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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Ramadan is a time of restraint and renewal, of emptying-out and filling-up

    Ramadan is a time of restraint and renewal, of emptying-out and filling-up-screenshot_2019-05-08-ramadan-makes-room


    Restraint: Making space for the holy

    The first Ramadan began with a man climbing a rocky mountain and retreating into a tiny cave.
    He sat there, alone, for a month of fasting, meditation, reflection and prayer, as he had many times before.
    He was trying to distil the mysteries of the universe, compassion and the knowledge of God.

    Somewhere during the last ten days of that month, the angel Gabriel ― the same angel that visited Mary in the Gospels ― appeared to this man in his cave and had an exchange with him that would change his life, revolutionise his society and affect the world forever.

    It was also an exchange that gives us profound lessons about the nature of our physicality, and the connection between our bodies and divine inspiration ― lessons that have resonated through every Ramadan since.

    When the angel Gabriel (Jibreel in Arabic) first spoke to Muhammad, he ordered him to "Recite!" Muhammad, understandably terrified at the sudden appearance of a supernatural being, replied he neither knew how to recite nor what to recite, which indeed was true.

    While public oral poetry was very popular and highly prized during his time, he, an illiterate man, was not known to have ever come up with as much as a single line of verse in his life.

    Upon his reply, Gabriel embraced Muhammad, and squeezed him so hard Muhammad reported later he feared he would pass out from the pressure.
    Again Gabriel ordered Muhammad to recite and, again, the frightened man said he couldn't. Once more he was embraced so tightly that he said he almost could not bear it.

    A third time Gabriel told him to recite, and a third time an increasingly desperate Muhammad claimed his inability.
    Gabriel took him and embraced him so hard Muhammad felt he was being crushed, and then Gabriel proceeded to recite to a stunned Muhammad the words that would form the first revelation of the Qur'an and thus transform him from man to prophet.

    Here
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Ramadan is a time of restraint and renewal, of emptying-out and filling-up-11085518-16x9-thumbnail-jpg   Ramadan is a time of restraint and renewal, of emptying-out and filling-up-screenshot_2019-05-08-ramadan-makes-room  
    Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago ...


  2. #2
    En route
    Cujo's Avatar
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    How come Lent doesn't get the same attention?

  3. #3
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    Thank God I'm an Atheist.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    ...my experience with Gulf Muslims and Ramadan: enormous intake of rich and fatty foods during the night, then sluggishness, desk-napping and pious moaning about suffering for Islam all the next day...it's as phony as Christmas cheer...

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...my experience with Gulf Muslims and Ramadan: enormous intake of rich and fatty foods during the night, then sluggishness, desk-napping and pious moaning about suffering for Islam all the next day...it's as phony as Christmas cheer...
    My 30+ years of working with them: While you are right about the rest, there is no pious moaning and you're exaggerating the comments of a moaner or two.

    In fact a lot of youngsters wouldn't do it if they could get away with it (and plenty sneak the odd sarny and drink during the day).

  6. #6
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    During Ramadan food consumption increases by 30%. I learned that in the time I worked in Saudi Arabia. Way before the Internet.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Takeovers View Post
    During Ramadan food consumption increases by 30%. I learned that in the time I worked in Saudi Arabia. Way before the Internet.
    That's because they basically have what we would call a big family Sunday dinner every night of the week for a month.

    Yes, they have to import extra food, and yes, people put in weight.

    It's a strange old scheme, but I don't complain, because we get three extra days public holiday out of it.

    Which I will be spending in Danang.


  8. #8
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    you're exaggerating the comments of a moaner or two.
    ...my 25 years of working with Gulf Arabs suggest otherwise...

  9. #9
    Excommunicated baldrick's Avatar
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    skivers will always try and take advantage - I have worked with muslims during ramadan on industrial sites who kept doing their job and did not complain

  10. #10
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    During my two Ramadans in Saudi, there wasn't a Saudi to be seen.....all in Thailand.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton View Post
    During my two Ramadans in Saudi, there wasn't a Saudi to be seen.....all in Thailand.

