Wednesday 1 October 2008

The End of the Ninth Month

This year Ramadan began on the evening on Aug 31...

Ramadan signifies to Muslims the month in which the Qur'an was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. It is the Islamic month of fasting (sawm) in which practicing Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn until dusk. Ramadan is the time to fast for the honor of God and to offer more prayer than usual. Fasting is meant to teach the follower patience, sacrifice and humility. During the period of Ramadan Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and restraint from committing everyday evils. Muslims seek purification through self-restraint and good deeds...

The past month, the major indication for me that is was Ramadan on base was the noticeable surplus of fruits, particularly watermelon, that was consumed by the Iraqis in the evenings as their sole meal. The morning prayer at 0400 was also especially resonant during Ramadan, the ethereal crying timbre echoing across the base in the still star-swept dawn.

Ramadan ended yesterday, Sept 30 2008...You can tell.  The end of the holy month was marked by the return of loud, frightening and one might say, evil, noises.


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