Messages

101

Discuss Latest News/Events / Re: Charity seeks end to lunchbox ham

« on: August 17, 2009, 07:29:46 AM »

Agreed, processed stuff is bad

But I just got to wondering whether a study had been done, you know, to see if people who have never had pig meat in their life have better digestive health than people who eat pork chops quite often.

But I suppose realistically there are far too many variable factors like whether they smoke, eat healthily, veg and salads etc, how often they have fried food, whether they eat bran, exercise, lifestyle etc... I suppose it's a bit like the guy who lived off McDonalds for 30 days and "went large". Bit extreme, but he sought to prove a point

I mean people can still get worms even if they do not eat pigs meat, right? 

102

Islamic Calendar & Ramadhan. / Re: Hot/"ramadan" Answer

« on: August 17, 2009, 07:21:53 AM »

I just spent ages reading and scratching my head trying to get to the bottom of this ramadan scorching heat business. I am now very confused. I was looking forward to Ramadan starting on the night of 20th Aug 2009 (there's a full moon pic on my calendar but it's an american/jewish calendar (another story!), and I'm in Europe, to add to the confusion!?!)
So... How long is the fast? I'm hearing 30 days, I'm reading 10 days. I'm reading full moon to the crescent (10 days) but a month is 30 days, Solar month (August) is 31 days, Lunar month is 28 days? Also then I'm reading here that with there being 4 resticted months or 4 restricted moons, I'm now worried it might be 4 months of fasting, but I must have read it wrong (I'm a bit confused about the numbers in the words eg 7aj and 7ajj what does this mean please?)

So maybe in 2:189 which is telling us about the back doors and the front doors and to not beat around the bush, it means to just do the fast and get it over with instead of worrying about the tiny details... maybe it means anytime you see the full moon you should fast in that month. Cos I know sometimes I notice the full moon, I just HAPPEN to see it. But I'm not usually looking for it. And more often than not, the full moon comes and goes without me seeing it. Then again, I don't get out much.

Ok I better not conjecture any further, that is indeed wrong, better get back to using my mind, heart, brain, eyes and ears and work out what I'm going to do about Ramadan this year! Insh'Allah next time I pray, as always, I will ask Allah to guide me aright and keep me off the wrong path, and surely if my intention is to fast purely for the sake of Allah even if I do not know whether it is for 10 days, 28 days, 30 days or 4 months, then better I do some rather than none. 

Peace, salaams and best wishes x

103

Islamic Calendar & Ramadhan. / Re: Useful Tipps For Ramadan

« on: August 17, 2009, 05:22:53 AM »

Salaams, Thanks very much for these tips. Good timing, cos I was just wondering what to do about my exercise and fitness regime during Ramadan. Yes doing the exercise just before Iftar sounds like a good idea and I will try it, InshAllah.

104

Discuss Latest News/Events / Re: French pool bans 'burkini' swim

« on: August 17, 2009, 04:24:42 AM »

My thoughts on the burkini
Not everyone who wears a burkini is Muslim or covers for religious reasons.
Burkini allows people to take part in water sports / swimming whilst maintaining their modesty.
What degree of modesty is modest, is up to the individual to decide, according to what their personal beliefs are of course. There are many reasons to cover, not just covering one's beauty but also things one might feel self conscious about, be it excess hair, cellulite, skin problems, the list is endless really. If people normally wear, say, jeans and a long sleeve top, to work and in the street, then it is logical to feel the impulse to keep these areas covered whilst doing other activities, swimming included. I personally think that if it was the norm to cover whilst swimming, then more people would go more often, because swimming is a great way to keep fit and have fun, and sadly a lot of people do not go, due to inhibitions. I am not talking about religion here. I am talking about people who instinctively feel that a figure hugging swimsuit baring all lumps and bumps is like an invasion of privacy and you are on display for all eyes to see. Even during "Male/Female Only" swimming classes for example, I know people can be paranoid or feel self conscious about their body image. Men can feel this just as much as Women. Remember Puberty? Locker room/Changing/Showers? Some people did not get over that experience!
The burkini is not unhygenic, it is made of swimsuit material, and is not worn in the street. (People who pee in the pool are unhygenic) It's not harming anyone is it, if someone wears it?
And the burkini saves you money on sunscreen )

Peace y'all

105

Discuss Latest News/Events / Charity seeks end to lunchbox ham

« on: August 17, 2009, 03:49:29 AM »

Salaams

I was just reading the news now on BBC website, and came across this article on today's front page:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8202188.stm

It made me wonder if there had been any studies done to see whether people who don't eat ham/pork have lower incidents of Bowel Cancer/serious health problems.

106

Salat & Zakat (The Contact & Purification) / Re: How much Zakat do I pay using quran alone?

« on: August 14, 2009, 01:54:14 PM »

 salaams and peace of Allah

here is a link to the submission site, which is saying it's 2.5%, because of 70:24 - they say it is the only verse that refers to the percentage. It says that it is "Ma'luum" = Known.  http://www.submission.org/ramadan/zakat.html

 copied and pasted from submission.org...
"Whenever we receive "net income," the "known amount" of Zakat should be paid or set aside. (see 70:24) This known amount as God calls it, is 2.5%. This is the ONLY "known amount" to the submitters (Muslims). This amount, 2.5% was passed down to us, generation after generation, like Salat, from the time of Abraham to our time. We must set aside 2.5% and give it to the specified recipients - the parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, and the traveling alien, in this order (2:215). "

so please can we discuss this and get to the bottom of it?

I understand sadaqa is the "excess" but if you are in a situation where you have more outgoings than income, how can we worl out what to give, when there is no excess? i have been making sandwiches to give to the poor, so i give food rather than money. does Zakat have to be a monetary donation or can it be food / clothes?

thanks and peace and salaams