Ramadan Kareem!

Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان ) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.


The word Ramadan comes originally from the word ramd "to burn". The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. The name came from before the Islamic calendar creation, when the month of Ramadan started in the summer. Fasting during this month is often thought to symbolically burn away all sins.

Eid Al Fitr

Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fitr means “to break the fast”;

and so the holiday symbolises the breaking of the fasting period.
It is celebrated starting on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal and upon sighting of the new crescent moon which signals the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

It is a joyous occasion for all Muslims.

It is a time when Muslims give thanks for the blessings they have received from Allah, celebrated the victory of the forces of good over evil, and forgive their neighbours for old grudges and ill feelings. It is also a time for spreading peace, sharing with others and giving thanks for completing another period of fasting for the month of Ramadan.

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WoW! Its my 3rd year of celebrating Eid here in the UAE :)
It seems like yesterday, when I first saw BAGONG BUWAN (new crescent moon which signals the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan)...
and here I am again, joining the Muslim people in commemorating this joyous occasion.

Yes. I am joining them, not for the long weekend... but in prayers... and in faith...
This is the best time to give thanks... to forgive... to be healed... to share love and spread peace.

And isnt it even non-muslims can do it?

We can all join them.
Christians and Muslims can always be united in prayers...

I am sure that we are all hoping for peace.
To have a better world where our children and grand children can enjoy their freedom.
Together, we are hoping for an economic stability, that we can live life with less pressure.
We are all praying for happiness... for ourselves and our family.
Everybody wants a life without an enemy. nobody loves war... it only happens when people were not treated fairly...

We are both calling God, maybe in different names, but what's important is that we have faith in Him.
We may be divided through different teachings... language... customs and traditions, but still,we share the same world... we have the same hope... we pray with all our faith and we know there is God that listens.

EID MUBARAK!

Bagong Buwan

parang kailan lang nang huli kong masilayan ang pagsibol ng bagong buwan...

ang pagtatapos ng Ramadan...

Panibagong buhay at pag-asa ang hatid nito, hindi lamang sa mga Muslim... kundi sa lahat ng taong naka-saksi ng bagong liwanag...

at kasama kami dun.

si ernan... ako... si ericson...

hindi namin alam ang malalim na dahilan at paniniwala ng mga Muslim sa Eid, tanda ito ng pagtatapos ng kanilang isang buwang pag-aalay ng sakripisyo upang maging kaayaya sa kay Allah...

hindi ko alam kung tama ba ito.

pero isang bagay ang tiyak na alam ko...

kung paanong kahit magkakaiba ng paniniwala at pananampalataya ang mga tao ay may iisang pananalig pa rin sa nasa Itaas...

at ang pananalig na ito ang nagbibigay lakas at pag-asa sa bawat isa.

dumating ako dito sa dubai, unang araw ng Ramadan...

malas daw ako, dahil marami ng bawal dito sa ganung panahon.

malungkot daw. mahigpit.

mahirap makanahap ng trabaho.

pero para sa akin...

mas magandang nakita kong una ang malungkot na bahagi ng lugar na pinuntahan ko...

mas magandang maranasan ko kung gaano kahigpit ang batas ng bansang ito...

mas mainam na magkaroon ako ng takot at disiplina sa unang pagtungtong ko pa lamang sa kanilang teritoryo...

at maranasan ko ang hirap na walang tumatawag sa lahat ng pinadalhan ko ng application dahil sa wala ang mga boss dito...

sa panahong ito...

nakaramdam ako ng lungkot. takot. pagka inip.

minsang ring sumagi sa akin ang kawalan ng pag asa...

pero un ang aral ng Ramadan...

ang pag sasakripisyo.

ang pag titiis.

at ang pagkakaroon ng pag-asa...

dahil pagtapos ng lahat ng ito...

lalabas din ang bagong buwan.