«دهكده زبان»

Ramadan, the Month of Fasting

The Meaning of Ramadan

Ramadan is a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives. There are as many meanings of Ramadan as there are Muslims.

The third "pillar" or religious obligation of Islam, fasting has many special benefits. Among these, the most important is that it is a means of learning self-control. Due to the lack of preoccupation with the satisfaction of bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to God. Ramadan is also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Qur'an, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds.

As a secondary goal, fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning to thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's bounties. Fasting is also beneficial to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence.

Who Fasts in Ramadan?

While voluntary fasting is recommended for Muslims, during Ramadan fasting becomes obligatory. Sick people, travelers, and women in certain conditions are exempted from the fast but must make it up as they are able. Perhaps fasting in Ramadan is the most widely practiced of all the Muslim forms of worship.

The Sighting of the Moon

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The much-anticipated start of the month is based on a combination of physical sightings of the moon and astronomical calculations. The practice varies from place to place, some places relying heavily on sighting reports and others totally on calculations. In the United States, most communities follow the decision of the Islamic Society of North America, which accepts bonafide sightings of the new moon anywhere in the United States as the start of the new month. The end of the month, marked by the celebration of 'Eid-ul-Fitr, is similarly determined.

From Dawn to Sunset

The daily period of fasting starts at the breaking of dawn and ends at the setting of the sun. In between -- that is, during the daylight hours -- Muslims totally abstain from food, drink, smoking, and marital sex. The usual practice is to have a pre-fast meal (suhoor) before dawn and a post-fast meal (iftar) after sunset.

The Islamic lunar calendar, being 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, migrates throughout the seasons. Thus, since Ramadan begins on January 20 or 21 this year, next year it will begin on January 9 or 10. The entire cycle takes around 35 years. In this way, the length of the day, and thus the fasting period, varies in length from place to place over the years. Every Muslim, no matter where he or she lives, will see an average Ramadan day of the approximately 13.5 hours.

Devotion to God

The last ten days of Ramadan are a time of special spiritual power as everyone tries to come closer to God through devotions and good deeds. The night on which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet, known as the Night of Power (Lailat ul-Qadr), is generally taken to be the 27th night of the month. The Qur'an states that this night is better than a thousand months. Therefore many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.

During the month, Muslims try to read as much of the Qur'an as they can. Most try to read the whole book at least once. Some spend part of their day listening to the recitation of the Qur'an in a mosque.

Food in Ramadan

Since Ramadan is a special time, Muslims in many parts of the world prepare certain favorite foods during this month.

It is a common practice for Muslims to break their fast at sunset with dates (iftar), following the custom of Prophet Muhammad. This is followed by the sunset prayer, which is followed by dinner. Since Ramadan emphasizes community aspects and since everyone eats dinner at the same time, Muslims often invite one another to share in the Ramadan evening meal.

Some Muslims find that they eat less for dinner during Ramadan than at other times due to stomach contraction. However, as a rule, most Muslims experience little fatigue during the day since the body becomes used to the altered routine during the first week of Ramadan.

امروز جمعه سی ام مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

ضرب المثل انگلیسی 9

When there is a will, there as a way!

خواستن توانستن است!

A burnt child dreams the fire!

مارگزیده از نخ سیاه و سفید میترسد!

A bad thing never dies!

بادمجان بم آفت ندارد!

امروز چهارشنبه بیست و هشتم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

خرافه های مردم آمریکا 10

The evil eye

There is an ancient belief that some people have the power to harm another's health or happiness simply by looking at them. To protect yourself from being noticed by evil eye, you must not openly praise yourself or call attention to any good fortune.

چشم شور! (نظر بد!)

از زمان های دور عقیده ای وجود دارد مبنی بر این که بعضی افراد قدرت از بین بردن سلامت یا شادی دیگران را تنها با نگاه کردن به آنان دارند. برای جلوگیری از وقوع چنین چیزی، شما نباید آشکارا از خودتان تعریف کنید و یا جلب توجه نمایید.

امروز دوشنبه بیست و ششم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

دو نکته دانستنی از زبان انگلیسی

Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled “Gentlemen Only…Ladies Forbidden”…and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

سال ها قبل اسکاتلندی ها بازی جدیدی را ابداع کردند که قانون اصلی این بازی این بود:" فقط آقایان، خانمها هرگز"... و به همین خاطر و با استفاده از حروف اولیه چهار کلمه این قانون، کلمه گلف به زبان انگلیسی وارد شد.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts… So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them “Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.” It’s where we get the phrase “mind your P’s and Q’s”

در میخانه ها در انگلیس، آبجو در واحدهای جرمی پاینت و کوارت ( که پاینت نیم کوارت بوده و کوارت حدود یک لیتر است)، سفارش داده میشود. برای همین در زمان های قدیم در انگلستان هنگامی که مشتریان میخانه ها به حالت مستی نزدیک میشدند، میخانه دار بر سر آنها فریاد میزد: پاینت ها و کوارت هایت رو به یاد بیار و آروم بگیر. و عبارت Mind your P's and Q's از همین جا به وجود آمده است که معنی این عبارت این گونه است: حواست به رفتارت باشد تا به کسی آسیبی نرسانی و آن ها را نرنجانی.

