Tag: Ramzan

  • Nora Fatehi prays five times daily, fasts in Ramzan

    Nora Fatehi prays five times daily, fasts in Ramzan

    In a recent video posted on Instagram, Bollywood actor and dancer Nora Fatehi talked about being a Muslim, revealing that she’s been fasting since she was 14, something her parents taught her when she was young.
    She elaborated on feeling more intuitive during and after the month of Ramzan, emphasizing that she’s committed to fasting every day, even while working. She said fervently, “I fast every day, even though I’m working. I never break my fast. I always keep it going. [Ramzan] is a great time for me to become disciplined and more spiritual. It’s my duty.”

    The actor emphasized that fasting is essential to her faith and is something she must manage alongside her work. “I have to do it,” she stressed. “I need to stay connected to my religion, but I also have to work. Why should I have to pick one over the other?”

    Fatehi further explained that she manages both her spiritual and everyday life, balancing her religious duties with her career. “As a performer, I need to stay active, but I still fast. Fasting is important, and you can do it while fulfilling your other responsibilities. When you connect with your creator, whoever that may be for you, you enter a different spiritual and mental realm.”

    Reflecting on the significance of praying, Fatehi added, “What’s so beautiful about praying five times a day is that, in the chaos of the world, there’s two minutes when you stop and you thank your creator.”
    Since starting her Bollywood career in 2014, Fatehi has become known for her dance performances in Indian cinema. While some of her followers resonated with her recent religious insights, others on social media have been more skeptical, questioning the apparent contrast between Fatehi’s entertainment career and her religious practices.

  • Palestinian Muslims mark sad and tense ‘holiest Ramadan night’ in Jerusalem

    Palestinian Muslims marked a tense and sombre last Friday of Ramadan in Jerusalem as Israeli police controlling the entrance to the Al-Aqsa mosque – the third holiest site in Islam – attacked worshippers.

    Some 120,000 people descended on the shrine, which dominates the Old City, officials said, with grand mufti Muhammad Ahmad Hussein urging the faithful to brave the heavy police presence because of the war in Gaza.

    Adli al-Agha, 53, from Jerusalem, told AFP that many people “had to flee dawn prayers” after Israeli police deployed a mini-drone spraying tear gas to disperse people chanting “Glory to God”.

    “In our soul and our blood, we sacrifice for you Al-Aqsa,” worshippers declared, according to Agha.

    Police said they arrested eight people for inciting terrorism.

    Yasser Basha, from Tulkarem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said police were restricting entrance to the mosque to the old and the very young. Only men over 55 and women over 50 were being allowed inside, he said.

    “If it wasn’t for the war, things would have been much easier,” he added.

    Friday also marks Laylat al-Qadr (“The Night of Destiny”), the spiritual climax of the Muslim holy month, which commemorates the moment the archangel Gabriel first appeared to Prophet Mohammed and began revealing the Koran.

    It is the night when Muslims believe their prayers are most likely to be granted, a festive moment while children stay up late and shops stay open till the small hours.

    But many Palestinians are not in the mood to celebrate and are praying for an end to the war in Gaza after almost six months of bloodshed.

    Sameeha Al Qadi, 55, who had come from near Bethlehem, said Jerusalem “is sad and has lost its light — we all feel what is going on in Gaza. We can’t escape it for a minute.”

    This year there are few Ramadan decorations or lights in the Holy City, with Palestinians instead having a bitter coffee and a date — traditionally to mark mourning — on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when feasts are usually held.

    “There is sweet nothing about the feast this year. People are not celebrating,” said Sabah, 54, some of whose relatives have been killed in Gaza.

    “Everything is bitter in my mouth. It is so painful at this time which is all about family.”

    Easter was similarly subdued last weekend for Palestinian Christians.

    Adnan Jafar, 60, a sweet maker in the Old City, said usually in Ramadan his shop is at its busiest.

    “But I have never had a Ramadan like this. And we all know why. (Gaza) is not just affecting us, it is affecting the whole world.”

    Israeli genocide in Gaza has killed at least 33,091 people since October 7, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.

  • Indian actor fasts for sixth straight Ramzan

    Indian actor fasts for sixth straight Ramzan

    Indian TV actor Vivian Dsena, who announced his conversion to Islam in 2019, has explained why Ramazan is important to him, narrating that he’s been fasting for the entire month for six years now.

    The actor said, “Ramadan is very special to me because I embraced Islam during this month. This year is my sixth Ramadan, and by God’s grace, I’ve been fasting every year. Fasting for the whole month is important in Islam, it’s one of the five main things we do. I fast for 30 days unless I have a reason like being sick, then I can skip a day.” he explained.

