jama Masjid, said.
Between the two meals, is
when the real feasting happens.
According to Ali, several
non-Muslim customers from
across the city throng his shop
every year.
And the milling crowds who
head to the area from across the
city are evidence of that.
Markets around Jama Masjid,
decked up and bustling with
A shop in Matia Mahal selling khajla and pheni,
the staple sehri food
crowds, are open all night. The
excitement is palpable as you
enter one of the many lanes
leading to the 17th century historic
mosque, decorated in yellow
lights. Hundreds of shops
and eating joints line the narrow
lanes, beckoning people from
the neighbourhood and afar.
Post-iftar, the markets and
streets are abuzz with some out
for shopping and dinner and
some others to meet friends
over a Banarasi paan.
Nearby, popular eateries
like Karim’s and Al Jawahar
restaurant do brisk business as
families throng them for dinner
while youngsters, especially
those on shoestring budgets,
head to the kiosks outside these
restaurants, grilling all types of
Locals at a kiosk selling kebabs outside Jama Masjid
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meats.
Mutton seekh kebabs,
shammi kebabs, chicken tikkas
and fried chicken, to name just
a few, are usually served with
rumali rotis and a generous dollop
of mint chutney, chopped
onions and chaat masala. A
meal for two at any of the dozen-odd
kiosks costs just around
Rs 150.
For those with a sweet
tooth, there are abundant shops
and kiosks selling rabri faluda,
kulfi, jalebi, phirni and badam
milk. Apart from gorging on
the succulent kebabs and spicy
curries, shopping is another
highlight during this period.
After all, this is also the time
to stock up on new clothes.
Women throng the several
clothes, footwear and cosmetics
shops in Chitli Kabar, Matia
Mahal and Meena Bazaar, apart
from looking for Lucknowi
Chikan suits, fancy sandals and
imported cosmetics.
Piping hot pheni being prepared for sehri
And the men hunt for kurta
pyjama/salwar kameez, skull
caps and sandals, many of them
preferring the Ballimaran market.
“Everyone wants to look
their best on Eid. So, it’s an
arduous job of finding that perfect
attire or a sandal that stands
out,” 21-year-old Delhi University
student Saira Parveen said.
Parveen hunted in several
shops for an hour before
she found the perfect mascara
to match her turquoise blue
suit.
“This is how I reward myself
after I have done my duty
towards my religion,” she
summed up.
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