by Hajar Ana L'Maghrebia

8 servings 4 hours 1 hour prep

Change to: servings US Metric

1	cup whole dried fava beans
1	cup dried garbanzo beans
2	liters water
2	tablespoons vegetable oil
3	cups onions, minced
1/2	lb lamb, cut in small pieces
2	teaspoons ground turmeric
2	teaspoons ground ginger
2	teaspoons sweet paprika (the best most vibrant you can find)
1/2	teaspoon finely ground nutmeg
1/2	teaspoon finely ground caraway seeds
3/4	cup tomato paste
1	lemon
1/2	cup flour
1/2	cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
1/4	cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped
1	cup lentils, soaked for 1 hour 1 in cold water and drained
1	teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2-3	teaspoons cooking salt
2	cups vermicelli, broken into 1/4-inch pieces
	lemon wedges, for serving

A. Rinse and pick over fava beans if you can't get these then use dried broad/lima/butter beans and chickpeas. Soak overnight in water to cover. Quick soak method; place beans in large soup pot and add 2 litres hot water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and soak beans for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Squeeze each fava bean and chickpea between your thumb and first two fingers to remove skins. Set aside.

In large soup pot over medium heat, cook the onions and meat (chicken can be used as well as beef or no meat at all though NEVER pork) stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and transluscent.
Add turmeric, ginger, paprika and 2 litres water. Cover and bring to rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, add fava beans, chickpeas and cook, covered, until beans are tender. 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on your beans.
Finely chop together tomatoes, parsley and cilantro. Add this mixture along with the tomato paste, the lentils, pepper, juice of the lemon and drop in 1/2 of the squeezed lemon and salt to taste. Cover and cook until lentils are tender 20 to 25 minutes.
Bring back to the boil and make a fairly thick slurry (flour and water) with the 1/2 cup of flour. Add this to the boiling soup stirring very briskly to avoid lumps. Boil one minute stirring constantly. Add nutmeg and caraway. Bring the soup to medium heat, you just want a nice slow bubbling.
Add pasta (orzo or small soup pasta can be used as well though I always prefer vermecelli) and cook until soft. Taste and add salt to taste and adjust pepper. When soup is heated through, ladle harira into individual soup bowls. Serve immediately with lemon wedges, Moroccan flat bread ("My Rough Khoubz works well) or crusty french baquette. This soup should be velvety, not overly thick.
Prep time does not include soaking the beans.
NB: Harira is eaten all year, not only at Ramadan. In Morocco the nutmeg is ground to a powder which is darker and very pungent. If you cannot find or do your nutmeg this way, then I recommend that you purchase the freshest nutmeg that you can find.

Moroccan King revives the historic tradition of National Ramadan Sufi Gathering at Sidi Shikr

... Sidi Chiker (Safi), Sep. 19 - King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Commander of the Faithful, reiterated his keenness to "shoulder the responsibilities of the Commandership of the Faithful - a mission entrusted to me by the Almighty - particularly those concerning religious affairs."

In a message addressed Friday to the participants of the first session of the Sidi Chiker national gatherings of Sufi partisans, read by Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq, the sovereign underlined "how deeply I care for Sunni Sufism in my capacity as Amir Al-Muminin and Guardian of the Faith."

The king said the Sufi zawiyas, which were set up in towns and villages over the centuries, benefited from these distinctive gatherings and from the spiritual fulfillment characterizing them: "Following in the footsteps of my venerable ancestors, I have shown particular interest in zawiyas. Indeed I greatly value the role played by Moroccan Sufi tariqas in the areas of spiritual guidance and enlightenment, the dissemination of knowledge, development, the defense of the unity and territorial integrity of our homeland, social cohesion and the preservation of the religious identity of Moroccans."

"As for service to the nation, it is accomplished through the observance of your duties and obligations towards the ultimate Imamate, namely the Commandership of the Faithful," he stressed.

According to the sovereign, this requires the need to "preserve the cultural specificities of Morocco and protect them against alien trends and influences. In that way, the conditions required for serenity, peace and security are met."

