Ramadan Message

[sue]

yusufislam.org.uk points the way to a Ramadan message from Yusuf.

[DiddleMingyAdams]

that's the entire mini cd!

[faithfullight]

Was anyone able to hear it? I waited and waited and waited for my RealPlayer to connect and it didn't play anything yet! How long are we supposed to wait for it to connect to the file?

Faithfullight

[sue]

Today, the MOL site added a MOL player for the I Look I See performance by Yusuf along with other MOL songs. My media player doesn't recognize the extensions and won't play it.

[faithfullight]

Sue said:

Today, the MOL site added a MOL player for the I Look I See performance by Yusuf along with other MOL songs. My media player doesn't recognize the extensions and won't play it.

Thanks Sue! I have the basic RealPlayer which doesn't play Yusuf's message nor the "I Look, I See" links either, and I cannot purchase the upgrade. I know that it is free for a 14-day trial, but it's not worth the hassle since I already know that I won't buy it anyway. I guess I just have to be patient until the future to hear it.

Peace,
Faithfullight

[Gizmo]

It works for me on my free RealPlayer. Maybe you need to download the latest free RealPlayer (the one I got is called RealOne Player). Good luck

Peace, Gizmo

[faithfullight]

Gizmo said:

It works for me on my free RealPlayer. Maybe you need to download the latest free RealPlayer (the one I got is called RealOne Player). Good luck

Peace, Gizmo

Thanks Gizmo! I found RealOne Player and it took me 40 minutes to download the basic. Then I tried to play the link to the Ramadan Message and it took a couple minutes to connect. Oh, I was so excited! ;D Then it played about 30 seconds and stopped. It had to communicate for about 2 more minutes, and then it played for about 30 more seconds and stopped. I waited for about 5 minutes for it to "communicate" again. Then it played for 20 seconds. ...Waited another 5 minutes, then it played for 20 seconds. Oh my goodness! So aggravating!

So I tried to do it all over again and I got my cassette recorder out to record just when the sound came on. But I missed a few words each time before I pressed the record button because I was doing something else. I'm still in the process and it's been over an hour! Then I checked my recorder during one of the 5 minute pauses and I noticed that I had pushed the wrong button before and I rewound and then the last time it recorded the silence.

So I finally came to the end of the first go round and I thought that just maybe RealOne Player would play straight through the second time since I had to wait so long the first time. (That happened before.) No such luck! It played 30 seconds and stopped to "communicate" again! I give up!

I can tell that the message would have been very nice to hear and the children sounded very sweet and angelic from what I did get to hear. But I wasn't able to hear the whole song nor Yusuf's whole message, nor Zain's whole song near the end.

Oh well.

Peace,
Faithfullight

[Vivian]

DiddleMingyAdams said:

that's the entire mini cd!

Great! Then I didn't miss anything, when I coildn't open it! It really is a beautiful message!

Peace,Vivian

[Gizmo]

Faithfullight i used to have the same problem when playing stuff on realplayer before I got broadband internet. It is really annoying, you wait ages for a song to load and after every few seconds it says buffering 10% complete, 20% complete, etc. You turn into a fossil by the time you finish.

[sue]

I'll just wait for the dvd to be released and the cd too.
My ME doesn't like RealOne or Realplayer for some reason and it won't play. It'll be worth the wait.

[Chris]

Sue,

I'm not sur eif your problem is ME. I use Windows ME and I am able to listen to it. Though like Gizmo mentions it comes in buffering installments.

I only wish I could have cable or broadband instead of dialup.

~Christine~

[sue]

I tend to agree with you, Christine, but we can't put our finger on the problem.

[faithfullight]

LadyD said:

Hey you guys,

MOL just put up a new link to the sound files especially for people who have low bandwidth and are having difficulty listening to it -- it's on their homepage, go give it a try.

