MWA asks: what is it about Ramadan and fasting that you particularly enjoy?

[If viewing from the "Home" page, be sure to click on the "Read More" link after the introductory text to read...the rest of the story!]

I'll kick-start the post, and as some of you may already know, I oftentimes lean toward a touch of humor, so this is something silly that popped into my head one evening in Ramadan as I started to peel the toppings off a pizza that just arrived for suhoor. One of the reasons I might particularly enjoy the fasting aspect of Ramadan is that: I have food issues to start with! lol

Food. It bothers me to spend money buying it. It bothers me to spend time putting it away. It bothers me spending time to prepare it. It REALLY bothers me having to clean up after preparing it! And it UBER bothers me that all of that money, time and effort are consumed within 5-10 minutes from the start of eating it! AND THEN!!! And then we flush it down the toilet!!!! WTH?!?!

In the first week I was trying to make iftar and suhoor a little more photo-op-ish (lol) (for the MWA Ramadan blog's photo section), but as Ramadan rolled along this month, iftar's began to slim down to a mug of tomato or lentil soup, a handful of jelly beans (what! no dates?!), a cup of coffee and a tall glass of water (or two) before jumping out the door to pray Isahah and taraweeh. For suhoor, now maybe I'll eat a little more since I went light on the iftar, but light is the pattern that seems to be working best for me going into the second half of Ramadan.

On the serious side, subhan'Allah...it seems I have enjoyed listening Quran more than ever, and I have particularly enjoyed visiting different masjids for taraweeh prayers.

Last, but not least, helping maintain the MWA Ramadan blog has really helped keep me focused on the essence of this Holy Month. Al-hamdulillah. And I'm so grateful for the contributions of MWA's members. Salute!

Fasting Ramadan and Keeping the Momentum Going by MWA's Isahah Janette Grant

Thirty days of fasting from sun-up to sun-set takes discipline, dedication, faithfulness, and most importantly the grace of God. The initial excitement at the onset of Ramadan and the eagerness to begin a month of conscious dedication to Allah for the purification of the body, mind and soul can begin to wane, especially for new Muslims and young people fasting for the first time, once the half-way mark is reached.

Around day 15 or 16 of Ramadan there can be more of a difficulty in getting up for suhoor to eat before the fast begins in the early morning hours; it can become harder to keep one’s patience as hunger pangs develop and escalate during the middle of the day and it can be harder concentrating on salaat and the proper manners that the believers should exhibit when fasting.

Ramadan Blessings: cancer remission confirmation and a movie for MWA's Isahah Janette Grant

MWA-NET (July 20, 2013) Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA) is pleased to announce that Bridges Foundation has released the official movie trailer for its upcoming movie, Part III in The Fog is Lifting series, Islam in Women, featuring MWA founding member, Isahah Janette Grant. 

The documentary features the interviews of twelve revert Muslim women from Belgium, Britain, Greece, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Germany, USA, Netherlands and Sweden, discussing how their lives were enhanced by embracing Islam.   

Also included in the production, the interview of a non-Muslim woman, a professor from Al-Azhar University, and a professor in the Divinity School at Harvard University. The documentary reveals the secrets behind why Islam attracts more women than men, and aims to refute misconceptions about women in Islam.  
 
 
The July 19 trailer release marked a double celebration for Ms. Grant and her sister MWA members. After a prolonged absence of health insurance preempted her ability to seek medical attention, Ms. Grant announced receiving confirmation that her previously treated Hodgkins Lymphoma remains in remission. It was welcome news and an unforgettable blessing in this, the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan.

MWA's Isahah Janette Grant reminisces: my 14 Ramadans

By Isahah Janette Grant 

If someone had told me fifteen years ago that I would be celebrating my 14th Ramadan this year, I may not have believed them. I was a practicing Christian at the time, actively participating in my journey towards spiritual discovery and content in my religion. In retrospect, Islam was the natural next step for me, but at the time, I was so involved in reading the Bible and reforming my lifestyle to reflect the values and standards illustrated in the Old and New Testaments, that converting to another faith was the farthest thing from my mind.

MWA'S Janette Grant offers insight on children's book 'Ramadan' by Farah Kinani

Farah Kinani.

When a friend of Farah Kinani's daughter, Leila, told her classmates that she would not be joining them during lunch one day, no one understood that Leila would not be eating with them because it was the beginning of Ramadan; the Muslim Holy month of fasting between sunrise and sunset, also known as one of the pillars of Islam. Leila's classmates, instead, implored her to hide and eat, or to at least drink. Some even thought she was being punished or given a time out.