"I am convinced the exceptional heritage passed on to Sufi followers can be both sustained and regenerated," said the monarch, pointing out that it can be sustained through "the preservation of our core values, of our faith and of our rite; and it can be sustained through loyalty to the Commandership of the Faithful. Sufism can be regenerated through initiatives and the kind of behaviour which enabled zawiya disciples to stay in tune with the times and serve as model citizens, vying with each other to work good deeds."

The king voiced hope this first gathering "will usher in a new era for Sufi followers in Morocco," all the more that Sufism is "one of the characteristic spiritual and ethical components of the Moroccan identity; it is fully consistent with the blessed Sunnah and the pristine Islamic Shariah."

Ramadan Continues to Inspire the Faithful Throughout the Arab World

� Sept 17, 2008 � Results of a 2008 region-wide survey

Summary: An overwhelming 96% of Muslim Arabs are observing the Ramadan fast, 89% view Ramadan as a yearly lesson in self-restraint and discipline, and 71% believe the Holy Month allows them to feel a sense of solidarity and brotherhood with fellow Muslims. However, as restaurants and hotels region-wide tout their special Ramadan iftar and suhur promotions, a big majority (67%) also feels that Ramadan is becoming a bit too commercial.

Ramadan Continues to Inspire the Faithful Throughout the Arab World.

Region-wide survey on Ramadan traditions and practices throws up interesting results

An overwhelming 96% of Muslim Arabs are observing the Ramadan fast, 89% view Ramadan as a yearly lesson in self-restraint and discipline, and 71% believe the Holy Month allows them to feel a sense of solidarity and brotherhood with fellow Muslims. However, as restaurants and hotels region-wide tout their special Ramadan iftar and suhur promotions, a big majority (67%) also feels that Ramadan is becoming a bit too commercial.

These were among the findings of an extensive region-wide survey conducted by Maktoob Research on the attitudes and perceptions of the faithful vis-Ea-vis Ramadan traditions and practices. The survey, conducted during the month of August, just prior to the beginning of the holy month, canvassed the opinions of 6,128 adult Muslims from across the Arab world.

Announcing the findings, Tamara Deprez, Director of Maktoob Research, said, "The study throws light on what Ramadan means today to followers of Islam, and how they perceive the customs and practices associated with the Holy Month. The survey's findings show that despite the pace of modern life and the changes in people's lifestyle, the Arab world retains its spiritual essence and remains largely tradition-bound where matters of faith are concerned - more so during the Holy Month of Ramadan."

The Maktoob Research survey threw up several interesting findings; 62% of respondents were of the view that non-Muslims living in Arab countries should not eat or drink in public during Ramadan, while 52% held that all restaurants should be closed during the day - even to non-Muslims - to respect the observance of Ramadan. 74% of respondents said they read the entire Quran during the month of Ramadan, while -- despite the hugely popular Ramadan TV serials -- 43% said that overall, they watch television less often during the Holy Month.

In regards to the methodology employed to determine the commencement of the Holy Month, 62% of respondents favored the time-honored tradition of moon-sighting by the naked eye, although alternative techniques such as declaration by scholars and astronomical calculation also found significant approval. Interestingly, 79% of respondents said they are keen to receive Islamic content on their mobile phones during the month of Ramadan, with Duas, Hadith, prayer timings and Quran verses emerging as the most preferred content choices.

A majority of respondents preferred to celebrate Iftar with family at home, but there were also sizeable enough sections that preferred to break fast alongside friends or by attending a religious ceremony. In other findings, 83% of respondents said they planned to make a special gesture towards family or friends during the month of Ramadan or during Eid-al-Fitr, a majority of them saying the gesture would likely involve giving away of money (Eidyeh).

Surprisingly, all 760 respondents from Morocco replied in the affirmative when asked if they intend to observe fasting during Ramadan this year, whilst 99% of respondents in Oman, KSA, Qatar and Egypt, and 85% of UAE Muslims, said they would take to fasting during the Holy Month.

