Taraweeh Prayers in Ramadan.

When the month of Ramadan begins, Muslims enter into a period of discipline and worship:  fasting during the day, and praying throughout the day and night.  During Ramadan, special evening prayers are conducted during which long portions of the Qur'an are recited.  These special prayers are known as taraweeh.
The word taraweeh comes from an Arabic word which means to rest and relax.  The prayer can be very long (well over an hour), during which one stands upright to read from the Qur'an and performs many cycles of movement (standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting).  After each four cycles, one sits for a brief period of rest before continuing -- this is where the name taraweeh ("rest prayer") comes from.
During the standing portions of the prayer, long sections of the Qur'an are read.  The Qur'an is divided into equal parts (called juz) for the purpose of reading sections of equal length during each of the Ramadan nights.  Thus, 1/30 of the Qur'an is read on successive evenings, so that by the end of the month the entire Qur'an has been completed.
It is recommended that Muslims attend the taraweeh prayers in the mosque (after 'isha, the last evening prayer), to pray in congregation.  This is true for both men and women.  However, one may also perform the prayers individually at home. These prayers are voluntary, but are strongly recommended and widely practiced.
There has been some dispute about how long the taraweeh prayer is supposed to be: 8 or 20 raka'at (cycles of prayer). It is without dispute, however, that when praying the taraweeh prayer in congregation, one should start and end with the imam, according to the number that he performs. Night prayers in Ramadan are a blessing, and one should not argue about this fine point.
SOURCES from About.Com Islam

Foreigners return from perform Taraweeh Prayers in Kuala Lumpur

Friday Prayers in Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur.

Taraweeh Prayers sources from About.Com & Photos from my Panasonic Lumix LX3.

 

 

 

Ramadhan Break Fasting.......

The festival of Ramadan (Ramadhan, or Bulan Puasa in Malay) is an important event in the Muslim calendar, a time of personal reflection and bonding with one's family.

At the end of the day, Muslims break their fast (buka puasa) with a huge meal called iftar, usually eaten communally at home or at bazaars that are set up specifically for Ramadan.

Ramadan Bazaars in Malaysia

The Muslim majority in Malaysia (Muslim Malays constitute about 60% of the population) eagerly anticipate the Ramadan bazaars that help them break their fast at the end of the day.

The shoppers in the bazaars aren't all Muslim, though; Malaysian Chinese and foreign tourists also benefit from the bazaars' great eats and bargains.

For Ramadan, the Ramadan bazaars all throughout Malaysia operate the entire holy month, opening at 4pm every day. 

KIM SOYA BEAN @ Petaling Street.

The third day of Ramadhan,I'm still in the city of Kuala Lumpur @ China Town or commonly known as Petaling street.It's almost time for break fasting.So what i did was I went to KIM SOYA BEAN and bought (take away) a soya bean drink and tau foo fah then heading to central market for break fasting.

Tun Mahathir like their soya bean.

Kim soya bean is famous with their tau foo fah & soya bean drink.Even our Malaysia former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir love their soya bean(it was shown at one of the newspaper cutting).

Central Market Food Court KL.

 

All the above photos shot from my Panasonic Lumix LX3.

Museums in Kuching City.....

Honestly,I have found the most reasonable air fares directly from the official airline websites.And if you subscribe to their newsletter or like their facebook or twitter you are always informed of the upcoming discount or package well in advance,sometime even before it's out in the press for e.g.

Firefly Airlines

We have an EXCITING announcement tomorrow that involves NEW routes and LOW fares! How low can we go? Check back tomorrow (Feb 22) after 3pm (local time) for the juicy details... :)

Firefly Airline is flying to KCH from KLIA .....

 

The Sarawak Museum.....

If you have no time to travel to the entire Sarawak, you owe a visit to the Sarawak Museum. Some travelers commented that simply spend an hour at Sarawak Museum is as good as traveling to the entire Sarawak for a week. There are simply too many things to tell you about Sarawak in this museum. It’s located right in the city centre, and within a walking distance from major hotels in Kuching, especially Merdeka Palace Hotel. The best part of it is, the entrance to Sarawak Museum is free of charge, and no ticket purchase needed, nothing, so why not?

The rear view of Islamic Museum.....

The Islamic Museum is open daily from 9 am to 4.30 pm.It is located on Jalan P.Ramlee in the beautiful restored Maderasah Melayu Buildinh (1930).It is also accessible from the rear of the Sarawak Museum's new wing.The Islamic Museum present a clear picture of the rich historical heritage and special culture of the Muslim community in Sarawak and throughout the Malay-Indonesia archipelago,the traces connection with the development of Islam in the rest of the World.The museum consists of 7 galleries set around a central courtyard garden.each with a different theme.