Leila's mother, concerned about the confusing and stressful situation her daughter had fallen into – due to the lack of understanding among her peers – decided to prepare and deliver a small talk at the school on the subject of Ramadan.

During her presentation to the 4th graders at the middle school her daughter attended, Ms. Kinani answered basic questions about Islam, shared anecdotes about Ramadan's first-time fasters, and made a brief comparison between fasting traditions within various other religions.

The feedback Ms. Kinani received was both encouraging and inspiring.

MWA's Isahah Janette Grant shares poem Quiet Dawn

The Quiet Dawn

A gentle stillness surrounds me
while the world quietly sleeps
the sun makes its climb towards the horizon and I offer a solemn prayer
thankfully greeting the morning and silently uttering my intention to fast this day of Ramadan
for the sake of my own soul
for the sake of Allah Ta'aala
for purity of heart and in appreciation of the many blessings of My Lord, The Sovereign
the quiet dawn, so beautiful, refreshes my soul

Isahah Janette Grant
July 27th 2012



____

Isahah Janette Grant is a founding member of Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), where she serves as the organization's membership coordinator. She also runs her own small business, Mindworks Publishing Inc., in addition to writing for the Houston Islam Examiner on Examiner.com. Ms. Grant is also the author of the children's book, Sameerah's Hijab and the First Day of School and is in the process of completing her first work of fiction. She also enjoys writing poetry. She studied at Boston University in Massachusetts, majoring in print journalism and currently resides in Missouri City, Texas, just outside of Houston, with her son and husband. Ms. Grant can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/isahahjanette

MWA's Isahah Janette Grant Shares A Ramadan Recipe: Kale and Potato Soup

16 oz of fresh Kale

1 small white onion

1 tsp Salt

3 tsp Pepper

2 tsp Garlic powder

2 tsp Onion powder

2 Beef bullion cubes

1 tsp Paprika

½ tsp Thyme

5 peeled and diced small potatoes

½ tsp Cinnamon

½ tsp Ginger

1 tsp Sugar

2 tsp Vegetable oil

(above measurements for spices may vary, season to taste)

Directions: 

Bring three cups of water to a rolling boil

Add 2 beef bullion cubes, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, cinnamon, ginger, sugar, vegetable oil: wait for seasonings to dissolve

Add kale and onions, reduce to medium heat, cover and cook for 25 minutes

Add potatoes, cover and cook for another 20 minutes

Remove from heat, serve and enjoy!

Ramadan Mubarek Readers and MWA family!

MWA's Sis Isahah Shares Ramadan Journal Entry: Holding fast to the rope of Allah

This morning following Fajr, while reading the Juz for the day, a particular ayah spoke to me, as is often the case for me during Ramadan. The Holy Quran is the main reason why I decided to take the shahadah and it has been a constant friend, support and light in my life. I have notebooks filled with inspiring ayat from Ramadans past and I often feel the same emotions when re-reading my old notebooks that I had originally felt originally when writing the entries. The scriptures carry me through the year and this Ramadan I wanted to share one of my entries as a way of thanking Allah Ta'aala for all the many blessings that He brings and has brought to my life. The ayat is from Surah 3, Ayat 102-103 and reads:

O believers! Fear Allah as he should be feared and die not but as true Muslims. All together hold fast to the rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves. Remember Allah's favors upon you when you were enemies; He united your hearts, so by His favor you became brethren; you were at the brink of the fiery pit and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes his revelations clear to you, so that you might be rightly guided.

When my alarm went off this morning, I did not want to get up (astagferullah), but my little 11 year old niece, excited that it is summer so that she can fast before school starts, knocked loudly on my door, reminding me to get out of bed. She and my son were already awake and anxiously awaiting suhor. Their excitement was an inspiration and I felt momentarily ashamed for not having wanted to wake up. Before accepting Islam, I had never known the beauty of fasting and praying together the way that I experience it as a Muslim  and as I witness my son and niece's excitement, I realize that we are family - kin - but we are also brethren and fellow believers together. Of all the blessings that I have received, my son and nieces and nephews are some of the greatest. They exemplify for me what it means to hold fast to the rope of  Allah and have often been the little reminders that I need to stay grateful and excited about being a Muslim.

As my niece set the table and my son vacuumed the carpet and laid down the sheets for prayer, I smiled inside, exceedingly grateful for being awake and for having been rightly guided to Islam.

MWA's Janette Grant hopes you'll be inspired and connect this Ramadan; learn how!