2008 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)

ramadan around the world

By Salma Elhamalawy

an article on about how Muslim communities in Chile, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and China celebrate the month of Ramadan.

The 3,000 Muslims that live in Chile try to integrate their lives with their spiritual beliefs in a difficult environment The celebration of the month of Ramadan possesses an important religious and social meaning for the Islamic community and Latin America is no exception. In the Hispanic world, Muslims should adapt their schedules in order to break their fast, but at times, due to work difficulties, they have no choice but to delay it. They are limited to breaking the fast with a glass of water, and have to wait until they leave work to break the fast collectively as tradition states.

Ramadan in Chile

Fareed Maymoun, a Moroccan immigrant, is used to waking up early to go to his job as a construction worker, but when Ramadan starts he gets up half an hour before sunrise. an important time for me. For the 3 years that I have been living in Chile Ramadan has a very special meaning for me. The first day is marked by a reunion at the mosque to celebrate another year, and break the fast together with the rest of the community.
Like Fareed, the 3,000 Muslims that live in Chile try to integrate their lives with their spiritual beliefs in a difficult environment. Christian co-workers are now used to my fasting. When we are on our lunch break many openly admire the will of those who are fasting, although they do not understand why we do it, he states.

The first days of Ramadan as well as the last days are marked by family visits while children enjoy their new toys and sweets

The Islamic Center itself fills with children and their parents, when the prayers are finished families get together to enjoy the many activities prepared: popular songs, and delicious food.

In the mosque a festive atmosphere is evident, people fill the halls and their children run from here to there. You hear kul 'am wa anta bikhair, to wish many happy returns for the beginning of Ramadan, Nawal Alvarez states.

The majority of families take advantage of this day to eat together.We prepare Mote con huesillo, a special juice with pieces of dried apricot, explains Nawal.

In Morocco Fareed and I would have met with all our relatives, but here we are going to eat with some friends at the mosque. Last year was the first time to break the fast without my family and it was very hard� adds Yasmina, Fareed's wife.

Nawal and Yasmina have it all prepared for this year, the first weekend of Ramadan they will organize an iftar (meal to break the fast) at the mosque. We will be eight women cooking and the menu is a traditional one, first sweet tea then couscous and dried fruits with many Ramadan sweets, explains Yasmina.

The first days of Ramadan as well as the last days are marked by family visits while children enjoy their new toys and sweets. However, for those working, their situation is no different from those of any Muslim minority.

The difficult thing is when we are not allowed to leave a short time before the Maghrib (sunset) Prayers. For us, it is very important to be with the family at the Prayers and the breakfast. Normally we offer to work during lunch breaks to compensate. But sometimes the supervisors do not accept, stated Fareed. In Chile it is more difficult than in other countries because here there are fewer Muslim immigrants. In France, or Germany, there are businesses where Muslims are a majority and they are able to manage their work hours. He said.

Ramadan in Spain

The celebration of Ramadan acquires a special importance in all Spanish cities--like Madrid, Barcelona and Catalonia. In Spain an Agreement of Cooperation, between the Spanish State and the Islamic Commission of Spain was established in 1992 and approved as Law 26/1992. The law affirms in article 12.1 that: Members of the Islamic Communities belonging to the Islamic Commission of Spain who desire, will be able to request the interruption of their work on Friday of each week, from 1 p.m. to 4.20 p.m., as well as finishing work one hour before sunset, during the month of Ramadan.

The celebration of Ramadan acquires a special importance in all Spanish cities--like Madrid, Barcelona and Catalonia--where numerous Muslim communities reside. Muslims get together to break their fast and they organize social meetings in the mosques. Amin Villoch, a Spanish Muslim, illustrates this. The first day of Ramadan more than 9.000 Muslims gather at the mosques in Madrid to celebrate the breaking of the fast. Ramadan is an important factor in reuniting the community. The Islamic Center of Madrid always prepares many activities during this month for them.

