Islamic nations receive Ramadan with heavy challenges

Today, Friday, Muslims in the Islamic world welcome the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan with a sincere persistence to fast, motivated by a true commitment to their own Islamic jurisprudence.

In this month, Muslims are all hope to end the state of weakness overwhelming the Islamic nation under the American invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and the coupled acts of daily killing, as well as the acts of killing and destruction of houses at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces in the Palestinian territories.

However, the fasting month of Ramadan wins a special importance in the hearts and minds of Muslims and is of genuine traits. It is the month when the doors of paradise are opened while the doors of hell are closed.

Among the privileges of Ramadan is that it is the month when the Holy Koran descended as a guide for people. It is also in this holy month, Muslims celebrate "Leylat al-Qader" (the day of fate). Among the main social aspects of the month is enhancing kinship ties as families and neighbors exchange invitations at "Iftar Banquets".

Charity works and financial and material donations are provided to poor people and orphans while in mosques preaching lessons are held. The same social and religious activities and even TV series are also shown on Arab TV and radio stations.

Nevertheless, restaurants are closed during day times in Ramadan while entertainment evening are held after Iftar until late night. In this recently developed social habit of nights of entertainment, many describe this as an alienation from the spirit of Islam and the true teaching behind prescribing fasting.