Muslim Celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

Muslim in Sarawak today (15.02.2011) braved the rains to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad in Kota Samarahan.Mor than 8000 peoples from various sector,organisation and school participated in a procession and gathering  at Dewan Saurah field .The procession was led by the VVIP & VIP of Sarawak.

 

 

He say something here...1 Malaysia , 1 Ummah.

Malaysia-Muslims to celebrate Eid-al-Adha on November 17th.

Today, the ketupat casings can be bought in wet markets. Some stalls even sell cooked ketupat a day before the celebrations.

JANUR (Young Palm leave).

Preparing the ketupat started with the anyaman process when the janur were woven into casings. The casings were then filled with rice and boiled for a few hours.The brother & sister helping their parents process the janur to woven into ketupat casing.

Men, women, and children of the Muslim community are required to dress in their finest clothing to perform the Eid prayer.

All the above photos are from my 2009 collection.

Muslims all over the world are all set for the celebrations of the upcoming religious holiday of Eid-al-Adha and in Malaysia is on Wednesday November 17, 2010, which is also known as ‘The Celebration of SacrificeSacrifice'. The Greater Eid of Muslims, Eid-ul-Adha, marks the end of the Hajj, which the fifth pillar of Islam and the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
The festivities of Eid-al-Adha take place on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. The date of celebrating Eid-al-Adha is approximately after 2 Months and 10 Days of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The essence of celebrating Eid-ul-Adha is to commemorating the trials of Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hajra and his son Ismael. After the sacrificing act of Prophet Ibrahim, it has become a tradition to slaughter livestock and feed the poor to mark the occasion.
However, the sacrificed animals on Eid-ul-Adha have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice. It is the tradition of Eid-al-Adha to distribute meat among the needy and poor people.

Aidil Fitri my Blessings...

Photo captured  with lumix LX3. (P&S)

Why do we admire scenes like this?  What is it about the beauty of nature that causes men, women, and even babies to stand in amazement?

“General Revelation.”  That is, God the Creator, has revealed aspects of His character and nature to all of mankind through His creation.  When we look at this sunset, we realize that God is BEAUTIFUL and the source of all beauty!

Today Muslims throughout the world celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

The first day of Syawal is known as Eid-ul-Fitr in some parts of the world and Hari Raya Puasa or Hari Raya Aidil Fitri in Malaysia.

There will be family gatherings and reunions in the days ahead during the month of Syawal.

Those who live and work in cities away from their hometowns often make the effort to return to the places where they were born or lived as children.

But many more such as the Malaysian who work overseas and our fellow soldiers will celebrate the dawn of Syawal alone, away from family and friends.

Let us spare a thought for them and resolve to show compassion for them  as we enjoy the company of our loves ones and traditional delicacies specially prepared for the festivities.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA ,AIDIL FITRI.

MA'AF ZAHIR BATIN.

The Night of Tujuh Likor...

 

The last 10 nights of Ramadan is said to be the most auspicious nights for the month. It is mentioned in the holy Quran that angels would come down to earth on one of those night, praying together with those who pray late in the nights.

Another practice associated with the last days of Ramadan is that of putting up lights around the house. From the twenty-seventh day of the month up to the Hari Raya (Eid) festival, if you walk through any Malay village you will find the houses lighted up with oil lamps, or coloured electric lamp. The occasion is known as "Malam Tujuh Likur" but it is not of Islamic origin even though the lights are said to welcome the angels who visit earth during this period.

Nevertheless, these displays of lights are very attractive especially in the villages. It also set the mood for the Hari Raya festival which is just a few days away.

Hari Raya Preparation..

All Malaysian Muslim are getting into a final one third stage of the holy month of Ramadan.In less then 10 days,they will celebrate Eidul Fitri or Hari Raya Puasa.

What would Hari Raya be without new clothes, new shoes, new bags and basically lots of new things?

Shoppers throng malls, bazaars and boutiques in search for the trendiest baju kurungs and kebayas (traditional Malay attire for women), latest tudung )(scarf) trends, fashionable shoes, sleekest baju melayu (traditional Malay attire for men) and so forth. There are some who opt for a family colour theme for Hari Raya each year, and will hunt for materials of the same colour. While some can make their own Hari Raya attire or send it to the tailors, others prefer to get it ready-made as it is easier and sometimes cheaper.

 

Spoilt for choices........

It’s not just about the shoes,kopiah or clothes; even Hari Raya delicacies are on sale along with the apparel.

Delicacies etc,etc.......

Children wear etc.etc.........

 

Though it’s the fasting month, many shoppers don’t seem to feel the fatigue or tiredness when hunting for the best deals. While some opt to go shopping at night, after the breaking of fast, many would rather go during the day as there are more shops open and they can get the best bargains.

My advise....spend wisely.

Hari Raya Bazaar.

Songkok..being display on the motor cycle seat.

