Ramadan 2008

Object of Ramadan
0n a sweltering hot day your throat has become parched. You are in the privacy of your home and the refreshingly cool water is within hand's reach. You desire to drink it, but you do not. Why? Simply because you are fasting and while fasting you cannot eat and drink. If somebody prompts you to nevertheless drink it and says: "Nobody is watching," you will immediately rebuke him with the words: "But Allah is watching!"
Source: http://www.haqislam.org/ramadan/object-of-ramadan.htm


Success Through Tazkiya During Ramadan by an anonymous sister
Success in this life very much depends on self- development, which can be achieved through purifying our souls and actions - Tazkiya. There is a Hadith which narrates that during Ramadan shaitans - which are the forces that make people do bad things- are locked up for the entire month and cannot influence our decisions.
As you can see, to fully acquire the benefits of Ramadan, obe must practice Tazkiya (purification of the soul) The purpose of Ramadan is to cleans our soul and body. Through hunger, we achieve psychological purifications, and bring harmony to our bodies, minds, and souls. By abstaining from our desires, we are disciplining our mind and soul.
Source : http://s12.invisionfree.com/Wasat/index.php?showtopic=3991

Ramadan Virtues, Blessings & Essential Elements by Iman Badawi
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
All praise is to Allah, Whom we thank and seek for His help and forgiveness.
We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and the burden of our evil deeds.
Whomsoever He guides, will never be misled, and whomsoever He misguides, will never find enlightenment.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad is His slave and Messenger.
Allah said, what translated means, “O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam” [3:102],
Source: http://www.jannah.org/ramadan/ramadan_articles.html


Meaning and essence of Prayers
Human beings have been praying for as long as humanity has existed. Rich or poor, literate or illiterate, the urge to pray is equally present in all. A well-known author has best described this as follows:
"In wandering over the earth, you can find cities without walls, without science, without rulers, without palaces, without treasures, without money, without gymnasium or theatre, but a city without temples to gods, without prayer, oaths and prophecy, such a city no mortal has ever seen and will never see.”
Source: http://www.parvez-video.com/insight/islam/prayers/index.asp