The Ramadan Kareem trend has begun yes. It is the “in” thing, the somewhat cooler way of greeting each other on the start of this most amazing of months for a Muslim. Facebook status updates , emails and Twitter are full of it. so what does it mean?
Chapter 2, Revelation 185 of the Quran states:
The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran; a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful
The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramida or ar-ramad, which means scorching heat or dryness.
Kareem’ means, according to one dictionary, ‘generous, bountiful, gracious, noble’
However there many who interpret the term Ramadan Kareem as a more generic greeting to eman soemthing like:
” May you have a generous , blessed Ramadan’
However I favour the slightly different meaning “Ramadan is Generous” because the usual reply is “Allahu Akram” meaning “God is more Generous”.
For thse not of the muslim faith USA pesident Obama said ” All of us must remember that the world we want to build and the changes that we want to make begin in our own hearts and in our own communities” and that I think is a worthwhile thought for us all.
Breaking the fast is called iftar, whether it’s just a few dates and a few sips of water, or an immense banquet. During the Bush, Jr. administration, to show that the US was not against Islam, but only against Islamic terrorists, Condoleeza Rice invited the Muslim diplomats in Washington to an iftar consisting of a few pieces of candy (she couldn’t find any dates) and a small bottle of water. They returned the favour, in typical Arab fashion, by inviting her to a magnificent banquet the following Ramadan, far more lavish than the iftar buffets served in Dubai.
With temperatures crossing 50 deg yesterday we undertsand this is a difficult time to fast.
Synergy office hours are changed during Ramadan – we will close at 5pm daily and there will be no Saturday work.
For muslims reading this post on behalf of Synergy let me wish you Ramadan Kareem.