 

I see only small crowd gathering here.

 

 

Very few selection of goods to shop here...this year 2010 & this the place they normally set up the temporary makeshift market.

What is the 'Hari Raya Bazaar'
The Hari Raya Bazaar is a temporary makeshift market filled with stalls that has a variety of goods that ranges from the Malay traditional clothing's.carpets,cakes ,songkok ,cakes and goodies etc and are enjoyed by the local community especially from the kampung.Every year they setup the bazaar at Indain Street Mall in old part of Kuching ,India Street.
I was suprise that no Hari Raya Bazaar set up this year and very few people to shop for coming Hari Raya which is fall maybe on this 10th of September or
maybe I should come back here again to see what happen by end of this month when most people get their paycheck .

Ramadan & Childrens.

Ramadan is also the month to visit family and friends, invite each other, illuminate bazaars, mosques and homes, and one is in general having a good time. Also for the children, Ramadan is feast. Some children, not even old enough to be required to fast, do so anyway, and in the evening they play at home or in town, and in particular they indulge in the amazing variety of cakes and sweets, some of them created only in the context of Ramadan.

It is recommended that during Ramadan adolescents who have reached puberty (about 12-13 years of age) to take part in Ramadan traditions like prayer and fasting. But what about kids who are younger? How can they celebrate and learn more about Ramadan without fasting?  Children who are too young to participate in fasting do include them in other activities, such as reading books on Ramadan, arts and crafts associated with the celebration, and helping to prepare meals that we will enjoy in the evening feast.

Ramadan-The Quran

 

 

 

It's been fifth days. The month of the Quran, Ramadan, moves very quickly.

 

 

Ramadan is a month of fasting. In Ramadan we read Quran and learn different aspects of life. There are 30 days in Ramadan and Quran has 30 Suparah. Muslims easily recite all the Quran in 30 days of Ramadan and understand what it says then implement the teaching of Islam in their lives. Quran tells us the right way. Ramadan is a month when ALLAH showers his blessings on Muslims. ALLAH forgives Muslims and saves them from the fire of hell. Ramadan is a month when Muslims forget all things and worship ALLAH for his forgiveness and blessings. It is the month when Quran was revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad S.W...

Ramadan-Teraweh Prayer.

Tarawih Prayers іn Malaysia

Tarawih / Taraweeh Prayer іѕ a special evening prayer performed bу Muslims throughout thе world οnƖу іn thе holy month οf Ramadan during whісh long рοrtіοnѕ οf thе Qur’аn аrе recited. Ramadan іѕ thе ninth month οf thе Islamic calendar аnԁ іѕ thе month whеrе аƖƖ Muslims fаѕt (“puasa” іn Malay) frοm sunrise tο sunset еνеrу day.

Performing Tarawih prayer іѕ a “sunnah” ( whісh means thе prayer іѕ voluntary hοwеνеr Muslims аrе strongly encouraged tο ԁο іt аѕ іt іѕ a practice bу Prophet Muhammad s.a.w) аnԁ іt іѕ nοt obligatory.

Tarawih / Taraweeh іѕ perform аftеr `Isha’ Prayer (Night Prayer). It саn bе perform аt home, alone οr іn congregation, οr аt a mosque. Hοwеνеr thе normal practice here іn Malaysia, Tarawih іѕ perform іn Mosques аnԁ “Suraus”. Men, women аnԁ kids wіƖƖ fload mosques аnԁ suraus within thеіr home іn thе whole month οf Ramadan.

Welcome Ramadan Al-Mubarak

Ramadan come again. Muslims in Malaysia start fasting to-day Wednesday 11 August,2010 and so do other muslims around the world although the date may not be exactly the same.

I would like to wish all muslim brothers and sisters in Malaysia and around the world, Selamat Berpuasa/Happy Fasting. May all our ibadah be acceptable to Allah and may we always be blessed with His mercy and compassion even more in the holy month of Ramadhan. Insyaallah.

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).

(Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know.” (2:183-84)

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: Allah the Majestic and Exalted said: “Every deed of man will receive ten to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the other when he will meet his Lord” (Muslim).

Amin.......

Malaysia-The Sighting of Ramadan Moon..

Gambar Hiasan.....

Welcoming the fasting month of Ramadan the year of 1431 Hijrah.

The sighting of the moon or anak bulan Ramadan in Malay is declare to take place on the evening of Tuesday, 10th August 2010.If the new moon is sighted,the Muslim in Malaysia will begin the fast next day.Islam require to be unique or  Muslim scholar person appointed by the Islam's Authority in the country.

The Spirit of Ramadan..

