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Why fast?
Bitched on: Sunday, September 20, 2009
Time: 9/20/2009 12:18:00 AM
A friend of mine asked me a question and I was stumped.Time: 9/20/2009 12:18:00 AM
He had taken a module on world religions and for his essay, he researched and wrote on Islam.
So the question he asked that had me perplexed momentarily was, "Why do you Muslims fast?"
Well, the obvious reason was that it is one of the five pillars of Islam along with performing the daily prayers, performing the pilgrimage a.k.a. the hajj, paying the zakah (contributing to charities) and lastly the Shahada or the profession of faith. Fasting is not just abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset, it also means abstaining from smoking and having sexual intercourse. All that and also to avoid cussing and thinking lustful and/or evil thoughts. That said, we are encourage to 'up' our prayers and devote ourselves to God by doing good deeds like reading the Quran etc...
After that I explained to him my personal reasons for fasting.
1. To experience (maybe just briefly) the hunger faced by many of those who are less fortunate than me.
2. To symphatize with those who do not get to eat and drink as bountifully as me.
3. To cleanse myself a.k.a. detoxification.
4. To feel good, to feel closer to God (when I say 'good', I mean 'less guilty').
5. To control my desires (not only to eat and drink, but also to cuss).
6. And lastly after a month of fasting, it sure makes celebrating the end of it very much worthwhile.
So to all my Muslim friends, Eid Mubarak Greetings.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf zahir dan batin.
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The Little things.
Bitched on: Friday, September 11, 2009
Time: 9/11/2009 01:28:00 AM
Time: 9/11/2009 01:28:00 AM
People who survived 9/11
The head of a company survived
9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was
his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her
alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike
because of an auto accident.
One of them
missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take
time to change.
One's
car wouldn't start.
One went back to
answer the telephone.
One had a
child that dawdled
and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't
get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man
who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
took the various means to get to work but before he got there,
he developed a blister on his foot.
He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am
stuck in traffic,
miss an elevator,
turn back to answer a ringing telephone,
all the little things that annoy me,
I think to myself,
this is exactly where
God wants me to be
at this very moment.
Next time your morning seems to be
going wrong,
the children are slow getting dressed,
you can't seem to find the car keys,
you hit every traffic light,
don't get mad or frustrated;
God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you
with all those annoying little things
and may you remember their possible purpose.
9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was
his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her
alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike
because of an auto accident.
One of them
missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take
time to change.
One's
car wouldn't start.
One went back to
answer the telephone.
One had a
child that dawdled
and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't
get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man
who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
took the various means to get to work but before he got there,
he developed a blister on his foot.
He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am
stuck in traffic,
miss an elevator,
turn back to answer a ringing telephone,
all the little things that annoy me,
I think to myself,
this is exactly where
God wants me to be
at this very moment.
Next time your morning seems to be
going wrong,
the children are slow getting dressed,
you can't seem to find the car keys,
you hit every traffic light,
don't get mad or frustrated;
God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you
with all those annoying little things
and may you remember their possible purpose.
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