Ramadan 2022 thread

[mubarak86]

Assalamo alaikum and Ramadan Mubarak to those fasting! I thought we could have a thread to support each other and have some general Ramadan chat. Others are free to ask questions too x

Asalam alaikum

Hope everyone is well.
I am a revert but haven't fasted, except for one part of Ramadan 2020 when I was trying to fast but was so sick and weak and then discovered that I was pregnant, Alhamdullilah.
And am not fasting this year as I am breastfeeding.

I love Ramadan and even though I have never fasted I just love this time of year and preparing the food for my husband and the eldest boy who is fasting.

I also am grateful to Allah that The Easter break is soon, so he can fast 2 weeks at home, rather than trudging about the secondary school all day and a big walk there and back.

My husband works nights so I just woke up my eldest boy for eggs, toast, cereal and raisins and relaxing for a bit before Fajr prayer.

Anyone else trying to complete the Quran this month?

Advice to sister @jazzyjazz22 remember the whole point of fasting is to be grateful for food and to bring you closer to Allah, rather than thinking about food all day, make your day busy with jobs around the house, reading quran, making dias, listening to lectures by scholars and sheiks such as mufti menk and Yussuf estes etc and learn new surahs, also if you're new to Islam, it is great to learn all the new things like what to say when entering and leaving the toilet, surahs to recite before bed and learning Ayatul Kursi as well.

I am so happy for you that you found Islam.

Who else is a revert?

Me, I reverted in 2009 Alhamdulliah.

I dont really think about food when fasting just water and headaches near the end.

There are blessings to having annual leave at this time and working at this time. Annual leave for the rest and extra sleep (if you can get it) and working for the day to go by and to keep your mind busy.

@MakeMineAdoubleChocolate thank you for the advice. I hope to do some more of these things, difficult as I am still working full time at the minute. Hoping to do more days from home so I can make use of the time to prepare food/ things around the house. I'm still learning how to pray so usually just read in English but this is something I'd like to learn

salaam and ramadan mubarak to all. hope it is going well for you. i am having a hard time this year as am on a large number of different medications and have had quite poor health so am unable to fast, i feel terrible about it but i know if i try it will worsen my conditions. has anyone ever been in such a position and what else can i do apart from reading, listening to talks etc to feel more connected? it is very hard anyway as am a single parent with no support and kids are small so it is usually me doing sehri and iftari alone which is tough. does anyone have any tips? as in how to do different things to feel ramadan-y

Salaam. Ramadan Mubarak!🌙

It's great to see that there are quite a lot of Muslims on Mumsnet.

The first day was quite hard as my kids wouldn't go back to sleep, so the lack of sleep gave me a migraine but Alhumdulillah I was feeling great yesterday.

May Allah give everyone strength to fast this Ramadan and may Allah accepts our fasts.

Plz remember me in your Duas 🤲

Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatu! @yummytummy is it possible for you to get out to a mosque for iftar or taraweeh? Do remember that fasting is just one aspect, and all good deeds are multiplied. I know what you mean though, I didn't fast for the majority one year due to pregnancy and it is harder to feel connected when you aren't fasting. May Allah swt make it easy for us all.

salaam mubarak86 i couldn't really get to a mosque at that time it would be difficult. i just feel like i am being really "bad" and i feel guilty but i know physically i would really struggle and get even more ill. it is so hard and no one really gets it as if non muslim it is probably more straightforward to say "oh just don't fast then" but when you always have the pull is stronger

I'm Christian but I just want to say that this is one of my favourite times of the year because I openly look forward to all of wonderful recipes my Muslim brothers and sisters post on social media!
Ramadan Mubarak

Thank you @nomorechange, you are very welcome here 💐

Iftar tonight:

dates
Libyan shorba (soup)
Kollage (mince meat in filo pastry)

Is there anything in particular we can do to support our fasting Muslim students at school?

@Onceupon that's a really good question. My dd's school automatically exempts them from PE, HE practicals and gives them a room to sit/relax in at lunch times. I think those things are very helpful, especially the room over lunch.

Ramadan Mubarak everyone! I’m catholic but wanted to share some love to those fasting.

[quote H1978]@jazzyjazz22 May Allah give you strength to continue fasting. Don’t be too tough on yourself. I always think of those who fast in poorer countries with no idea if they’ll have any food to break their fast with 😢. That usually helps to make it through.