    Dsena added, “At first, I was really worried about fasting, especially since water and coffee are important for me. Even my family and friends wondered how I could go without water or caffeine for 13 or 14 hours. But God has been kind to me, and fasting has been going quite smoothly.”
    The actor spends Ramazan with his family in Bahrain where he enjoys Iftar meals, especially the ones his wife cooks at home. His favorite Middle Eastern desserts are Basbousa and Kunafa.
    Vivian Dsena had confirmed his marriage to Nouran Aly when he announced he accepted Islam. They have a daughter who is one year old.

  • ‘Bloody’ Ramzan Friday as Gaza strike kills 36 relatives

    ‘Bloody’ Ramzan Friday as Gaza strike kills 36 relatives

    Palestinian Territories: Displaced by Israeli bombardment, the Tabatibi family gathered in central Gaza to eat together during the first Friday night of Ramzan, a scene that soon turned into a bloodbath.

    An air strike hit the building where they were staying as women prepared the pre-fasting meal, killing 36 members of the family, survivors told AFP on Saturday.

    The health ministry in Gaza, which provided the same death toll, blamed Israel for the strike in Nuseirat, while the Israeli military said it was looking into the incident.

    “This is my mother, this is my father, this is my aunt, and these are my brothers,” 19-year-old Mohammed Al-Tabatibi, whose left hand was injured in the strike, said through tears at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in nearby Deir Al-Balah.

    “They bombed the house while we were in it. My mother and my aunt were preparing the suhoor food. They were all martyred.”

    He spoke as bodies were spread out in the hospital courtyard, then stacked on a truck to be driven to a cemetery.

    Because there were not enough body bags, some of the dead — including at least two children — were wrapped in white cloth stained with blood, AFPTV footage showed.

    The first Friday of Ramzan, the Muslim fasting month which began on Monday, passed peacefully in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, despite concerns about tensions at the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

    But it was a different story in Gaza.

    The strike in Nuseirat was one of 60 “deadly air strikes” reported overnight by the press office of the government, from Gaza City in the north to Rafah in the south.

    “This is a bloody night, a very bloody night,” said Salama Maarouf of the media office.

    Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 31,553 people in Gaza since October 7, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry.

    In Rafah, where the majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million people have sought refuge, more bloodshed is feared after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday he had approved plans for a military operation there.

    Yet even before any such operation begins, air strikes continue, including one early Saturday that witnesses said killed Issa Duhair, the muezzin of a mosque, along with his two sons.

    Mahmoud Duhair, a 41-year-old relative who lives nearby, described the muezzin as “a good man” who, as usual, dutifully performed the call to prayer before dawn on Saturday, then went to eat with his family “when his house was struck.”

    Back in Nuseirat, in central Gaza, Yussef Tabatibi said the true toll of the strike that killed 36 members of his family could rise.

    “Some of the martyrs we are unable to retrieve. We lack equipment, bulldozers, machinery, or anything else, ” he told AFP, his hands and sweatshirt covered with dust from trying to clear rubble.

    “We retrieve them only with our hands. We brought shovels and hammers, but to no avail. Look at the extent of the destruction.”

  • 22 flights cancelled as passengers decrease in Ramzan

    22 flights cancelled as passengers decrease in Ramzan

    Due to operational issues of various airlines, 22 flights across the country including eight domestic flights of Quetta have been cancelled today.

    According to PIA spokesperson, as reported by Geo news, the flights had to be cancelled due to not meeting the minimum load of the required number of passengers.

    Aviation reported that today alone, PIA cancelled six flights from Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore to Quetta. PK 310, 311 from Karachi, PK 322, 323 from Lahore and PK from Islamabad to Quetta. K 325, 326 will not be operated today.

    PIA’s Karachi-Gwadar PK-503, 504 flights have also been cancelled.

    Five flights from Karachi to Islamabad, three flights between Karachi to Lahore, two flights of PIA from Islamabad to Sukkur have been cancelled.

  • The most nutritious things you can eat in Sehri

    The most nutritious things you can eat in Sehri

    Ramzan is about to begin and this month is very important from a health point of view. People usually consume two meals in the day. Therefore, the choice of foods during Sehri is very important as they act as fuel for the whole day.

    Luckily, the weather is not likely to be very hot this Ramzan, however, dehydration in the body during fasting is still a risk. So, the following nutritional tips can help maintain body energy throughout the day and also protect against dehydration.

    Choose a healthy and light diet

    Choose Sehri foods that are beneficial for health and do not burden the stomach. Bread, eggs, vegetables, pulses and chicken can be considered the best.

    Have dates regularly

    Apart from iftar, it is useful to eat one or two dates in sehri. Dates contain many nutrients including copper and magnesium, while the sweetness in them provides energy in the form of glucose in the body.