After the Maghrib Prayers, the mosque becomes a place of festivity. Everyone eats harrisa (an oriental sweet) and dates; Ramadan treats which no Muslim house lacks. Women spend all day preparing typical food to offer to their relatives and friends whom they meet at the mosque explains Amira Masaad.The first day of Ramadan is a special day. Although, it is difficult being far away from my family, the mosque organizes events and activities to bring the Muslim community in Spain together.
Many of the Muslims living in Catalonia visit the mosques occasionally, more to meet the community than to pray. However, when Ramadan starts, the mosques are filled with Muslims. Muslims celebrate fully these 30 days and dedicate a lot of time for prayers. This is when the situation becomes difficult too, the lack of space for Prayer comes to light during Ramadan. The Catalonian Muslim community puts a lot of effort into establishing new places for Prayers and to be able to continue to attract more Muslims.
Other activities that Spanish mosques organize during Ramadan include Arabic classes, Islamic culture classes and Qur'an and Hadith discussions.

Ramadan in Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

In Nicaragua approximately 300 Palestinian, Jordanian, Iraqi, Libyan and Nigerian citizens, as well as 4 Nicaraguans; all faithful Muslims, celebrate the month of the Ramadan. In 1999, Muslims established a mosque in Cuidad Jardin, where they gather every Friday to pray. Ahmed Hajjami, a Muslim who has resided in Nicaragua for 6 years, assured us that approximately 300 faithful Muslims, celebrate Ramadan in Nicaragua.

We begin at half past five in the morning. There isn't any difference in complying with Ramadan in Nicaragua or any other part of the world he said.Nevertheless, he emphasized that given the characteristics of Nicaragua, it is more difficult to carry out Ramadan obligations. One of the main obstacles is the time to pray, on some occasions we only pray in the morning and at night, it is almost impossible to pray the other three times, he explained.

For Muslims in Nicaragua, the renewal of faith during this period is the main celebration. Ramadan is not a month of penitence by fasting, but of festivals with banquets, gifts and new clothes.
The mosque also publishes a calendar with prayer times and times of fasting, which is coordinated with Al-Noor Mosque in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic there are approximately 2,500 Muslims, and the ones that reside in the capital regularly attend the festivities of Ramadan at Al-Noor Mosque, the only mosque in the city.

Yunis Ribas explains,Although the community is rather small in the Dominican Republic, Muslims gather on the first day at Al-Noor Mosque and their families usually accompany them. Later they meet in Recoleta at a halal (permitted by Allah) restaurant, a Jordanian immigrant runs it. We usually have harira, a traditional Moroccan soup, and shawarma, a spicy meat dish, on the first day.
The mosque distributes audio materials for the Muslim community, and Muslims gather for Tarawih Prayers before heading home. You can see the happiness of Muslims when they exchange greetings after the prayers, especially when there are new faces. Usually the day ends with a traditional herbal tea. Yunis declared.

Ramadan in China

For Muslims in China, Ramadan is traditionally a period of fraternity, solidarity and Islamic charity. Li Xan is a Chinese student who studies engineering at the Universidad Del Desarrollo in Chile. He has been living with his father in Chile for 3 years now. However, he remembers how his family used to celebrate Ramadan in China.During Ramadan my father would get up at 4 o'clock in the morning, and an hour later he will arrive at the Mosque of Niujie, in the center of Beijing, just in time for the Dawn Prayer.

For Muslims in China, Ramadan is traditionally a period of fraternity, solidarity and Islamic charity. Every day in Ramadan, we attended all the five prayers at the mosque. My father's friends understood our commitment, and when he was occupied with a lot of work they would help him to do it so that he could be punctual for Prayers, Li explained.

Li is among more than 20 million Chinese Muslims that live by Ramadan obligations, continuing strictly the Islamic doctrines, praying five times a day in mosques and abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk.According to the Islamic association of China, Chinese Muslims have convenient access to prayer services as there are more than 34.000 mosques throughout the country. Since the foundation of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, the rights and religious liberty of the Muslims have been protected by the constitution and the law, he states.