By Isahah Janette Grant

As Ramadan begins, many Muslim families prepare for the month of fasting and self-restraint by turning off their t.v., setting the alarm clock for at least an hour earlier than Fajr to have enough time for Suhor, and making a better effort to hold their tongues and forgive others if conflicts arise. Ramadan is a favorite time of the year for Muslims not only because of the blessings that abound during this time but because of the camaraderie and joy evident amongst the believers. It is said in the hadith, the collected traditions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), that the Prophet (pbuh) was most generous during the month of Ramadan. Whether Muslims intentionally emulate his behaviors remains to be determined, but regardless, there is a generosity of spirit and good will most prevalent amongst the Islamic community during this time of the year.

In our current media age where many Muslims are now online, believers are able to interact with one another globally during this blessed month. If a Muslim is unable to attend the mosque or if there are no mosques established in the areas in which they live, there are websites and social media groups available for staying involved in the Islamic community during the month of Ramadan.

One of the most popular global initiatives surrounding the celebration of Ramadan is that of 30 Mosques. It began in 2010 with the 30 Mosques in 30 States endeavor where Aman Ali and Bassam Tariq’s Ramadan decided to visit a different mosque every day during the month of Ramadan. Their road trip across the United States has since become famous and held dear to many Muslims around the world. The trip spotlights Br. Aman and Br. Bassam’s travels, but supporters of the donated more than $12,000 in online donations to make the project a success.

Last year during Ramadan Aman Ali and Bassam Tariq visited a different state each day and blogged about their experiences each night, highlighting stories about the people they met, the mosque they prayed in and the food that they ate upon breaking their fasts. This year, 30 Mosques will be releasing short films throughout the month of Ramadan and invite others to get participate and share their stories by contributing through their social media websites using hashtag #30Days. Visit their website at 30mosques.com for details.

Another great way to stay abreast this Ramadan is by following the Celebrating Ramadan Blog with the Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA). The writers of the MWA Celebrating Ramadan blog share their Ramadan experiences, journals, pictures, poetry and even recipes as a way of uniting the Muslim community and inspiring one another towards working good deeds. MWA was established in 2006 and is an internationally based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working together to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions regarding members of the Muslim community and Islamic faith.

The Productive Muslim organization will be providing a Ramadan series through their affiliated website Productive Ramadan where their free e-book, 30 Tips to Stay Productive, can be downloaded. Productive Ramadan provides daily reminders, weekly emails, online courses, clever animations and lots of Ramadan resources for staying productive and healthy throughout the month. Visit their website at productiveramadan.com for more information or Like the Facebook page.

Locally, Maryam Masjid Islamic Center (MIC) in Sugarland will have Isha and Taraweeh prayers nightly as well as Iftar dinners every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the month. This weekend, Hamza Ghia will give a talk entitled How To Get Closer to the Quran: Looking Deep Into Our Hearts on Sunday, July 22nd 45 minutes before the start of Maghrib prayers. MIC will also host Usama Canon, Parvez Ahmed and Ubaid Evans after Taraweeh prayer on Saturday August 1st who will give the talk, Daily Dose of Dawah: Islam Through Your Actions.

And The Muslim American Society, MAS Houston will be hosting their annual Ramadan Iftar community dinner next Friday, July 27 at 6:30pm. The dinner this year will be held at Maharaja Restaurant located at 3711 Highway 6 South in Houston. For more information call 281.717.4622. Zakat and Sadaqa donations can be submitted to MAS Houston and their renowned Houston Quran Academy at donate.mashouston.org.And MAS Houston will be hosting their annual Ramadan Iftar community dinner next Friday, July 27 at 6:30pm. The dinner this year will be held at Maharaja Restaurant located at 3711 Highway 6 South in Houston. For more information call 281.717.4622. Zakat and Sadaqa donations can be submitted to MAS Houston and their renowned Houston Quran Academy at donate.mashouston.org.

(Reprinted with permission of author.)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Isahah Janette Grant currently resides in Missouri City, TX and is the author of the children's book, Sameerah's Hijab and the First Day of School. She is a founding member of Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), an internationally based collaboration of Muslim women writers and advocates working to counter negative and inaccurate perceptions of members of the Muslim community. Her published works include poetry that has been published in three anthology collections and articles that have been published in the Providence Journal Bulletin newspaper. She currently owns and runs Mindworks Publishing, a community based desktop publishing business, and is working on completing her first work of fiction. She studied at Boston University in Massachusetts majoring in Print Journalism and writes poetry in her free time.

