IT sounds a bit incredible that swallow’s wings, the skin of a shark and a lotus leaf would have something to do with advancements in aircraft aerodynamics and the development of a new generation of drones. Yet, for scientists who specialize in ‘biomimicry’ or biologically inspired engineering, this is common knowledge. In effect, this is…...
RAMADAN in Hyderabad, India, ranks among the most festive times of the year. The homes and the streets are filled with a hustle and bustle that is different from the usual grind of daily life. Ramadan there has a flair that is lively in the evenings and quiet and almost lulled during the day. In…...
AL-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (the Lighted City) becomes livelier during the month of Ramadan. During this blessed month, all the markets and shopping centers around the Prophet’s Mosque are crowded with visitors and are opened till late at night. Ramadan in Madinah, the blessed city of the Prophet ﷺ is truly amazing. Imagine this, everyone around you…...
THE glorious month of Ramadan is special in Tunisia, where life takes a different course, marked with special customs and traditions. The families decorate the front of their houses and those caring for Mosques give them an extra coat of paint and light up the minarets with lamps. The Tunisian family is reunited and strengthens…...
MUSLIMS in Norway have a difficult time determining the beginning of the holy month, due to the widespread fog and snowfall. Thus, they follow other countries and most fast together, unlike in other Western countries. Another problem the Muslims face during the summer days is the length of the day in the country. The day…...
THE days of Ramadan begin early in the morning. Around 4.00 am drummers walk round the village from house to house playing their drums and singing to wake everyone up. Then people begin preparing the Sohoor (pre-dawn) meal – everyone’s favorite is soup with “tuo zafi”, a soft meal made from maize flour. The fast…...
THE Muslim community in Germany, estimated at 4 million, celebrates the month of Ramadan like the majority of the Islamic world. In most German cities, there are no apparent signs of the advent of Ramadan. Often, work conditions do not allow people to eat the Iftar meal in congregation during the month of Ramadan, which…...
THE excitement starts when people first catch sight of the Ramadan moon. There is a hustle and bustle in the streets deep into the night as people start preparing for the month of fasting by stocking up on essentials. The men head to the mosques for Taraweeh prayers, while the women start preparing the Suhoor…...
MASJIDS in the Balkans witness great crowds in the days of Ramadan as Muslims visit them from everywhere whether they are used to praying or usually abandon prayers. Yards and playgrounds, like the commercial hub in the middle of Sarajevo, witness a great number of people praying. In Mostar, Muslims pray in thirty-seven different places…....
IN America as well as other non-Muslim countries, the mosque performs a different function than it does in Muslim countries. It is more than a place for prayer and the Friday sermon; the Islamic center is the hub of the entire Muslim community. It is a meeting point for friends and the center of the…...