Magazine: Solusi Isu 34: Isu Khas Ramadan & Syawal 2011

As you know, I have never ever review a magazine issue. Why? obviously, I can’t cover the the whole thing in one post. Plus the regularity is another factor. So why am I featuring this magazine? Well I did promise on giving a feature on Ramadan and I have yet to produce any. *gasps* I had a really hectic, busy and stuffy past 3 weeks. Not to forget, my isp decided to have a PMS, that I staying online was a pain in the ass.

Anyhoo….This magazine is Malaysia-based, and I think it’s  a monthly publication.. I’m not sure. One of the teachers at work actually donate this magazine to the school library I work at, hence I don’t really get how frequent this one put out. What drawn me to this edition is thea article called ‘A-Z Tentang Puasa’. It provided a page full of what I called a cliff notes on:

♠ Definition
♠ Types of fasting (Wajib, Sunat, Haram, Makruh)
♠ Syarat Wajib
♠ Syarat Sah Puasa
♠ Rukun Puasa
♠ Sunat Puasa
♠ Perkara yang membatalkan Puasa
♠ Mereka yang diizinkan Berbuka

There are other interesting articles, and the Ramadan time table, provided at the end. Check it out =^_^=

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Doa Niat Puasa Ramadhan

Early before dawn breaks, during Sahur (early breakfast) one who intends to fast during the day during the month of Ramadhan, should remember to recite this doa.

Bismillaahirrohmaanirrohiim,
Nawaitu shouma ghodin ‘an adaa-i fardhi syahri romadhoona haadzihis sanati lillaahi ta ‘aala.

Means:

Dengan menyebut nama Allah Yang Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang.
Aku berniat puasa esok hari menunaikan kewajiban Ramadhan tahun ini karena Allah Ta’ala (Malay)

I intend to fast tomorrow fulfilling the fardhu of Ramadan this year for the sake of Allahu Ta'ala, amin. (English)




Ok some of you would prefer to just recite it once and not every night. So I’m including this little doa for you.

 
Sunset arrive and after all that, time to break that fast and we recite this one… and enjoy the first bite of a date, or first sip of a drink..

Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu [wa 'alayka tawakkaltu] wa 'ala rizq-ika aftarthu

Means:
Ya Allah bagi Engkau aku berpuasa dan dengan Engkau beriman aku dengan rezeki Engkau aku berbuka dengan rahmat Engkau wahai yang Maha Pengasih dan Penyayang.

O Allah!  I fasted for You and I believe in You [and I put my trust in You] and I break my fast with Your sustenance

Yup Upin & Ipin for glamour hehe

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It’s that time again… it’s Ramadhan!

If anybody wonders what has to do with anything, it’s time to fast for the whole month during the day again. Tomorrow is the day in Brunei where they announce the sighting of the crescent moon, yes.. we have that one instead of that full calendar thing to predict when with the fasting month starts..  This year, I have decided to do a “Ramadhan Special" in my blog *again* featuring Muslims books, non-fiction and fiction other wise, Ramadhan tips, Doas and whatever I could think off to share.

To start the post,  let me start with the do’s and don’t with a poster I have found last year somewhere around the web. I thought it would be a good start =^_^= Have a good one!

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Ramadhan Stalls In Brunei

During Ramadan, here in Brunei during the afternoon hours after work, we have these Ramadan stalls where you can buy cooked food for your Iftar (Sungkai, Breaking Fast). I've promise sights of foods, Lemme share you some :) I took this last week though, didn't' have any time to upload it until now.

Chicken Chicken Chicken

Sugar Cane Anyone?

So Many People

Kebabs!

Some Foodies

Meruku And Crab Crackers

ABC Cendol

 

More Cendol

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Ramadhan working days in Brunei

Working Hours during Ramadhan in Brunei
Another post about the Ramadhan experience in Brunei. Working days and school days isn't the same between Ramadhan and the rest of the days in the year.

Usual Working Days: 7:45am - 12pm (morning) & 1:45pm - 4:30pm (afternoon).
Students: 7:30am to 12:30pm.

So come Ramadhan the schedule changes from the above to this:

Working Hours: 8 am - 2 pm
Students: 7:30 am - 11:50 pm

As a librarian working in a school environment, I'm pretty much get the lucky spot of working from 7:30am till 1:30 pm due to the reason we opened up for 1st class period at 7:30am, hence the reason of the going home earlier.