Kinda makes you wonder if MOL is watching us, huh? (To see if we could hear it.) Well, I'll go check it out. I sure hope it works. Let's hope....

sigh,
Faithfullight

[Turan]

YES, at last me, with the low band width can hear it!
I like the readings at the first the best. The samples are really nice. So Zain Bikha and Son are becoming a family business. It sounds good. Khalid Belrouzi is awesome.

That is a really nice Ramadan message and present.

Thank you Yusuf.
Turan

[faithfullight]

Hey LadyD and all!

The new link works! It works! It works! ;D I finally got to hear the Ramadan message and the two other links! Hurray! The children sound so beautiful. (Oh RealOne Player paused a dozen times but they were only for about a minute at the most this time, and then the music played for 2-3 1/2 minutes before it paused.)

Oh, Yusuf, (if you read this message), you shouldn't had ever stopped singing because your voice is such a beautiful blessing! I hope that your inspiration of music will bring the essence of love and peace into the world. Keep singing! You are majical! Keep singing about the love of God to all His people!

Thank you! Thank you MOL! Thank you Yusuf!

Peace,
Faithfullight

[Vivian]

It IS a beautiful message, isn't it!

Peace,Vivian

[faithfullight]

I have to emphasize that God's message of love and mercy is beautiful! The credit goes to God, praise His name!

Peace,
Faithfullight

[kareema113]

Salaam alaykom,

I found in listening to the Ramadhan message at home with dial-up that I experienced the buffering dilemma as well, however when I played the message at my friend's house, who has DSL, the message started and played without interruption.

It seems that MOL has perhaps noted that not all of us have DSL. My computer also doesn't recognize the extensions at the "MOL player", however I imagine that even as we speak that they are hard at work to resolve this difficulty.

As for whether Br Y ever stopped singing, I think that it is a case of our just not being able to hear him for many years because we did not live in London and travel in the circles that he does.

I have heard Br Y recite the Adhan/Call to Prayer.

Although what he is doing is called recitation, it sounds like singing to my Western ear, as in fact does any Qur'anic recitation that I have heard.

Wa'sallam,

kareema

[SoulOfTheRose]

He does the Adhan more beautifully than any other I've heard on the internet. I just love hearing it from him..

[Turan]

I have been wanting for some time to get the 30th Juz recitation and narration by Yusuf. Khalid Belrhouzi and Yusuf doing the Burdah should also be incredible to listen to. They have wonderful voices used to good effect.

Turan (needing a money tree)

[sasafras]

I am a Christian, but have studied some about other religions/faiths. Can someone explain what Ramadan represents? I know it is called a Holy Month, but am curious as to why this particular period was selected? I am guessing that it might be similar to the Christian celebration of Lent.

I asked about this (and other practices) on a few Islamic message boards and only received one response, and that was: "We do not discuss Islam with non-believers. Please refrain from posting on our forum".

I don't believe the sweet "Majicaters" will have that attitude, because I am genuinely interested.

Thanks,

sass

[SoulOfTheRose]

Hey Sass,

Ramadan is the month that the Qur'an was sent down to Muhammad (sallahu alayhi wasalaam - peace be upon him). We fast during Ramadan for several reasons: spiritual purification, learning self restraint, experiencing what the poor experience so that we can serve them better, and because we are enjoined by the Qur'an to fast during this month. It is a time of focusing on our faith and deep contemplation. It's a time when we strive to discipline our minds by restraining anger, doing good deeds, watching our language and our thoughts, forgiving others. We pray for our sins to be forgiven.

Ramadan is a month of peace and love in which individuals are encouraged to bury differences, to forget and forgive and to renew both human and spiritual relationships. It contributes to the overall principle of making the individual more humane, more considerate and generally a more responsible member of society. In this way, the month of Ramadan ultimately benefits society not just the individual. It does this, in part, by setting a standard for behaviour not only in this month but during the rest of the year and, indeed, every year of a Muslim's life.

