Job Discussion Forums

[lynnknows]

Dear Jon,

Thats what I said. You just reworded my point.

"I" dont call it Islamic traditions. I have read things that say these things are done to keep with islamic traditions. I didnt say they were. Meaning Saudis say these things are in keeping with Islamic tradition.

I need to leave this alone. Me head hurts and is foggy from fasting.

[lynnknows]

Teechar, thanks for clearing that up for me. When I read her reply this morning I was so confused. I even sent VS an email asking her to explain. Now I get it. I need to stay off the net until next month. My mind is just not working right....See yall in September...........

[veiledsentiments]

Let me see if I can clear this confusion up. I have no reason to make something like this up. I saw the paper from the mosque, so my friends were not making their own personal religious rules.

Just for example... If the sun rose at 7 in the morning in Mecca, they started their fast then. If the sun set at 7:30 in Mecca, that is when they broke the fast. So they fasted exactly the same number of hours during the daylight as did the residents of Mecca.

Where I live there is currently 15 hours of daylight each day. And what about the extreme northern areas where they only have an hour or so of daylight or nighttime for parts of each year. Either they would not fast at all or not have time for normal eating and prayers.

VS

[It's Scary!]

There's a variance here with my guys. I have three Saudis and five Emiratis, but I addressed only the Saudis as it is they who are in the question.

The question: "Do you gentlemen fast at Saudi time or local?" The unanimous answer was "local".

However, as my men are military, that's probably the reason that they answered the way they did. I doubt that the NoVa people mentioned previously were.

It's Scary!

[teechar]

Oh, I don't think you are making it up, VS. I totally believe that is the mosque does as you say. What you were saying, however, wasn't initially clear to myself and definitely not to Lynn. No one thinks you are giving us misinformation for the heck of it.

But, it seems that someone might believe those at the mosque might be getting misinformation! And just because the Muslims I know don't do something, doesn't mean Muslims elsewhere don't do differently. Fringe groups exist everywhere. I do think the vast majority of Muslims in the US, do follow their local timings for their fast and prayers.

[veiledsentiments]

Many of the US mosques are a mix of nationalities... and sects. So, I would expect variations. BTW... It's Scary... none of my friends were Saudi. They were just using Mecca times to start and stop the fast.

VS

[It's Scary!]

[Badar Bin Bada Boom]

[nomad soul]

While teaching in Yemen, I made a few adjustments throughout the month of Ramadan. For example, I refrained from using music in the classroom; I didn't mention food (although my morning students often stated that they were struggling with being hungry); and of course, I never drank water in front of my students nor the staff. For those of you non-Muslims who also taught/lived in the ME during Ramadan, what adjustments, if any, did you find challenging?

[johnslat]

Well, there does seem to be some confusion among some Muslims about the timing:

"What do Muslims in, say, northern Norway do when the Ramadan is during the summer when the sun doesn't set?

When I was in Egypt everyone used the sunset in Mecca as their guide, not the actual time at their physical location. So I assume they'd do that."


and

"2 of my colleagues are Muslim, and the one that was at work today had downloaded a little chart on his phone with the hours of the sunset and rise in Mecca. As we all went for lunch break at 20:30, he remained working and after an hour or so asked me if he could go eat now. After learning it was Ramadan this month I said Ok and later talked to him a bit about it. He said between those two points in time, Sunrise and set in Mecca, nothing could pass his mouth, no smoking, no eating, no drinking...

According to him he has to dine at sunset. ( I always thought anything after dark is Ok ). I'm not sure if I understood him very well though, his Dutch is a bit rough."


""Those who refused to follow thisfatwa believe that there�s Islam for every place and time. The majority of Muslims in Norway break their fast a few hours before suhur and sit with their families till midnight, hit by fatigue and waiting for the iftar. It�s common in these cases for children to cry and complain as their calls for a sip of water may go unanswered by a strict father. Wives can feel extreme nausea while preparing food for their families when it�s past their usual bedtime and they should be in a deep sleep getting ready for a new day with a fresh mind, body, and soul. On the other hand when Ramadan falls in the middle of winter, they enjoy the �luxury� of only having to fast for only 3 to 5 hours.

Many try to find a solution for this issue by themselves, by using the same fasting times as those of the closest Islamic country."

http://www.lovehabibi.com/blog/2009/08/26/how-do-muslims-in-norway-fast/


Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

[nomad soul]

VS, my morning students also insisted I drink. "No problem, teacher!" they'd say. But like you, I felt uncomfortable and only sipped my water in private. The first time they mentioned food and being hungry while in class, I distracted them by asking for the nastiest tasting food they could come up with. Several said camel's milk, which I promptly changed to donkey's milk. In fact, donkey's milk served with raw fish pizza! Pretty yucky stuff based on the looks on their faces. From that day on, whenever someone would complain about being hungry, another student would say, "Hey, donkey's milk and raw fish pizza!" That was enough to kill any hunger pangs and get everyone focused back on our lesson.

[It's Scary!]

For the first time I ate and drank in front of my students. After 16 years in the ME and NOT being allowed to eat and drink in public, I have great respect for what my students are going through.

When threatened to be thrown out of the classroom because I wanted to break my fast, but not in front of them, they also said, "No problem, teacher."

I felt VERY self-conscience, but had always felt that if Muslims felt as superior to non-Muslims as many profess, then what better way to let non-Muslims break the fast during daylight and pointing them out and say, "Look at their weakness, truly, we are superior".

I love my students and, actually, feel guilty in indulging. What a conundrum!

It's very Confusing!

[ummkhadija]

Dear All,

I haven't been on for a while, but its interesting to see what you guys have been discussing its quite the discussion for Muslims in general. Of course as mentioned on the posts posted the way people start and end their fast will depend on their school of thought. The one that VS mentioned I have never heard of, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist that are many things in Saudi that I can say are completely cultural and un-Islamic even by their own scholars.

However, here is a website that you may like to look into, its not a place that decrees anything. It just explains timings and rulings that have been made across the world for the start of Ramadan and questions related to fasting.

http://www.moonsighting.com/

Take Care!

UmmKhadija

[It's Scary!]

So, is "The Resort City" the official slogan for Taif now or something that you've applied? The weather can't be beat!

It's a bit dull, though!