During Ramadan, should people have to work just as they would on any other usual day?
“I’m Fasting” is the best excuse anyone can use to get out of doing a chore and also to get away with bad behavior. It’s true that during the early days of Islam, the people used to work regularly and participate even in battles. Fasting didn’t stop them. So what’s changed? Nowadays in most Islamic countries, work hours are cut by one or two and as far as I have heard, in Saudi Arabia, the whole month is a holiday…people from Saudi, please correct me if I’m wrong.

I don’t get it. All older people and senior citizens go on and on about how much “nicer” Ramadan was during their time…
What is it about the older days that make them so special?
As far as I can remember, Ramadan actually was nicer 15 years ago. Every Ramadan as the years go by (and I get older) I tend to feel that something is missing. I can’t put my finger on it nor can I make a list…but indeed, it’s not the same. I don’t know whether it’s me or everyone else that’s different.
Most people my parents age would say that Ramadan is less “family oriented as it used to be” and it seems to be the time where Arabic TV series and game shows dominate.

We all see beggars on the streets, on subway corners, and especially traffic lights. But Ramadan sees a sharp rise in beggars and their activities.
Of course, these people would like to exploit this holy month as much as possible and play on the high level of religious emotions of people during this special time.

But hey, don’t get me wrong, not all beggars are bad guys. On the contrary, there are a lot of misfortunate people out there who need all the support and help they can get. It’s just such a shame that I can’t distinguish anymore between who deserves my change and who doesn’t. I feel so guilty for not helping an old lady in the street, but at the same time, it’s not my responsibility to save every single beggar, homeless and drifter out there. So let me see that Ramadan spirit of yours and give me suggestions on how to help the poor and the needy.

Oh, and if anyone can give me some suggestion on how to stop feeling guilty about the ones we don’t help.

What are some of the special Ramdanian sweets that you like?
They differ from each country to country.

Baklawa must be the champion of Arabic sweets but we need to know what more types exist. Guys and girls from all over visit Waleg so we will grab this chance for you to tell us what your favorite is!

Mamool for example, Zalabya, and the Ramadan favorite: Qatayef.
For those of you living abroad, is it easy to get Arabic sweets where you live? When I was living in the UK, I found a small Iraqi shop that made the best Zalabya in the universe! It was even 10 times better than any I’d had in Iraq (apart from my mum’s of course)

The only problem is that by the time I’d done “devouring” my iftar, I don’t have much space left for sweets anyway!!!

From an Islamic point of view, eating in public during the fasting time is forbidden. However, times have changed and people have started to question this rule. In many Islamic countries, the government enforces this. So if you’re chewing gum in the street in Saudi-Arabia, you could get thrown in jail till the end of the month.

Beep…Beep!!!
“Come on, get out of the way, I’m fasting here!!”

I’m sure you’ve heard that on before!
I just want to know, what is it about Ramadan that drives people crazy?
You would think that logically, if you’re fasting then you wouldn’t have enough energy to go insane, shout, fight and honk all the time. It seems fasting reveals some hidden force inside people! A kind of magical energy reserved only for bad language, shouting and frustration!
I’m no expert but that’s not the way a good Muslim society should be acting during this holy month!
Every culture has a religious period of some kind but they are characterized by calm, peace and quiet. Why can’t we?

Do you fast during Ramadan?

- Yes, I fast all of Ramadan
- No, I don’t fast
- Sometimes

Click here to vote
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Happy Ramadan everybody!
Yes, all the Islamic countries are celebrating the first day of Ramadan today. As a run-up to this holy month, people have been raiding the supermarkets and shops like it was the end of the world or something!
I thought this month was supposed to be a month of “fasting?” as opposed to “spending.”
You’ve undoubtedly seen how much people waste money during Ramadan…weather it was on unnecessary food or on expensive nights out. It’s actually becoming categorized as big business for shop-owners and supermarkets, not to mention coffee shops.

Hey, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a nice “Argeela” and coffee just as much as the next guy, but I can’t help feeling that Ramadan has become a business month rather than a month of worship. For example, a night out in Amman after Iftar in a decent coffee shop could cost you about $15 as a minimum charge. You can get an Argeela and tea with that. And as the month passes by, that minimum charge rises to $20!!
It is obvious to see that people are spending more during this month and worshiping less!
I feel Arabic societies are missing the point…what do you think?

More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will celebrate the holy month of Ramadan which starts tomorrow in countries like Saudi Arabia, Libya, Lebanon and Iraq and the day after in countries like Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt whose religious authorities weren’t able to see the crescent moon because it wasn’t visible.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is an obligation on every adult and healthy Muslim, and it’s one of the 5 pillars of Islam including Announcement of Faith, Salaat (praying 5 times a day), Zakaat (the right of the poor on the wealth of the financially able) and Hajj (once a life time pilgrimage to Kaaba).

At the completion of the month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world celebrate their holiday of Eid Al-Fitr.

On this occasion, we at WALEG.com wish you all a blessed and happy Ramadan 2006 :)

Related Links:
- Happy Ramadan 2007

This Ramadan is unlike any other! It will be more crowded than ever with TV series from around the Arab world! Satellite TV channels will compete for the best series & the majority of the audiences.
Egyptian series are many & it will be very difficult to follow more than two –in my opinion- ! What is noticeable is that there will be a very ferocious competition between very famous faces that have decided to make a come-back this year, like Laila Ilwi in Nour Al Sabah, Samira Ahmad in Daawat Farah, Mirvat Amin in Ahzan Mariam, Nadia Al Jundi in Man Atlak Al Rasas Ala Hind Allam?, Fifi Abdo in Souk Al Khudar & Tayseer Fahmi in Qalb Al Donia.