Today’s
Enlightening Entertainment
will be presented
in Arabic, Indonesian,
and English,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hebrew, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Persian,
Portuguese, Russian,
Spanish and Thai.
Greetings
respected viewers.
We are entering
the holy and joyful month
of Ramadan, observed by
millions of Muslims
around the world.
It is the special month
when the Holy Qur’an
was revealed to
Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him.
In the Qu’ran,
Chapter 2, verse 185,
it says: “Ramadan is
the month during which
the Qu’ran was revealed,
providing guidance
for the people,
clear teachings,
and the statute book.
Those of you
who witness this month
shall fast therein.”
Ramadan is rich
with multiple meanings,
as explained by
our Muslim friends
from Dubai,
the United Arab Emirates.
The fasting month
is the one in which
its first part is for mercy.
The second
is for forgiveness.
And the third is
for getting free from hell.
In the name of God,
blessings and
peace be upon
the Messenger of God.
Ramadan is the only month
in the year
that has good deeds
and blessings.
The role of the Muslim is
in the “night getting up”
and fasting.
That is,
fasting during the day,
getting up at night
and reading the Qur’an.
To many Muslims,
Ramadan is a time
for the whole family
to be reunited again,
to renew their
spiritual fortitude together.
We asked some members
of Muslim families to
share about their feelings
and their roles
during this once-in-a-year
experience.
The man's role
in the family is
in arranging the family,
changing the whole year
in the month of Ramadan.
That is,
changing conditions
of the family radically.
And this radical change
Means to accustom children
or get them used to
certain things
as fasting all the day long
and end fasting.
Second, get them used to
reading the Qur’an.
Third, get them used to
“night getting up.”
At the home
of our Muslim friends
in Indonesia, the family
comes together to pray.
The parents lovingly
teach the children
how to read the Qur’an
in Arabic,
its original language
as it was revealed
to the Prophet.
What’s your name, son?
My name is Simfoni.
During this Ramadan
month, do you fast or not?
I do.
How do you eat
during fasting month?
In suhoor (dawn) time,
maghrib (sunset) time.
How is your feeling
when observing this fast?
We as Muslims,
we always welcome
the coming of Ramadan.
It’s very...
it’s a noble observance
during that month.
For activities,
we teach our children
to learn five times prayer,
and also to pray together
in the evening
at the mosque.
Besides that,
we teach our children
to recite Qur’an.
Reading the Qur’an
is very much highlighted
during Ramadan,
going hand in hand
with fasting.
In fact, Ramadan
is sometimes called
the “month of the Qur’an.”
Every night, the family
holds Taraweeh prayers.
In these prayers,
as much as one-thirtieth
of the Qur’an
may be recited.
Muslims recite with
concentration, humility,
and devotion.
Ramadan is a time
to become close
to teachings’ essence
as possible.
We do
“Al Taraweeh” prayer,
God willing.
We pray “Al Taraweeh”
completely and do
“night getting up” as well.
We persevere in prayers
constantly and keep on
reading and finishing
the Holy Qur’an,
God willing.
In Islam,
fasting is called “Sawm”
and literally means
“to abstain.”
From dawn until dusk,
Muslims are required
to abstain from drinking
and eating, smoking, and
anything which is not
of a good and pure nature.
Sawm during Ramadan
is one of the Five Pillars
of Islam.
The other four Pillars
of Islam, or duties
that Muslim fulfill, are:
Shahadah (profession
of faith), Salah (prayers),
Zakat (giving of alms
during Ramadan), and
Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
Following
the noble example of
the Prophet Muhammad
and showing compassion
toward animals,
most of the food
traditionally served
at Ramadan is vegetarian,
and some households will
eat only vegetarian foods
during this holy month.
Many Muslims
traditionally end their daily fasts
in Ramadan
with water or dates, as
was the recorded practice
of Prophet Muhammad.
As a father, I bring food
from the market.
Then my wife cooks it
and the family members
gather together, my wife,
sons and daughters,
to end the fast
with each other
in one place,
And we thank God
to Whom be ascribed
all perfection and majesty
for this day
that we fasted and
continuing the sequence
of the 30 days,
God willing,
the Great Lord.
Mothers
of Muslim households
busy themselves to
prepare delicious foods
that are also very nutritious.
Thus,
the health of the family
is always maintained,
and even enhanced
during this period of
following a simpler regime.
For the menu,
we usually prepare it
before ending the fast.
We have dates,
sweet compote, if not,
well then... fruit juices,
which can maintain
the children’s immunity
from dawn until evening.
