When does Ramadan finish?

[Inanna]

As some of you know my DD14 is following Islam. She has followed Ramadan with amazing vigilance this year. I have supported her in doing this - it was very difficult for her for the first week or so but she has really got into the swing and is going well...

Anyway I thought that today was the last day of Ramadan. She says it's Tuesday. Can one of you very wise women help me with what is correct? She is going away with her father tomorrow and he is forbidding her to fast and it is really upsetting her.

Also, I know that the end of Ramadan is very special - what can I do for her that is special as I am not Islamic - but would like to honour her first Ramadan?

[melbel]

turkish delight had a thread up about going to her folks to celebrate and break their fast today so I thought it was today.....

ETA:

http://forums.bellybelly.com.au/foru...-him-dead.html

have a look here..

[AngelPunks]

I've googled it babe. this is what I got

on a side note - I'm so proud of her doing this

Islamic Events 2009*
* Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year) December 29, 2008
* Israa'/Me'raj (Night Journey to Heavens) July 19, 2009
* Lailatul-Bara'at (Night of Salvation) August 05, 2009
* 1st Ramadan (Fasting Begins) August 22, 2009*
* Lailatul-Qadr (Night of Power) September 16, 2009
* Eid-al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) September 20, 2009
* Eid-Al-Adha: November 27, 2009

And

Ramadan in 2009 will start on Friday, the 21st of August and will continue for 30 days until Saturday, the 19th of September.

Based on sightability in North America, in 2009 Ramadan will start in North America a day later - on Saturday, the 22nd of August.

Note that in the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Thursday, the 20th of August.

Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America for the celebration of Ramadan. Note that these dates are based on astronomical calculations to affirm each date, and not on the actual sighting of the moon with the naked eyes. This approach is accepted by many, but is still being hotly debated.

[Phteven]

The moon was sighted last night so Eid is today
Eid Mubarak.

Traditionally people buy new clothes for Eid and give presents to children.
Also they go visiting family and friends.
We always go out for a yummy breakfast - it's a bit late for breakfast but she might like a special lunch.

[Heaven]

Wow FC, your DD has done so well, she should be so proud of herself. A shame that her Dad is being like this when she is doing something meaningful and that she believes in when there are others her age doing far far worse things!!

[Girl-23]

Flowerchild,

You are an amazing mother. And your daughter did an excellent job at tackling the fasting month of Ramadan. Indeed, shame on her father for upsetting her. The moon was sighted in Western Australia last night, making eid today. As a child and still now, we always brought new clothes and relatives gave us money. Money, money, money! Lol. I never received presents. Family and friends come together. A week after eid (the following weekend), eid festivals are held. Where are you located? Maybe your daughter can attend and you can accompany her. At the festivals there is food, drinks, rides, entertainment, etc. Also, she can buy islamic clothing and books, if she wishes.

[Turkish Delight]

Wow FC. I am speechless. Congrats to you and her.

We celebrate by buying the kids new clothes, give the kids money as present, visit our elders, eat yummy food and sweets. It's about the kids. The kids have all the fun. There is usually an Eid festival (probably next weekend) in most of the major capital cities. I know there is a few in Melbourne. One in Broadmeadows and they other in Keysborough. May be take her to one of them in your city, if there is one planned. They are always fun, full of carnival rides.

She certainly deserves a present. If only i'd known earlier,i definitely would have popped something in the post for her.

Well done.

[Michelle71]

She is a very special young lady and should be proud of her first Ramadan. The more I understand, the more I embrace. Send her a hug from me

[AngelPunks]

She is a very special young lady and should be proud of her first Ramadan. The more I understand, the more I embrace. Send her a hug from me

Yep Michelle she is a very special young lady, I've had the privilege to meet her and she is gorgeous (as is ALL of FC's family, most especially FC herself!)

[Inanna]

Well I got her some new clothes and a couple of books. One on understanding Islam written by a woman who was once a catholic nun...

She has gone away today with her Dad to his family - the reason she needs to fast is that she needs to do two "make up" days as she had to drink water on two days of the fast as she forgot to set her alarm and didn't eat breakfast before dawn so therefore she drank when she got up...

Thankyou all for your replies. She is a special girl - sometimes we clash like two cymbals but she is very b eautiful... Very self centred and self serving sometimes and that does me in... But I know why she is like that... Just that I find it a big challenge. I fail miserably often. Then sometimes I succeed!

[Turkish Delight]

I'm sure Allah will oversee DD for her drinking water past sunrise because she couldn't wake up in time.

The most important thing is "niyet", her intention for fasting.

FC - if it's not too personal of a question...how did you feel when DD told you that she wanted to change religions?

Thank-you for helping her celebrate her special day. I'm sure she really appreciates having such an understanding parent as you are.

I don't know what i'd do if my kids chose to change religions.

[Inanna]

TD I said the same but DD has Aspergers & follows all rules to the letter of the law. So, she is doing what she is doing...

TD: I grew up in a very very stifiling fundamentalist Christian home (My Mum was a fundy Christian). From an extremely young age I could not understand why it was so "wrong" to follow a different Spirituality. I also didn't see by the adults around me that religion equated to spirituality. I could see many religious people who didn't seem very nice to me. (including my own mother!).

I couldn't understand why tribes in South America living happily according to their cultural customs needed to be ministered to by people, some of which didn't seem to have it together at all!

I couldn't see that sprinkling a baby with water was any more wierd than chanting etc etc.

This caused a fairly major panick - which resulted in a full immersion of baptisim and many people praying for my soul! I was and still am I believe seen as a version of the anti Christ. So, that began my own mission. To seek out my own Spirituality and my own Truth.

I am an extremely Spiritual Woman - as are we all. I h1ave `learnt that there is a Truth for us all and it will be different.

When DD began an obsession with Catholicisim I challenged her LOUDLY!!!! To seek out and independently investigate all Faiths. I could see her obsession with Catholicisim was very much hinging on wanting to be the same as her fathers family - not from a deep belief.

She did. When she came accross Islam she said in my words to her that it "sang to her heart"...

So, while it sings to her heart I will support it and her. I see Islam as a beautiful Faith and I don't fear it like her father and his Christian family.

Independent investigation of her Truth is what is important to me...

[Spring Angel]

Wow, FC you are a really amazing mother.

[Michelle71]

Beautifully put - as always Deb

[Turkish Delight]

Wow. Truly amazing. I must applaud you for allowing your child to explore a faith which she feels comfortable in. I can understand why you allowed her to seek.

I told my mum about you and your daughter and she was just listening to me mouth open. I told her that you bought DD new clothes and a book and she was almost in tears. All she could say was "mashallah" to your DD.

Mashallah - literally means 'Whatever Allah (God) wills'. It is often used in occasions where there is surprise in someones' good deeds or achievements. For example people say Mashallah when someone does very well in their exams.

Your DD is truly inspirational as kids that i know who are similar in age to your DD, don't care about fasting or most things Islamic.