Anyone who says they cannot discuss Islam with you is wrong and are doing themselves and you a great disservice. Of course we can discuss Islam with others! I hope the above has helped you understand Ramadan a bit better. ;D

[kareema113]

Salaam alaykom,

Here are some links for further information about Ramadhan

www.islamonline.net/english/ramadan/1424/index.shtml

www.soundvision.com/ (Note: the Ramadhan links at Soundvision are located in the lower left on the home page. I have to scroll down to see them.)

Soul of the Rose has done an excellent job of summarizing as well.

I have the '30th Juz' narrated by Br Y and it is fantastic. I also like his 'Recitation of Short Suras' videotape, which he did some time ago.

For me it is comforting to have Br Y narrating the English translations since even though Islam is my chosen faith, the Arabic still sounds strange and somehow daunting to my Western ear.

It feels to me like someone I 'know' is explaining the Qur'an to me.

Wa'sallam,
kareema

[faithfullight]

Sasafras said: I am guessing that it [Ramadan] might be similar to the Christian celebration of Lent.

Yes, I can see that Ramadan is very common in practice to Lent and the Jewish Holiday from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur (this year being from September 27 - October 6). Yom Kippur is the day that Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the tablets of the Covenant which is the "Day of Atonement" for our sins. Yom Kippur is the holiest day when we ask forgiveness and to be inscribed in the Book of Life. During these 10 days of remembrance, God's people are so seek repentance and emphasize that God is Above All. This is a time of fasting and prayer for cleansing and forgiveness. This sounds very similar to Ramadan, except (this year), Ramadan is honored one month later in honor of the Qu'ran.

SoulOfTheRose said:

Ramadan is the month that the Qur'an was sent down to Muhammad (sallahu alayhi wasalaam - peace be upon him). We fast during Ramadan for several reasons: spiritual purification, learning self restraint, experiencing what the poor experience so that we can serve them better, and because we are enjoined by the Qur'an to fast during this month. It is a time of focusing on our faith and deep contemplation. It's a time when we strive to discipline our minds by restraining anger, doing good deeds, watching our language and our thoughts, forgiving others. We pray for our sins to be forgiven.

Ramadan is a month of peace and love in which individuals are encouraged to bury differences, to forget and forgive and to renew both human and spiritual relationships. It contributes to the overall principle of making the individual more humane, more considerate and generally a more responsible member of society. In this way, the month of Ramadan ultimately benefits society not just the individual. It does this, in part, by setting a standard for behaviour not only in this month but during the rest of the year and, indeed, every year of a Muslim's life.

Anyone who says they cannot discuss Islam with you is wrong and are doing themselves and you a great disservice. Of course we can discuss Islam with others! I hope the above has helped you understand Ramadan a bit better. ;D

Sakinah, I will hold you to your word.

Peace,
Faithfullight

[Aisha]

I am attempting to listen right now, but I have dial-up and my computer is running as slow as a snail. I thought upgrading the RAM would speed things up. Oh well, what I am hearing is beautiful. It is very calming to hear. Yusuf is so gifted.

And Ramadan and Lent do have similarities. Both require a person to fast and/or give up things to become closer to God. I have done both Ramadan and Lent and only good can come from them both because it is good to have a reminder, especially sacrifice, to make us gain a closer relationship with God.

Love,
C

[SoulOfTheRose]

Faithfullight said:

Sasafras said: I am guessing that it [Ramadan] might be similar to the Christian celebration of Lent.

Yes, I can see that Ramadan is very common in practice to Lent and the Jewish Holiday from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur (this year being from September 27 - October 6). Yom Kippur is the day that Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the tablets of the Covenant which is the "Day of Atonement" for our sins. Yom Kippur is the holiest day when we ask forgiveness and to be inscribed in the Book of Life. During these 10 days of remembrance, God's people are so seek repentance and emphasize that God is Above All. This is a time of fasting and prayer for cleansing and forgiveness. This sounds very similar to Ramadan, except Ramadan is honored one month later in honor of the Qu'ran.

Sakinah, I will hold you to your word.

Peace,
Faithfullight

Excuse me?