Ramadan begin maybe to-morrow or Wednesday.Many non-Muslim who were not previously familiar with Muslim Holy Day and custom have heard about Ramadan through the media.bolggers,facebook friends etc,etc.On a more distribution level,we often get the impression from the media that Ramadan is associated with an increase is violence or terrorism.Yet Ramadan asit is understood and experience by millions of Muslims probably remains a mystery.
Now remember this:::
Fasting has been decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you, that you may acquire God-consciousness."

Fasting is, therefore, a universal form of worship observed by all the prophets of God, and recognized by most world religions.
Through fasting we learn to give up things which may give us pleasure for the sake of higher principle. The Prophet taught us to spend Ramadan in acts of charity, feeding the poor, and assisting those who are less fortunate. In fact, the fasting is not complete until food or money is given to those in need.
ALHAMDULLILAH.Thanks you Ya ALLAH for giving me an opportunity to experience Ramadan again..It's a bless and hopefully this Ramadan will bring Rahmat,hopefully my Ramadan this year is better then before.
I never spend my Ramadan outside Malaysia..I'm Malay/Melanau Malaysian from Sarawak...Celebrating Ramadan and Shawal in Malaysia is full of excitment,joys and fun especially to the children.Even to-day if you go to the shopping mall,they already play Raya song and promotion of raya sale.Well,this is Malaysia..welcome to the reality of Ramadan & Shawal.Ramadan bazzar is everywhere...Ramadan is not about food..it's holy month.
Festival of Breakingfast at the 5 star hotel and don't be suprise some muslim bloggers will blog about having nice  the fast at the hotel.I am not a rich person but I always remember this,Ramadan is blessed time when all Muslim gather together.It is time to remember the poor,strive to please Allah by being the most generous and it is time of much prayers.
This is my own research...I wish a blessed Ramadan to all.

Ramadhan.......

Old part of Kuching City....Dates Bazaar during Ramadhan.

We're now just few days into Ramadhan.I spent Ramadhan in simple way,we broke our fast with dates and some other fruits  then went for Magrib prayer and back for the main meal then off again for the Isyak prayer then follow by the taraweh prayer.........

Malay Woman in Tudung.

KUCHING, the capital of Sarawak, is a fairly modern city and it is striking to see the difference between the wealthier city people, many of whom dress like westerners, and the people from the country areas (mostly Malays) who dress in a more traditional and conservative way. The woman below looks like she has come into the city from one of the outlying villages (know as Kampongs in Malay). The headscarf she is wearing is called a tudung but in the west it is better know as a hijab.

The Malay woman .

Hari Raya-Lit Up with Lights.

 

A Malay kampung which I visited few night ago..Kampung Bintawa Melayu.

I see many Malay/Muslim houses lit up with lights (colourful light) outside at night.There even old style oil lamps perched all around the house compound.This is Malay tradition but not Islamic requirement.

Modern day oil lamps.

City Landmark-The Islamic Information Centre.

The new Islamic Centre in Kuching opens its doors to the public on the 17th August 2008.It will creating a number of firsts in the history of the state in Sarawak.,the unique architecture of the centre,featuring a combination of the various ethnic designs and matrices underlying a bedrock of the true Islamic universality,with no distinction between racial and cultural differences or territorial isolation and parochial sentiments.

MAULIDUR RASUL

This fountain is just about 1 kilometer to the Mosque.
People are rushing back home after work......The Mosque is just opposite of this main road.

On my way to the Mosque.

RABI'UL AWWAL.

We are already in the 9th day of Rabi'ul Awwal to-day.Rabi'ul Awwal is the third month in the Islamic calendar.The significance of this month is of course the Maulidur Rasul or the birth of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W on the 12th of this month.Thursday,20th March 2008 and it is a public holiday for Malaysia.

On this day,Muslims send their blessing to Prophet Muhammad S.A.W with recitations of praises and blessings. Muhammad(peace be upon him),the last messenger of ALLAH,was bornin Mecca,the chieftown of Arabia in the year 570 A.D.His father,Abdullah,died before his birth and he lost his mother,Aminah,when he was at the age of six years.He belonged to the Hashimite family,the nobelest of the Qureish tribe of the Arabian race.His gradfather,Abdul Muttalib who was directly descended from Ishmael,the son of Abraham,held the high office of custodian of the Ka'aba,the common pantheon of pagan Arabia,and was vitually head of the Meccan Commonwwalth.

Muhammad(peace beupon him) according to the Quran,the 'blessing' for the Universe'and the 'perfect example to follow' died in 632 A.D.and was buried in his Mosque at Madinah.He left behind him the revealed QURAN and his Sunnah as the sources of guidance for all generations.

AWAL MUHARAM/MAAL HIJRAH 1429H.

ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAH HI'WABARKATUH.
TO ALL MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
I WISH YOU SALAM MA'AL HIJRAH 1429H.

WASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WARAHMATUALLAH HI'WABARAKTUH.
YOUR BROTHER IN ISLAM.