The Niujie Mosque, built in 996, and that of Dongsi, 500 years old, are the two most two famous mosques in the capital. The Niujie Mosque is an important center for Islamic studies and operates a Qur'an school. During the last 50 years, the government has assigned, on numerous occasions, special funds for the repair of these buildings because of their historical importance.

Beijing has over 900 Muslim restaurants and food stores. Some supermarkets sell food especially for followers of Islam. Thanks to the social stability and the fast economic growth of the country, Chinese Muslims enjoy a peaceful Ramadan. Many Muslims share traditional food with their neighbors, and distribute gifts to poorer Muslims, noted Hang Xian a 61 year old Chinese Muslim trader. Wherever you are, Ramadan is undoubtedly a most special month.
Ramadan in China is reproduced by courtesy of Islam Online.

ISRA AT A GLANCE

The Islamic Studies And Research Association, known as ISRA is an organization and a movement that began in the United States.It is working to revive the totality of deen. It is founded on the affirmation that Allah (swt) is One, Muhammad (saws) is His final Prophet and the religion of Islam has three dimensions: Islam, Iman and Ihsaan (Tasawwuf), which relate to surrendering one�s body, heart and soul to Allah (swt). Additionally it promotes the love of Allah (swt) and the love of Rasool Allah (saws) as ways of purifying ones heart from other than Allah (swt) and making Allah (swt), a reality in ones life.

The organization was formed as think tank in 1987. Our energies were spent on enhancing of Islamic knowledge.When the war in Bosnia erupted we helped in publishing "Bosnia Newsletter" which became popular and was changed into ISLAM TODAY newspaper. At one time it had a circulation of more than 10,000 copies per month. After the end of the war the organization became inactive for some time. At this time we helped in promoting local hilal sighting as a criteria for starting Islamic months in North America.

In 1998 ISRA was revived in a meeting of several community leaders to begin as an umbrella organization and and a popular movement to promote a dynamic vision of Islam based on Islaam, Imaan and Ihsaan (tasawwuf). We have 8 members on the of board of advisory which include some of the best names in the fields of knowledge and spirituality.The movement part was first prioritized to create a base so that the think tank can actively take it's own shape later. From the time of its revival ISRA has accomplished following milestones.

1. Conducted 11 international Mawlid un-Nabi (saws) conventions.

2. Conducted 10 international Isra & Mi'raj Conferences

3. Conducted 5 international Study retreats during the Christmas break

4. Conducted 8 Imam Husayn Radi Allahu Anhu conferences

5. Conducted a Ramadan retreat at George Washington University, Washington DC

6. Conducted 7 Zikr gatherings

7. participated in World Sufi Summit Conference in Morocco at the invitation of Moroccan Government

8. Helped in publishing board member's original research in Arabic language from Beirut, Lebanon

9. Started a Sunni /Sufi campus youth group.

10. Published a youth magazine named "Vision"

11. Conducted Aqidah classes taught by famous Maliki scholar Shaykh Ali Laraki

12. Established a popular web site : www.IsraInternational.com

The website has generated more than 2.5 million visitors.

13. The think tank division is currently working on the translation of a masterpiece Arabic work written by a well known Moroccan Hadith scholar proving beyond doubt that tasawwuf is part of Shari'ah

14. Plans are also underway to translate and publish the encyclopedia of the Seerah of the Prophet written in Arabic by Shaykh Ibrahim El Battawi retired Al Azhar professor and Shaykh of Battawi Shadhili tariqa in Cairo, Egypt

15. ISRA now has either local chapters or support groups in 7 states

This Ramadan Pray for ISRA's growth and success

Become a partner of ISRA in the work of Allah (swt)

and His Messenger (saws)

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LIVING WITH GOD

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Inward conditions of fasting

Breaking the Fast

Ramadan Continues to Inspire the Faithful Throughout the Arab World