(August 28) Today we're celebrating . . . Dream Day Quest and Jubilee
Dream Day Quest and Jubilee
The 3rd of three annual Emancipation Days of Respect which honors the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. by promoting unity, respect and remembrance.
On this the anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” (Aug. 28, 1963), you are requested to wear black and white to show respect for Peoplehood in the Spirit of WAO (We Are One).
The Emancipation Days of Respect are Humanitarian Day (January 15th - MLK’s Birthday), Victims of Violence Holy Day (April 4th - Anniversary of MLK’s death) and Dream Day Quest and Jubilee (August 28th - Anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech)
Visit our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day site to see & hear the “I Have a Dream” speech.
Holiday Invite: Ramadan on the Net
Greetings & Ahlan wa-Sahlan (Welcome)
Holidays on the Net is pleased to invite you to our celebration of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Observed by more than one billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time for spiritual purification through fasting, self-sacrifice and prayer.
Celebrated during the ninth month of Islamic calendar, the fast of Ramadan is observed daily from sunrise to sunset. To learn more about how Muslims commemorate this pinnacle holiday, see our article on the traditions of Ramadan. You can also learn more about Islam, its Prophet Muhammad and its five pillars of the faith (one of which is fasting on Ramadan).
If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, you’ll want to read our article on the sects of Islam. And if you are curious to learn more facts and figures about the Muslim faith and the upcoming celebration of Ramadan, please be sure to read Did You Know?
This year in North American, Ramadan begins on September 01.* The conclusion of Ramadan this year is on October 01, which is marked by Muslims with a special feast called Eid ul-Fitr.
We look forward to seeing you on Holidays on the Net this Ramadan.
Kul ‘am wa enta bi-khair! (May every year find you in good health!)
Holidays on the Net
*Ramadan 2008: The first day of Ramadan (fasting) in North America according to sighting, is expected to be September 02. However, according to Saudi Ummul-Qura calendar, Fiqh Council of North America, and European Council for Fatwa and Research, the first day of Ramadan is on Monday, September 01, 2008.
According to a new Fatawa from Deoband, India, the first day of Ramadan in UK will be September 02, because the moon should be easily seen by naked eye. In Pakistan also, sighting will be easy on September 01, and first day of Ramadan will also be September 02.
(source: Moonsighting.com)
Ramadan Countdown 2008 (T-4): When Does Ramadan Begin?
Welcome to our celebration of Ramadan 2008. Join us as we countdown this week before Ramadan which begins next Monday, September 01st.*
In our countdown to Ramadan we’ve explored - what exactly is Ramadan and a look at the Five Pillars and the Muslim Faith. Today we’re going to take a look at when Ramadan is actually celebrated.
Ramadan begins when the first crescent of the new moon is sighted. Due to local weather and cloud conditions Ramadan can actually begin in certain parts of the world where the crescent is spotted. And delayed a day or so in parts of the world that cannot see the moon.
Because of this descrpency certain Islamic organizations have begun issuing an edict determining exactly when Ramadan is to begin. Making things much easier for their followers.
As for Ramadan 2008:
The first day of Ramadan (fasting) in North America according to sighting, is expected to be September 02. However, according to Saudi Ummul-Qura calendar, Fiqh Council of North America, and European Council for Fatwa and Research, the first day of Ramadan is on Monday, September 01, 2008.
According to a new Fatawa from Deoband, India, the first day of Ramadan in UK will be September 02, because the moon should be easily seen by naked eye from Australia to Morocco. In Pakistan also, sighting will be easy on September 01, and first day of Ramadan will also be September 02.
(source: Moonsighting.com)
Stop by tomorrow for our continuing countdown to Ramadan 2008. And for more information visit our holiday celebration - Ramadan on the Net.
*(according to Saudi Ummul-Qura calendar, Fiqh Council of North America, and European Council for Fatwa and Research, the first day of Ramadan is on Monday, September 1, 2008 - source: Moonsighting.com)
Ramadan Countdown 2008 (T-5): The Muslim Faith
Welcome to our celebration of Ramadan 2008. Join us as we countdown this week before Ramadan which begins next Monday, September 01st.*
In our countdown to Ramadan we’ve explored - what exactly is Ramadan and a look at the Five Pillars of the Muslim Faith? Today we’re going to take a look at the Muslim Faith and what it menas to be a Muslim.
Islam
Islam is a monotheistic world religion practiced by 1 billion people around the globe, of which less than 1/5th are Arab. Islam, which in Arabic means peace or submission to God, began in the 7th century CE when Allah (God, in Arabic) revealed the holy book of the Qur’an to the Muslim prophet, Muhammad.
While less than one-fifth of Muslims are Arab, the language of Islamic practice is Arabic, since that is the language used by Allah to reveal the Qur’an to Muhammad. There are Five Pillars, or essential tenets, of the Islamic faith, including the belief in God (Allah), five-times daily ritual prayer, alms-giving, fasting during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca.
Islam is the third of the three major monotheistic religions, including Judaism and Christianity. Muslims believe that Allah revealed the Qur’an to his prophet Muhammad as the final holy book. The faith also accepts the prophecy of the Jewish Bible and the Christian scriptures.
Stop by tomorrow for our continuing countdown to Ramadan 2008. And for more information visit our holiday celebration - Ramadan on the Net.
*(according to Saudi Ummul-Qura calendar, Fiqh Council of North America, and European Council for Fatwa and Research, the first day of Ramadan is on Monday, September 1, 2008 - source: Moonsighting.com)
(August 27) Today we're celebrating . . . "The Duchness" Who Wasn't Day
The Duchess Who Wasn’t Day
A day honoring the novelist Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, who wrote under the pseudonym “The Duchess” and which also happens to be the name of her most popular novel.
So in remembrance today, try to honor Margaret Wolfe Hungerford by using the phrase…
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder“*
… during your normal conversation sometime today.
*the famous quotation from her novel Molly Bawn.