Tag: Ramadan

With Ramadan reaching its 11th day in 2024, it’s recommended that Muslim believers maintain hydration and energy levels throughout the fasting period.

Below are some important tips to make the rest of the season hitch-free for devout Muslims.

Hydration strategies before dawn (Suhoor)

1. Water-rich foods: Dr Palle recommends adding water-rich fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, watermelons, tomatoes and oranges to the meal.

He said: “Not only are they a source of essential nutrients, but they also contribute towards the body’s fluid storage.”

2. Soups and smoothies: Opt for warm soups or hydrating smoothies made with fruits, veggies and yoghurt. “You can create electrolyte-rich smoothies using ingredients like coconut water, bananas, spinach and almonds. Blend these together to make a hydrating and nutritious beverage that helps replenish electrolytes lost through sweating during fasting,” Chef Rajesh Roy, executive chef of The Leela Bhartiya City, Bengaluru explains.

3. Gradual water intake: Instead of chugging large gulps of water, Dr Palle suggests spacing out your water consumption throughout the meal by drinking slowly and steadily. “Aim to drink plenty of water during Suhoor, but avoid overdoing it as it can lead to bloating,” she says.

Breaking the fast (Iftar)

1. Rehydration: Dr Palle explains that the traditional practice of breaking the fast with dates and water supports hydration. “Dates provide natural sugars and electrolytes to kickstart the rehydrating process,” she adds.

2. Avoid dehydrating drinks: Preeti Nagar, a dietician at Noida International Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital (NIIMS), NIU recommends avoiding sugary and caffeinated beverages immediately after breaking the fast. “They can make dehydration worse as they have diuretic effects, causing increased urination. Opt for water, herbal teas or fresh juices instead,” she says.

3. Continue with water: Throughout the evening, Nagar recommends individuals to make a conscious effort to continue drinking water at regular intervals to maintain hydration.

4. Skip salty and spicy foods: “Salty and spicy foods can increase thirst and lead to dehydration,” says Dr Sangeeta Tiwari, clinical nutritionist at Artemis Lite NFC.

She recommends opting for lighter, more hydrating meals that are easy to digest during iftar. “During Ramzan, try to consume moderate amounts of salt and choose mild spices.”

Read Also: Ramadan Day 9: How to support Muslim employees during fast

During day

1. Plan your activities: Dr Sridhar suggests avoiding strenuous physical activity and exposure to high temperatures while fasting, as it can increase fluid loss through sweating and lead to dehydration. “Opt for lighter tasks and rest during the day.”

2. Listen to your body: “Be mindful of how your body feels,” says Dr Palle. Paying attention to your thirst cues is essential, so don’t wait until you feel extremely dehydrated to drink water, she adds.

3. Prioritising rest: Provide your body essential sleep and rest to take on the day, and practice things like deep breathing, meditation, and keep your mind at peace, explains Esha Wadhwa, senior dietician at BLK Max Super Speciality Hospital.

During the Ramadan season, Muslims are advised to incorporate important healthy foods during suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (evening meal) to enable them maintain their energy levels throughout the day.

Below are seven compiled foods to boost energy while fasting:

1. Dates: Nature’s sweet reward, Dates are a traditional way to break your fast, and for good reason! Packed with natural sugars like fructose and glucose, they provide a quick and sustained energy boost. Dates are also a good source of potassium, an electrolyte that helps regulate muscle function and prevent fatigue.

2. Oats: The slow-release hcampion. Oats are a fantastic source of complex carbohydrates, which release energy slowly throughout the morning. This keeps you feeling full and focused for longer, preventing the dreaded energy crashes that can occur during a fast. Enjoy a bowl of oatmeal with nuts and seeds for a protein and fibre-rich suhoor.

3. Chia seeds: Tiny powerhouses: Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and protein. When soaked in water or milk, they expand and create a gel-like consistency, which can help keep you hydrated and feeling full.

Read Also: Ramadan Day 9: How to support Muslim employees during fast

4. Berries: A burst of antioxidants,  Berries are a delicious way to get a dose of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These antioxidants help fight free radicals in the body, which can contribute to fatigue. Enjoy a bowl of fresh berries with yogurt or incorporate them into smoothies for a refreshing and energising pre-dawn meal.