با تشکر از دوست ارجمندم، «صبا» که مطالب فوق را جمع آوری کرده است.

امروز شنبه بیست و چهارم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

گرامر زبان انگلیسی 32

Talking about FUTURE 5:

5. Will be doing:

این عبارت را هنگامی استفاده میکنیم که میخواهیم بگوییم در زمان آینده ای که مشخص شده در وسط انجام کاری خواهیم بود:

- This time next week I’ll be on holiday. I’ll be lying in the beach or swimming in the sea.

- You have no chance of getting the job. You’ll be wasting your time of you apply for it.

- Our best player is injured and won’t be playing in the game on Sunday.

برای مشاهده تفاوت will و will be doing به مثال های زیر توجه کنید:

- Don’t call between 7 and 8. We'll be having dinner.

- Let’s wait for Liz to arrive and then we’ll have dinner.

امروز پنجشنبه بیست و دوم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

آیا میدانستید که ... 11

Did you know that?

“Rhythm” & “syzygy” are the longest English words without vowels.

امروز جمعه شانزدهم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

شعری در مورد امام زمان

A Poem About Imam Mahdi

Oh how I wish for enough air to outlive these days
To be able to see his face appear at mecca's grace
Oh how i wish to be one of those great men
Who will be there that day, fighting with sword and pen

Hope is gone from me, for pure I am not.
Deserve to see that beauties face I do not
Though Allah knows that ready I'll be, you'll see!
Countless my sins are, yet from the battlefield i will not flee

313 they are counted for they say and tell
314 i wish to be, my soul to the Shaytan i will not sell
By the owner of Time i will stand, either close or far
He would do the same for Allah, travel to any pointed star

He is what time has grown old to see
You are promised the highest sky, what becomes of us and me?
Without you free from worries we are
By Allah, that feeling is counterfeit, imprisoned we are.

Wherever you are now at this state
Tell Allah we are sorry, that while you wait, we are late.
Stuck to the sugar of this worlds honey we are
Tell Allah we are sorry, for what we have become to be.

Farewell oh friend of Allah, for we die and you live on
May Allah keep you from grief, that we on this earth sewed upon
Inshallah we will meet one day, here or there
May Allah forgive us, for not being sincere.

امروز چهارشنبه چهاردهم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

معما به زبان انگلیسی 17

Why do we dress baby boys in blue and baby girls in pink?

Explanation: Think about the abilities!!

blue for boys

Answer: ~~Because they can't dress themselves!!~~

امروز سه شنبه سیزدهم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

جملات زیبای انگلیسی 40

Sunflower

Life is an exciting business and most exciting when it is lived for others

By Hellen Keller

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do

By Hellen Keller

Collected by a good friend of mine, Saba

امروز یکشنبه یازدهم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

اصطلاحات عامیانه انگلیسی 5

On the house:

If you have something on the house, it is given to you free by a business

Have you heard that the drinks on Arno's are on the house?

By mistake:

Accidentally

I've written the same thing twice by mistake.

Invite over:

To invite someone to come to your house

Let's invite my parents over tonight.

امروز جمعه نهم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

جملات زیبای انگلیسی 39

If you choose between two evils, let your choice fall on the obvious rather than the hidden, even though the first appears greater than the second!

اگر خواستی بین دو بد یکی را انتخاب کنی، بگذار انتخابت بر بد آشکار تعلق گیرد تا بر بد پنهان، حتی اگر بد آشکار بزرگتر از بد نهان باشد.

Listen to the woman when she looks at you, but not when she talks to you.

به زن گوش ده آن هنگام که نگاهت میکند اما نه زمانی که با تو سخن می گوید.

The poet is he who makes you feel, after reading his poem, that his best verses have not been yet composed.

شاعر کسی است که پس از خواندن شعرش احساس کنی هنوز بهترین شعرش را نسروده است.

امروز سه شنبه ششم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

گرامر زبان انگلیسی 31

Talking about the FUTURE 4:

4. Will:

اگر در هنگام صحبت کردن تصمسم برای انجام در آینده بگیریم، برای بیان آن در آن هنگام باید از will استفاده کنیم ام بعد از آن با توجه به ساختارهای مطرح شده دیگر در روزهای قبل باید تصمیممان را بیان کنیم:

- Oh, I’ve left the door open. I’ll go and shut it.

- I don’ think I’ll go out tonight. I’m too tired.

- I can see you’re busy. So, I won’t stay so long.

نکته: میتوان از won’t برای بیان این که فردی از انجام کاری سر باز میزند یا وسیله ای به درستی کار نمی کند، استفاده کنیم:

- I tried to give him advice but he won’t listen.

- The car won’t start. (The car refuses to start)

امروز شنبه سوم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::

آیا میدانستید که ... 10

Did you know that?

There is a seven-lettered word in English that contains eleven words without rearranging any of its letters, “therein”: the, there, he, in, rein, her, here, ere, I, therein & herein.

امروز پنجشنبه یکم مرداد 1388 به قلم :: بهنام کیماسی ::