[DiddleMingyAdams]

[quote author=Faithfullight

time of fasting and prayer for cleansing and forgiveness. This sounds very similar to Ramadan, except Ramadan is honored one month later in honor of the Qu'ran.

Peace,
Faithfullight[/quote]

ramadan is an actual month in the islamic calendar, and it does not occur the same time every year (according to our calendar) my first ramadan occurred in december. at some point it will occur in july.
just to clear that up.

[Aisha]

Faithful, the Islamic calendar is lunar so it is what they call 'moveable'. I did my first Ramadan in March and my last one in November. Ramadan usually occurs about ten days earlier each year than the previous year. But regardless of when it falls, its purpose is to bring a person on a higher level of faith with God.

Love,
C

[sasafras]

SoulOfTheRose said:

Hey Sass,

Ramadan is the month that the Qur'an was sent down to Muhammad (sallahu alayhi wasalaam - peace be upon him). We fast during Ramadan for several reasons: spiritual purification, learning self restraint, experiencing what the poor experience so that we can serve them better, and because we are enjoined by the Qur'an to fast during this month. It is a time of focusing on our faith and deep contemplation. It's a time when we strive to discipline our minds by restraining anger, doing good deeds, watching our language and our thoughts, forgiving others. We pray for our sins to be forgiven.

Ramadan is a month of peace and love in which individuals are encouraged to bury differences, to forget and forgive and to renew both human and spiritual relationships. It contributes to the overall principle of making the individual more humane, more considerate and generally a more responsible member of society. In this way, the month of Ramadan ultimately benefits society not just the individual. It does this, in part, by setting a standard for behaviour not only in this month but during the rest of the year and, indeed, every year of a Muslim's life.

Anyone who says they cannot discuss Islam with you is wrong and are doing themselves and you a great disservice. Of course we can discuss Islam with others! I hope the above has helped you understand Ramadan a bit better. ;D

Thanks, that helped a lot. Please don't interpret this as being critical, but my personal feeling is that 1/12th of a year is not nearly enough for me to give praise to, and/or honor my God Who has done so much for me, and try daily to honor His name by helping the poor; befriending the despondent; demonstrating forgiveness; protecting the helpless; and letting God lead me every day of the year.

Soul, I have had very few personal relationships with Muslim people, but I must say that WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE ON THIS WEBSITE, those I have had contact with, have not exhibited the "standards of behavior" you described.

In fact, two of them were physicians who were so arrogant, uncaring, chauvinistic, and rude that I finally had to change doctors. Others have been store owners who have lost customers because of the same type of behavior. Still others were a large group of students on a nearby college campus who frequently sat on the Library steps and made obscene comments & gestures as other students passed by (most often young women), so much so that they had to be asked to move from that location.

I don't believe there is a Mosque in my area, but if there was, I would probably visit sometimes just to meet some really devout Islams and dispel some of the bad experiences I have had. (This website has helped tremendously, though.)

I love reading the Bible and believe much of it was inspired by God, as well as other books, which I believe were Divinely inspired, but I prefer a more spiritual relationship with Who I consider My Heavenly Father. It would fill the bandwith of this site, if I described just a few blessings He has bestowed upon me and how He has revealed Himself to me.

Please know that I also have known Christians who have made a mockery of my faith, and it grieves me no end.

Again, thanks for sharing this information with me.

sass

[SoulOfTheRose]

You're welcome Sass. I should also add that Ramadan isn't the only time of the year in which Muslims strive to better themselves in regards to their relationship with Allah and other people on earth. Muslims strive to do this on a daily basis...perhaps I wasn't very clear with the explanation. My apologies...Ramadan is, in a sense, a time of regrouping and renewing for those of us who tend to slack in our spiritual duties throughout the year.

It's unfortunate that you've had some bad experiences with Muslims. I too have had some bad experiences with people from other faiths, but I strive to forgive and overlook as the Qur'an directs me to, and I've come to realize that people are people regardless of what "religion" they belong to. Some are good, some are not...we're all human and fallible.