Moreover, we also
prepare a vegetable meal
which is nutritious,
such as mixed vegetables
with grated coconut,
that can also help
enhance the immunity
of the children
during the fasting period.
When we return,
we’ll find out about
other important aspects
of Ramadan, such as
charity and prayer.
Furthermore,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
reveals a new insight
about the origin
of Ramadan.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Welcome back to
Enlightening Entertainment
and our program in
celebration of Ramadan,
the holy month of fasting
in Islam.
How do you feel
when observing
the fasting month?
Well, about how it feels,
perhaps it’s normal
as a Muslim to feel
really happy being able
to observe this fasting,
being able to experience
the fasting month again,
so one can achieve more
in a spiritual level,
higher, unwavering.
This fasting month
teaches us,
especially myself,
to experience more
the condition of hunger.
Oh, actually,
those who were never
faced with a lack of food
can feel such condition.
So, I can have my empathy
for people with
an unfortunate situation.
During Ramadan,
Muslims are especially
reminded of
the preciousness of
doing good deeds towards
fellow human beings.
One’s sensations
of hunger naturally
make one think of their
less fortunate neighbors
who may be in want
and suffering.
Noble acts of generosity
can be seen everywhere
in the greater community
especially
during Ramadan.
Ramadan
is a month of worship,
full of charity,
for poor people…
Humans have to
fulfill their role
in bringing
all the requirements
of Ramadan,
to be able to host
a number of people,
especially
the poor and needy,
to feed them and then
end their fasting.
In fact, the spiritual and
moral dimension of fasting
is considered to be of
much greater importance
than the physical one.
Not only are outer acts
of love emphasized
in this month,
but inner focus
on God-consciousness
is also intensified.
As the head
of the household,
Muslim fathers encourage
their family members
to be introverted,
cultivate their virtues,
and thus derive
the most benefit possible
from the Ramadan period.
This month is a holy month,
because it is
the month of goodness,
the month of Qur’an.
And every Muslim
has to persevere
in staying committed
to this holy month,
because , the best month
for God,
to Whom be ascribed
all perfection and majesty,
is the month
of holy Ramadan.
The end of Ramadan
is marked with a special
festival called Eid al-Fitr,
which means
a Day of Feasting.
Families and friends
unite and rejoice together
for having completed
the commandment of Allah
by successful abstinence
and by remembrance
of Allah throughout
the entire time.
After a light meal,
the family gathers
for prayers,
then enjoys time
with relatives and friends
in joy and unity.
New clothes or
one’s finest clothes may
be worn as a reflection
of one’s renewed self
after Ramadan.
In addition, gifts may
be exchanged as a token
of the giving spirit
one has cultivated
over the past month.
Regardless of
where Muslims live,
they observe the tradition
of Ramadan.
And the experience of
Ramadan stays with them
for a long time to come.
Worshipping increases
after the month
of Ramadan.
Before the month
of Ramadan,
one may be used to
11 months
by a particular system
with regard to eating,
drinking, etc.
But after Ramadan
he finds himself
gotten used to fasting,
charity, Zakat (almsgiving),
and many things.
So, one feels
the spirituality
and a very strong faith.
During an international
gathering with
our Association members
in December 2008,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
revealed insight
about the traditions
of Ramadan.
Ramadan means
the birthday of Rama,
perhaps
the Prophet Muhammad
has learned with Rama
at that time;
he's a big Master, Rama.
And on his birthday,
thousands of people
gather to celebrate.
And then, of course,
in such a big gathering,
they have to hide.
They cannot openly cook
in the daytime and
go shopping and all that,
and spread everything out
like this.
So only eat at night.
At night is safer, and
all day they can meditate
or listen to discourses
in quietness.
Master, I learn so much
from you just now
because I came from
a Muslim family
and for the longest time,
I didn't know Ramadan
was the birthday of Rama.
“Dan” means birthday.
And we have
days of fasting
and we eat at night.
And we eat nothing
during the day.
Of course.
All day long.
Yes.
I didn't know that.
Oh, I'm glad.
Now I learned.
You see, during the time
of Prophet Muhammad,
of course he was
such a humble Master,
so he would just celebrate
his Master’s birthday
since he learned in India.
This is wonderful.
Wishing all our Muslim
viewers around the world
a most uplifting
Ramadan ever!
Thank you for joining us
on today’s program.
Coming up is
Words of Wisdom,
after Noteworthy News.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television for more
constructive programs.
May the peace
and blessings
of remembering Allah
stay with you.