5. Sweet potatoes: Source of energy: Sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates, fibre, and various vitamins. They have a lower glycaemic index, leading to a slower release of energy, which can be beneficial for sustaining energy levels throughout the day.

6. Spinach and dark leafy greens: Don’t skip the vegetables! While they may not seem like energy boosters, dark leafy greens are essential for maintaining energy levels during Ramadan. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and iron, all of which contribute to healthy blood flow and oxygen delivery to your cells, keeping you feeling energised. Include a serving of spinach, kale, or collard greens in your suhoor meal.

7. Yogurt with probiotics: Gut health for stamina: Probiotics, the good bacteria in yogurt, can improve gut health, which plays a vital role in overall well-being and energy levels. Choose plain yogurt and add your own toppings like berries, nuts, or seeds for a delicious and gut-friendly suhoor option.

A giant lantern, standing at 18.5 metres tall, was lit on Sunday night in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, to celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The lighting ceremony coincided with the launch of “The Joy of Eid’’ Ramadan festival, organised by the Nabatieh Merchants Association.

The lantern took half a year to craft and required six trucks for transportation, according to the head of the association, Moussa Shmeisani.

It is now vying for the title of the world’s largest Ramadan lantern in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Read Also: Ramadan: Ansar-ud-Deen Society donates to widows, needy

Shmeisani highlighted that the lantern, a traditional symbol of Ramadan, was constructed using four tonnes of iron, with a base measuring five meters in width, equipped with 20 light detectors for illumination.

Inspite of the ongoing conflict in the southern border region between Israel and Hezbollah, the festival aimed to foster a celebratory atmosphere throughout Ramadan.

It would have its span from March 11 to April 9 in Lebanon.

(Xinhua/NAN)

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that pilgrims are not allowed to repeat Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Ministry said this regulation is aimed at easing overcrowding to perform the rituals during Ramadan, which marks the peak Umrah season of the year.

“Permits to perform two or more Umrah pilgrimages will not be issued during the holy month. This move is to ease congestion and provide an opportunity for all other pilgrims to perform Umrah in ease and comfort during the holy month,” the ministry said in a statement.

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Under the Nusuk application system, if one pilgrim wants to issue a permit for Umrah for the second time during Ramadan, a message will appear stating, “Issuance of the permit failed”

The ministry cited that there are multitudes of benefits to performing Umrah during Ramadan.

While stressing the necessity of getting a permit issued from Nusuk application to perform Umrah by the pilgrims, the ministry underlined the importance of their compliance with the allotted slot of time to perform the rituals.

There is no option on the Nusuk app to change the Umrah appointment time, but pilgrims can delete their appointment via the app well before the appointment time, and then they can issue a new permit by the availability, the ministry added.

Ansar-ud-Deen Society, Kaduna Branch, has made cash donations to some of its members, who are widows and indigent, to assist them in getting some foodstuffs and provisions for their families during the Ramadan fasting. 

Making a cash gift of N25,000 each to five widow and needy members during the annual Ramadan lecture on Sunday at its Kaduna South Masjid undergoing construction in Kakuri, Kaduna, Chairman of Ansar-ud-Deen Society Kaduna Branch, Alhaji Saburideen Adeyemi said the donation to widows and the needy members is an annual welfare programme of the Society.

The gesture according to him, is aimed to ease the hardship on members and enable them to perform the Ramadan fasting like other Muslims, and in line with the tenet of Islam which urges Muslims to assist widows, orphans, and the needy with cash or foodstuff.

“We made cash donations to widows and indigent members, drawn from each of our five divisions, to ease the economic hardship faced by them and their families and help them observe the Ramadan fasting, which is obligatory on each adult and healthy Muslim who is of sane mind and not on a journey.

“It is an annual practice to reach out to our widows and indigent members and their families, we usually give assorted foodstuff but this year we decided to give cash to enable the beneficiaries to get foodstuff and provisions of their choice.”