Ramadan Musings - by MWA Member Isahah Janette Grant

No matter how many times I read the Quran it is beautiful to me

And although I cannot fluently speak Arabic

When I hear its recital, so clear and musical in its original form

my eyes well with tears

and I know again

I am reminded

Of the Sovereignty and Mercy of Our Lord, Allah


So it is hard when I watch a news segment about Islam where the truth is twisted

Or when I notice someone retract with apprehension as they see me in my hijab

Because I know that if more people could see what I see in Islam and learn what I’ve learned of Islam there would be no room for fear


But Allah is the All-Knowing, the All-Aware

And He is the Best of Planners

So I offer a dua for peace and guidance

Or smile my brightest smile and keep faith that everything happens by Allah’s leave

Believing that Allah’s Mercy shall overshadow His Wrath

And loving life gratefully

For the opportunity to return to Allah

To return . . .


Copyright © 2011 Janette Grant

ABOUT MWA MEMBER ISAHAH JANETTE GRANT
Isahah Janette Grant runs Mindworks Publishing and is in the process of completing her first work of fiction. She studied at Boston University in Massachusetts, majoring in print journalism. Her published works include one children's book, three anthology collections, a collection of poetry and numerous articles published online and in the Providence Journal Bulletin newspaper. She resides in Missouri City, Texas, with her son and husband and can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/isahahjanette.

MWA Member Isahah Janette Grant shares poem: Ramadan Moon

Original Poem: Ramadan Moon
written by Isahah Janette Grant

O Ramadan Moon
perched upon a midnight sky
shine your light upon me
bear witness as I recite Quran this night

O Ramadan Moon
shimmering majestically as you obey Allah's command
mark our days of fasting upon the heavens
keep watch as we pursue Laylat al Qadir

O Ramadan Moon
receding as the sun embarks upon its morning journey
make haste in your return to us tomorrow
illuminate our paths as we strive this Ramadan

Copyright © 2011 Janette Grant

ABOUT MWA MEMBER ISAHAH JANETTE GRANT
MWA member Isahah Janette Grant runs Mindworks Publishing and is in the process of completing her first work of fiction. She studied at Boston University in Massachusetts, majoring in print journalism. Her published works include one children's book, three anthology collections, a collection of poetry and numerous articles published online and in the Providence Journal Bulletin newspaper. She resides in Missouri City, Texas, with her son and husband.
Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/isahahjanette

Isahah's Favorite Ramadan Recipe: Chicken Curry

As Salaamu Alaikum Sisters!

I pray that everyone's Ramadan is progressing blessedly, insha'Allah. This is a new favorite recipe of mine for Chicken Curry. I made some Saturday for the family and everyone enjoyed it, alhamdulilah. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast (4lbs) - cubed Madras Curry Powder Cilantro 2 onions 2 green peppers 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce Turmeric Garlic Powder Chicken bouillon Ground Ginger Ground Cumin Ground Black Pepper Chili Powder Cooking oil

Instructions:
· Chop onions, green peppers and cilantro
· Pour cooking oil into a large skillet, enough to cover the bottom of the pan
· Grill onions, green peppers and cilantro until soft
· Add cubed chicken breast to skillet; add turmeric, curry powder, garlic powder, ground ginger, ground cumin, chicken bouillon, chili powder, ground black pepper and cover
· Cook for 30 minutes over medium heat
· Add tomato sauce, cook for another 15 minutes
· Best when served with jasmine rice

ABOUT MWA MEMBER ISAHAH JANETTE GRANT
Isahah Janette Grant runs Mindworks Publishing and is in the process of completing her first work of fiction. She studied at Boston University in Massachusetts, majoring in print journalism. Her published works include one children's book, three anthology collections, a collection of poetry and numerous articles published online and in the Providence Journal Bulletin newspaper. She resides in Missouri City, Texas, with her son and husband.
Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/isahahjanette

MWA Member Welcomes Ramadan with Taraweeh at Islamic Da'wah Center

By Janette Grant for the Houston Islam Examiner
SOURCE

The Islamic holy month of fasting begins tomorrow, Monday August 1, 2011 with the start of Ramadan.

The first night of taraweeh starts tonight and the Islamic Da'wah Center will be holding Isha prayers at 9:45pm cst followed by taraweeh.

The Taraweeh prayers will be led by Qari Ahmad Siddiq and Iftar will be served daily.

For more information or to contact the Islamic Da'wah Center email info@islamicdawahcenter.org or visit www.islamicdawahcenter.org.