* Let me state that any breaks, including lunch, coffee, and tea has been taken out from the schedule. that' why we have short working hours in Brunei during this particular month.

How it feel to work during the fasting month?

I must admit, I'm glad we have shorter hours during this particular month, but also in the same time, working really keep my mind off the time. Yes, I do feel hungry during at work, but I guess some things can be a good thing. I managed to get more work done for a bit, due to no food break thing. I'm the kind who snack during at work, so every fasting month is quite a change from that.

Even though we have shorter hours, the tired factor is still there. Probably because nothing change except we have no food and drinks... *purses lips thinking* yeah.. just that. We still have students coming to use the library and pretty much still in business. Hence yeah... glad we have shorter hours.

I have nothing other to say about this subject... *scratches head* I guess. Um.. sure..yeah I'm sure. Since the only exciting thing that's happening regarding work is that at the moment.

Stay tune by the way... next post on Ramadhan would be full of food pictures. *glees* I'll be showing you what's available after work. That is a visit to the Ramadhan stalls around this parts of the world, and what they have to offer for sale for Iftar (Sungkai or breaking fast). So stay tune!

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Free dates (fruits) and of course a bit of Sahoor

Ok, I have promised posts of Ramadhan related stuff here but I seem to be lack behind. Sorry about that. I haven't been feeling up to anything lately due to the fasting thing, plus we seem to have a weird heat waves with sudden thunderstorm here and there for the past 5 days. So health wise, I am pretty much havign the fatique thing going on, but as I promise let me post one, regarding my experience fasting in Brunei.

For the past several years, the Sultan of Brunei annually give all Muslims in Brunei a packet each of dates (fruits) to all Muslim individuals, whether local or not. It is something to look forward to every Ramadhan, cause it's an honor to get something delicious, sweet and something healthy to eat before every Sungkai (Iftar - Breaking fast, during sunset) and of course something to eat as a "dessert" for me personally, during Sahoor. This year, the dates came in in this cute round container. Plus it's blue! so that's a plus.

Below is how the dates' container look like this year.

So.. what's so special about Sahoor?

To me, it's breakfast and a time where I would fix the "Doa" to perform fast the next day. It happens during pre-dawn, means I wake up at 3:30am, all beary eye... at least eat something healthy that last for teh whole day. This doesn't mean I be indulging myself with big plate full of rice and stuff. I usually choose what I eat properly. No oily stuff, none too sweet and too salty. I would try and find something that would burn up slowly throughout the day. I would usually drink warm Milo (chocolate drink) to warm the stomach, plus it has good proteins to last me for the whole day. Then, of course, I would end my Sahoor with a couple of dates. of course.. after I clean it all up, I just do my Doa and just go back to bed for a while.

Yes... we pretty much need to reschedule sleep during these times, cause it does feel like we have less time per day, if we don't.

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Ramadhan & Announcement!

Hiya! It's the fasting month of Ramadhan! To fellow Muslims out there, have a good time fasting everywhere.

First of all, I would like apologize, for the lack of postings. My internet provider, ESpeed; has been acting too ESloth to my liking. I can barely stay online or load much in at home or any other places, other than work (but of course I can't post it from the work puter! >.<)

I have an announcement though, nothing big. I just want to say, I would be refraining myself from reading the Erotica & Romance Genre for the whole month of Ramadhan due to respect, and of course, because I am also observing the fasting month myself. Yes! I am actually not eating nor drinking anything from sun rise to sunset! Horrah for me! It's the second day, And for both days, I have been having heat waves problems. The heat waves is giving me difficulties, but I managed to get through the day until sunset.! Yay!.

Anyhoo, I will however still be accepting ARCS and Review copies of this this genre, but I will only be able to read it after the Ramadhan month is over.

I would still be reading though, mostly be under Children, Teens, Juvenile, Young Adults, Literature and other favorite genres of mine. In between, I would be posting reviews of Islamic related books, for the sake of the month itself. I kinda find some of interesting books in my own family collection, and where I work as well. So that would be some fun things to read. Don't worry, I won't be preaching. I'm just gonna review and such.

Hence it's kinda late, (yes it's just 10:30pm) but I have to get going. I need to get up for Sahor (early breakfast before dawn), and I have to work tomorrow, luckily just until 1:30 pm. I tell you more about it tomorrow.

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