Speaking on the Masjid project, which has just been roofed, Alhaji Adeyemi urged members and philanthropists to support the project, noting that the project has just reached halfway, with the need to plaster, do screeding and painting, install windows and doors, erect ceiling and tile the floor before carrying out electrical fittings and furnishing.

“We thank Allah for the ongoing Masjid project in Kaduna South. We appeal to all members to support and ensure the completion of the masjid.”

Widows and the needy who benefited from the cash gift include; Hajia Idiat Adewunmi Division 1; Hajia Fauziya Adegoke Division 2; Hajia Halimat AbdulHakeem Division 3; Hajia Ramatu Bode Suleiman Division 4 and Hajia Nurat Ayangbade Kaduna South Division.

The lecturer and Imam of Kaduna South Division of Ansar-ud-Deen, Alhaji Adam Ballo, in his lecture, tasked Muslims to spread peace and stay away from anything that could injure the peace.

Ballo said: “Allah is the king of peace which is why Muslims greet each other with Salam alaikum (which means peace be unto you). Muslims are urged by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to campaign for peace among Muslims and non-Muslims. Are you campaigning for peace? Where there is no peace there won’t be security, which would lead to the breakdown of law and order.

“Allah tasked us to spread peace to each other even to non-Muslims but you attend an Islamic meeting with the intention of opposing its resolution, you would not get the reward for attending the meeting irrespective of your efforts because you went with the wrong intention not peaceful intention.

“Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) urged us not to go to events or gatherings with weapons including our tongue, because Satan can twist the intention and thus guide us away from right to wrong. Prophet urged us not to make things difficult for others, he said we should seek peace and help the needy with food.”

The Chief Imam of Ansar-ud-Deen Society Kaduna Branch, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Kijan prayed for members who have donated towards the project and others who intend to support the project, praying that Allah will build a house for each of them in Paradise.

The Ramadan season is the period for total cleansing and self-discipline amongst others for devout Muslims.

As a guide for some prayers, The Nation has compiled a list of necessary prayers before, during and after each fast.

1. The Prayer for Breaking the Fast:

“Allahuma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu wa ‘ala rizq-ika aftarthu.” Meaning: Oh Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You [and I put my trust in You] and I break my fast with your sustenance.”

2. Prayer for Forgiveness:

Ramadan is a time when Muslims are told through the Qur’an and in hadiths that God will absolve them of their sins if they engage in sincere worship and repentance. The following prayer is a good one to recite during Ramadan to ask for Allah’s forgiveness: “Allahumma inni as’aluka birahmatika al-lati wasi’at kulli shay’in an taghfira li.” Meaning: Oh Allah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelopes all things, that You forgive me.

This is a prayer that Abdullah ibn Amar, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, used to recite as he was breaking his fast, as reported by Ibn abi Mulaykah.

3. Taraweeh Prayers:

There are infinite prayers that Muslims recite during Ramadan–some from the Qur’an and hadiths and others that companions of the Prophets and Islamic scholars recited. But a special type of prayer exclusive to the month of Ramadan is the Taraweeh prayers, which are especially said at night after breaking fast with physical movements akin to those Muslims do during their five daily prayers.

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In Taraweeh prayers, a hafiz, or one who has memorised the Qur’an, usually recites some portions of the Qur’an each night while followers stand behind and pray along. Over the course of Ramadan, the Qur’an is mostly recited in its entirety. As reading the Qur’an (and finishing it, if you can), is highly recommended during Ramadan, attending taraweeh prayers is a great way to absorb the virtues of the Qur’an in a congregational setting.

4. Zikr or remembrance of Allah

Zikr is rected over and over in the remembrance of God, is often thought to be part of the Islamic tradition, when in fact it is an integral part of all Muslims’ lives and especially important during Ramadan.

A great way to connect with God while doing all the mundane chores of daily life (driving, waiting in line, preparing the evening meal), is to recite over and over these short phrases:

Subhan’allah, is an expression used by Muslims to express strong feelings of joy or relief and recall how everything Muslims have is thanks to Allah.

Alhamdulillah, or “Praise be to God!” (It is a Qur’anic exclamation with a similar meaning as hallelujah.)

Astaghfirullah, which means “I seek forgiveness from God.”

Allahu Akbar, or “God is the Greatest.”