Ramadan
China bans Ramadan, continues clampdown on Uyghur Muslims
Source : Eurasia Review
BEIJING | 12 Aug 2011
China is placing restrictions on its Muslim Uyghur population during the fasting month of Ramadan, following a string of violent attacks in its northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress, said Ramadan, which runs roughly from Aug. 1 to 30 this year, has brought a fresh clampdown on Muslims in the wake of violent attacks in the Silk Road cities of Kashgar and Hotan.
Muslims in Kenyan-Somali camps fast despite bad conditions
Source : Anadolu Agency
Dadaab | 16 Aug 2011
Muslims living in refugee camps on the Kenyan-Somali border fast during the holy month of Ramadan despite the extremely hot weather.
The Dadaab Refugee Camp on the Kenyan-Somali border is one that thousands of hungry and thirsty individuals walked to for days in order to find food and water.
Muslims living in hot weather and bad conditions continue to fast and teach the holy Qur'an in small homes built of tree branches.
Ramadan in Dubai: a month of soaring food waste?
Source : Jason Benham & Warda Al-Jawahiry | Reuters
DUBAI | 16 Aug 2011
Hundreds of Asian laborers sit silently on the floor outside Dubai’s Fatima Hassan Mosque in front of plates laden with fruit, pakoras and biryani as they wait patiently in the energy-sapping humidity to begin their Ramadan iftar.
Sobia: A thirst-quenching Ramadan drink
Source : Rima Al-Mukhtar | Arab News
Makkah | 10 Aug 2011
“Sobia is the most popular drink in Ramadan; it is sold almost on every street corner. Saudis like to break their fast with a cold glass of Sobia to give them energy and power,” said Um Tariq, a 78-year-old citizen. “I have witnessed my mother and grandmother preparing this drink ever since I was a child, and now I’m proceeding with this tradition and teaching my grandchildren how to prepare our famous Sobia recipe,” she added.
Whole Foods faces controversy over promotion of Ramadan products
Source : Al Arabiya
Oklahoma | 12 August 2011
US foods supermarket chain Whole Foods has found itself at the center of a heated controversy over its decision to promote Ramadan products for Muslims living in America.
The controversy started out when Whole Foods instructed its regional managers to carry and promote “halal products for those that are celebrating Ramadan this month.”
The move reportedly alarmed some right-wing and Islamophobic bloggers in the United States, who accused the supermarket chain of promoting the Islamic tradition of Ramadan.
Obama hosted iftar dinner at White House celebrating Ramadan
Source : Agencies
Washington | 11 Aug 2011
Continuing a tradition first started by one of the nation’s Founding Fathers, President Obama hosted an iftar dinner Wednesday evening in the State Dining Room to celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The president is no stranger to the sunset fast-breaking meal – he likely attended many as a boy in Indonesia – but Wednesday’s event came with a star-studded guest list and an agenda: reaching out to an important, and often embattled constituency.
French fast food chain keeps Halal branches open till midnight for Ramadan
Source : Islam Today
Paris | 10 August 2011
In France this year, with sunset coming well after 9 PM, one leading fast food chain is seeking Muslim business by keeping its doors open an extra two hours.
Since 1 August, halal branches of Quick restaurants, France's leading fastfood chain, have extended their business hours from 10 PM until midnight to accommodate their Muslim customers who have to wait until after sunset to eat.
This is a first for Quick, which had not adjusted its business hours in previous years.
You are fasting, but someone eat at your elbow?!
By Muhammad Muslimov
IslamDag | 10 Aug 2011
"The angels bless the fasting person, when someone eats near him".
Walking down the street we sometimes see how certain people instead of keeping the fast, eat, drink or nibble sunflower seeds. Some become annoyed at this sight, others turn away, so as not to tempt themselves.
They try to show patience as they understand that God bestowed them the best, i.e. fasting. The refusal of the fasting testifies the weakness of the faith of this man.