@MySister that’s so cute about your 6 year old. Mine are all older now so everyone’s fasting but I remember their first fasts too, trying to entertain them until it was time lol[/quote]
Please explain why a 6 year old fasting is cute. I find this concerning when they are so young.

It’s cute that they have the love to fast. Of course it’s not compulsory on them but they like to try along with older members of the family. I always gave mine the option to eat whenever they wanted.

What a beautiful thread. Thank you everyone for sharing and thank you to @mubarak86 for starting it. Ramadan Mubarak from a non-Muslim / atheist.

This thread also reminded me to visit the really sweet guy who runs the halal store in our small town. I usually visit/shop there a couple times per month whether for spices, lamb or chicken. I’ll buy some sweets for him and drop them off today.

Thank you @jings and @ziga 💐

Hi all, good luck with keeping your fast.

I'm just popping on to say that some Christians are fasting too because it is Lent.

The vast majority give up something they like for the 40 days but some denominations have stricter rules.

This is why (if you don't already know) 'Pancake day' is the day before lent and was used to use up all the flour / sugar /eggs.

Lots of Christians do something positively as well, extra prayer, charity etc. So if you give up Chocolate then you give the money saved to charity.

If you are doing a 'full on' fast it is 40 days but does not include Sundays so actually lasts nearer 6 weeks.

A full fast is only one meal in 24 hours, you can have 2 'snacks' but they must equal less than a meal and many adherents also give up meat and animal products so eggs, milk, cheese although fish is OK with most denominations.

A minority do not eat before Sundown.

If you already knew that, well sorry to bore you, if you didn't - well I find it fascinating that similar idears and practices exist.

Now I could also go on about Jewish and Hindu fasts but I'd have to check the dates.

I will add that for some Jewish fasts it isn't just food you don't eat (for 25 hours) but there can be restrictions on washing and wearing of leather.

supersonic no reason to get flustered, he sees his sibilings fasting so wanted to fast.
No one pushing him 😂
He did one day then decided that was enough.
Might do another,might do an half day, might not fast at all the rest of the month.

What's everyone having for iftar tonight?
I resent having to think of what to make, when I ask the kids it's like you choose but when I suggest something they say they don't want it, there will be spring rolls or pakorey of course but don't know what to have for main meal, so looking for inspiration!

Lovely thread! Not Muslim myself but have enjoyed learning about Ramadan.

Thanks everyone

@noenergy I'm trying to do as little as possible cooking wise. We have soup and a fried thing everyday and yesterday I made enough for 2 days so in theory no cooking for me 🎉 I might make my version of pakorey but that's about it. Me and DH don't eat a main, so I just keep sliced chicken breast in the fridge and rice for the dc if they are hungry (and they always are!). I might make some baklawa or bassboosa.

Salaam sisters, I have just found this thread 👋 Ramadan Mubarak!

Tonight’s menu:

• Dates with lemon and ginger water
• Tunisian chicken chorba (my absolute favourite which we only make during Ramadan, has become a family tradition and we have it every night)
• Lebanese beef stew with rice
• Chopped salad
• Homemade baklawa courtesy of my MIL

For suhoor we always have some variation of porridge and fruits and a gallon of water.

@sashh some of my closest friends are Orthodox Christians, we support each other during our fasts every year - one friend fasts in the strictest sense of her religion but admits would struggle to not drink water. There are many similar aspects to both religions, I recently learnt that she will also only eat halal meat too (and no pork) in accordance with what is written in the Old Testament about meat preparation, I had never heard this before and thought she just bought halal meat/adapted recipes especially when she hosted dinner parties, etc

Andariego your dishes sound delicious! would you have a recipe for the tunisian chicken dish? it is interesting trying new recipes in the month!

Yummytummy, of course - it’s a light soup that doesn’t fill you up too much, perfect for Ramadan.

I’ve had a quick google and this is the closest recipe I can find, but I switch up the mint for rosemary and the cayenne/paprika for harissa paste. I add chilli powder if I want more heat and season well with salt & black pepper. I also add small chunks of chicken which I fry along with the onions, or sometimes swap for lamb or tuna.

www.food.com/recipe/chorba-frik-464565

Hope you enjoy

@yummytummy oh and thank you, first time making the Lebanese stew tonight but recipe looks good so I have high hopes. I love trying new recipes during the month too!