Islam in Ukraine - fast

Chairman of AUASO "Alraid": "Joint Iftars in Ramadan — more than just Meal"

nourdeen — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:28:58 +0000

Collective iftars, arranged by Muslims of Ukraine, is not just eating after abstention from food in the day-time. Here also enter various actions directed on strengthening of faith; getting knowledge on Islam; and also charity lessons.

The similar program is realized for tens thousand Muslims of Ukraine living in different regions and cities: collective iftars are carried out in the Islamic cultural centers, social and religious organizations, mosques and prayer rooms. Frequency of carrying out varies depending on possibilities of a local community: from several times a week to daily joint iftars.

The Chairman of the AUASO "Alraid", Doctor Ismail Kady, told about events by which Muslims of Ukraine fill Ramadan.

Faith, culture and appeal

The most sated and various is cultural-educational and charitable program on the Crimean peninsula: after all there compactly lives the greatest quantity of Muslims of the country — about 500 thousand persons; and on the peninsula is situated the greatest quantity of mosques and prayer halls. Daily before Maghreb prayer are carried out lessons in Russian, Arabic, Crimean-Tatar and English. On them are carefully studied the Quranic stories about this or that event mentioned in the Holy Scripture; the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and his associates.

A lot of people gather for these lessons, and lecture halls are always overflowed: people try to expand their knowledge of religion and its understanding in the course of this Holy Month.

It is remarkable that iftars visit not only Muslims, but also people adhering to other faiths interested in Islam or aspire to understand their friends or employees among Muslims better.

Visitors of these cultural and educational actions get rid of the imposed by mass-media and gossips stereotypes and do not see threat in Muslims, do not judge them and their religion wrongly.

Interaction and mutual aid

Iftar has one more name, "a favor meal". We observe it, when at one table the common supper is divided by rich and poor; aboriginals and visitors; people of different nationalities and races; various age, social strata and educational level. It pulls together and leads to the unity of Ummah as people, talking at the supper, have possibility to learn about life and problems of other people and, probably, to promote their decision. Iftar as a place of meeting of people who in ordinary life hardly will meet with the purpose to discuss something is a very powerful uniting factor.

This greatest blessing from the Almighty who gathers us on collective iftars to uplift our prayers to the Almighty, to break fast together; to learn about problems and expectations of each other and other people; to receive knowledge at lectures and discussions; to pray in congregation; and also to communicate behind a joint meal, a cup of tea or coffee in breaks between the evening lecture and Isha prayer.

In the course of the month of Ramadan on collective iftars are solved many questions, arise a set of charitable projects; in Ramadan in the course of collective discussion appear a set of new ideas and ways of their embodiment are found.

In Ukraine live about 2 million Muslims that makes 5 % from the country population.

By arraid.org

Ismail Kadi: "Muslims are integral Part of Ukrainian Society"

15/09/2011

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"Al-Azhar" Imams to lead Prayers of Ukrainian Muslims throughout Ramadan

oksana — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:06:58 +0000

Imams from the oldest and the most prestigious Muslim university "Al-Azhar" who arrived to Ukraine by the invitation of the all-Ukraine Association of Social Organizations "Аlraid" will lead prayers of Ukrainian Muslims in Islamic Cultural centers of kiev, Kharkov and Odessa throughout the whole month of Ramadan.

As "Islam in Ukraine' was informed by the press-service of the AUASO "Alraid" by the invitation of the all-Ukraine Association of Social Organizations "Аlraid" on August, 12th, to Ukraine arrived three Imams from the oldest and the most prestigious Muslim university "Al-Azhar" (Cairo, Egypt). A lot of efforts in this issue also made embassy of Egypt in Ukraine. Later the same day the reader of Quran from Libya joined them.

Speaking about arrival of the dear visitors, the chairman of the Association "Аlraid" Ismail Kadi stated, "Muslims of Ukraine got used to unusual atmosphere of Ramadan which reigns in Islamic centers. Therefore the quantity of praying in them grows every year. And the reason for that is, undoubtedly, fine reading of the Quran which our visitors possess. It opens hearts of believers, granting humility before the Almighty during a prayer".

In his interview to our correspondent Sheikh Abdelhadi Al-Hifnawi noticed that "Al-Azhar" annually in the Month of Ramadan sends the best Imams to the Islamic centers and mosques worldwide. "For us it this is the first voyage abroad with similar mission. Also it is a great honor to be in Ukraine where Islamic centers play the major role in spread of trustworthy information about Islam and Muslims", the dear visitor shared his impressions.

Arrival of Imams from Egypt and Libya did not remain without attention of mass-media. In the first day of their stay, journalists of one of leading television channels interviewed the visitors on purpose to tell the Ukrainian audience about features of life of Muslims in the Month of Fast.

By arraid.org

Well-known Islamic Scholar visited Ukraine

Muslims of Ukraine are Active Part of European Ummah

17/08/2010

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Notwithstanding Summer Hear Muslims of Ukraine Look Forward to Beginning of Ramadan

oksana — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:22:25 +0000

On August, 11th, 2010, Muslims of Ukraine and the whole world meet the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan. On it stated the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah” and the all-Ukraine Association of Social Organizations "Аlraid".

A sign of the beginning of Ramadan is emergence in the sky of a new moon which is expected on Tuesday, on August, 10th, in the morning at 6 o'clock 8 minutes, the Kiev time. With approach of a morning dawn on August, 11th, Muslims start to fast.

On Friday, August, 13th, 2010, in the mosque of the Islamic Social Cultural Centre (Degtyarevskaya Street, 25-A, Kiev) will take place a solemn Friday sermon and a collective prayer of Muslims devoted to the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Similar actions will pass in mosques of all cities and settlements of Ukraine where there are Muslim communities, emphasized the Religious Administration.

In Islam there is a concept "a holy season", that is Ramadan. Muslims look forward for its approach, as Ramadan is the month in which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad the last Divine Scripture — the Quran. During this Holy Month Muslims should fast:

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint" (The Holy Quran, 2:183).

"Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…" (The Holy Quran, 2:185).

Fast for Muslims is the time of spiritual clarification, approach to God and reconsideration of life. During the fast from dawn until sunset believers abstain from food, drink and intimate relations with their spouses.

The main mission of fast is that the believer for a while completely devoted himself to prayer and spiritual self-improvement.

Fast teaches to appreciate God's gifts — food and drink. Believers on their private experience learn feeling of hunger that induces them to be more sensitive to requirements of millions deprived people. During Ramadan Muslims strive to be especially generous.

Fast positively influences a human body. But if a person is sick or is a traveler, and also if it is a pregnant woman or a feeding mother, fast is supposed to be transferred on another season. The one, who cannot fast at all, should feed the needy or distribute alms to the deprived.

Only in Ramadan, except an obligatory fivefold prayer, in addition Muslims perform an individual or collective prayer – tarawih every night. There is also Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet Muhammad consisting in every day reading of the Quran throughout the whole Ramadan. And nowadays many Muslims adhere to it, improving their knowledge of the Holy Scripture.

Last ten days of Ramadan are especially precious to Muslims, since in one of these nights the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran.

Emergence of the new moon marks the termination of the Holy Month of Ramadan and approach of the fast-breaking holiday, Id al-Fitr (Turk. – Uraza-Bayram) which terminates the Month of fasting. This year, according to preliminary calculations, it will take place on September, 9th.

By the press-service of the RAMU “Ummah”

11/08/2010

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