    There are plenty in Pattaya, that's for sure.

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...my 25 years of working with Gulf Arabs suggest otherwise...
    Well you can't have worked with very many is all I can say.

    Perhaps it's your perception that is somewhat squiffy.

    skivers will always try and take advantage - I have worked with muslims during ramadan on industrial sites who kept doing their job and did not complain
    And I have at least half a dozen colleagues that are still in the office working way past their prescribed quitting time because they take their jobs seriously.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    There are plenty in Pattaya, that's for sure.
    I thought Saudis have boycotted Thailand as an R&R destination, ever since a series of royal emissaries had unconnected mishaps over some baubles.

  14. #14
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Seriously?

    And you live in Pattaya?

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    I thought Saudis have boycotted Thailand as an R&R destination, ever since a series of royal emissaries had unconnected mishaps over some baubles.
    Did they fuck, they were banned.

    But now they can travel for "Sport" (lots of choices) or "Medical reasons" (Not sure if being sick of Saudi Arabia is one).

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    Well you can't have worked with very many is all I can say.
    ...day in, day out, 5 days a week, in offices, classrooms and on drilling rigs...the late afternoon moan came directly after the mid-morning snooze...until the final relief of the cannon thump to announce the end of pious suffering for the day...eat, pray, repeat; eat, pray repeat...
    Majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...day in, day out, 5 days a week, in offices, classrooms and on drilling rigs...the late afternoon moan came directly after the mid-morning snooze...until the final relief of the cannon thump to announce the end of pious suffering for the day...eat, pray, repeat; eat, pray repeat...
    It's a wonderful stereotype, but not these days.

  18. #18
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    If it gives succour to some, and helps them to be better people, why not? Prayer and meditation help many to overcome personal weakness.
    i don’t subscribe to it, but many are steadfast in their beliefs. Who are we to criticize that?

    Tolerance is a virtue.

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Switch View Post
    Who are we to criticize that?
    ...we criticize when "some" attempt to impose their religious beliefs and practices on others...usually referred to as "non-believers" by the afflicted...

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...we criticize when "some" attempt to impose their religious beliefs and practices on others...usually referred to as "non-believers" by the afflicted...
    No Muslim has ever tried to impose their beliefs or practices on me. The same applies to the Christians. I think you perception is colored by something.
    I don’t follow any faith but my own beliefs. Don’t need a deity to help, but perhaps some do. What of it. No harm no foul.
    Are you a hate preacher, because you sure sound like one?

  21. #21
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Your 'experience' of Islam is of 'filling up and emptying out' with ladyboys in Indonesia.

    These people are talking about Saudi Arabia.

    Time to give your trademark crap trolling a rest.

    And yeah, harry, tc's experiences of the place ended 25+ years ago.

    Certainly his picture of the UAE might as well be in sepia.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    Your 'experience' of Islam is of 'filling up and emptying out' with ladyboys in Indonesia.

    These people are talking about Saudi Arabia.

    Time to give your trademark crap trolling a rest.

    And yeah, harry, tc's experiences of the place ended 25+ years ago.

    Certainly his picture of the UAE might as well be in sepia.
    Just guessing that your comments at the start were aimed at me. As I was in Qatar and Dubai, working in 2017 it demonstrates that you don’t know shit about me or my experiences. Give your trademark weak assumptions a rest wanker.

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Switch View Post
    Just guessing that your comments at the start were aimed at me. As I was in Qatar and Dubai, working in 2017 it demonstrates that you don’t know shit about me or my experiences. Give your trademark weak assumptions a rest wanker.
    I think he was referring to tomcat...

    tc's experiences

  24. #24
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Switch View Post
    I was in Qatar and Dubai, working in 2017


    Step aside, Robert Fisk.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat

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    Quote Originally Posted by Switch View Post
    No Muslim has ever tried to impose their beliefs or practices on me. The same applies to the Christians.
    The same does not apply to Christians. Missionaries, prosletisers, JW's, prosletising groups veiled as youth clubs etc.

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