    Use yogurt

    Adding yogurt to sehri balances the diet and reduces the possibility of acidity. Yogurt is high in water content so it also reduces the chances of dehydration during fasting.

    Apples and bananas

    Adding these two fruits to breakfast provides the body with fiber, vitamin C and several antioxidants while reducing the risk of dehydration.

    Foods high in water content

    Eating foods high in water content like cucumbers, tomatoes, or watermelons can reduce the chance of dehydration throughout the day.

    Avoid foods high in chillies, salt and sugar

    Minimize the consumption of chillies, salt and sugar in Sehri as excessive consumption of these three will make you feel more thirsty throughout the day. Consuming too much salt in particular increases the risk of dehydration as it causes fluid to accumulate around it, increasing the feeling of thirst.

    Don’t forget to drink adequate amounts of water

    A simple and good way to avoid dehydration is to drink adequate amounts of water during Sehri. You have to decide it for yourself, as to how much the amount of water should it be but not too much or too little.

    Note: This article is based on details published in medical journals, readers must consult their physician in this regard.

  • School timings in Ramazan

    School timings in Ramazan

    As the holy month of Ramazan begins, educational institutions across Pakistan have adjusted their schedules to accommodate fasting. Here’s a roundup of the revised timings issued by various provincial education departments:

    Sindh:

    In Sindh, schools operating in the morning shift will open from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, with the afternoon shift running from 11:45 am to 2:45 pm. On Fridays, the morning shift will end at 10:30 am and 1:15 pm, respectively. Colleges will have morning shift classes from 8:30 am to 12 pm, and evening shift classes from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.

    Punjab:

    The Punjab School Education Department announced that single-shift schools will operate from 8:30 am to 1 pm, except on Fridays when they will close at 12:30 pm. Second-shift schools will run from 1 pm to 4 pm throughout the week. Primary schools will start at 7:30 am and end at 11:10 am (10:05 am on Fridays), while middle, secondary, and higher secondary schools will run from 7:30 am to 12:15 pm (10:25 am on Fridays).

    KP:

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department announced that primary schools in the province will start classes at 7:30 am and finish at 11:10 am, except on Fridays when they will end at 10:05 am. For middle, secondary, and higher secondary schools, the timings during Ramazan will be from 7:30 am to 12:15 pm, with a conclusion at 10:25 am on Fridays.

    Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT):

    In Islamabad, educational institutions regulated by PEIRA will open at 8:30 am and close at 1 pm from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, they will close at 12:30 pm. Meanwhile, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) announced similar timings for single-shift institutions, with a slight variation for double-shift institutions where the morning shift ends at 12:30 pm and the evening shift starts at 1 pm (1:30 pm on Fridays).

  • Bushra Ansari goes digital, launching YouTube channel in Ramzan

    Bushra Ansari goes digital, launching YouTube channel in Ramzan

    Veteran comedian Bushra Ansari is gearing up to go digital. Renowned for her diverse talents including acting, singing, playwriting, and comedy, she is one of the country’s most respected entertainers.
    Ansari recently impressed audiences once again with her role as Maa Begum in the popular TV serial ‘Tere Bin’. Praised for her character portrayal and exceptional skills, Ansari once again captured the limelight after a brief hiatus from acting.

    Ansari is gearing up to connect with her fans in a new way this Ramzan. The celebrated artist has announced the launch of her own YouTube channel.
    With decades of experience, Bushra Ansari has won the hearts of audiences of all ages with her talent and charisma. Now, she is embracing the digital world to engage more closely with her fans and share her experiences.

    Set to debut during the holy month of Ramzan, Ansari’s YouTube channel promises diverse content. From behind-the-scenes insights into her projects to personal vlogs revealing aspects of her life, fans can expect an intimate glimpse into the world of one of Pakistan’s most beloved entertainers.
    In a video message posted on Instagram, Bushra said, “Assalam o Alaikum to all my fans, I am starting my YouTube channel in Ramzan. All of you guys have to subscribe to my channel and see what I am doing.”

  • When is Ramzan starting in Pakistan?

    When is Ramzan starting in Pakistan?

    The holy month of Ramzan is around the corner with less than two weeks left.

    According to weather analyst Jawad Memon, although the Ramzan moon will rise on March 10, it will not be visible on that day. “The moon will be clearly visible on March 11,” he said. The first Taraweeh will take place on the night of March 11 as there is a 95 percent probability that the first Roza will be on Tuesday, March 12.

    Like every year, the meeting of the Central Royat Hilal Committee will be held in Islamabad, in which all the zonal committees will be meeting in their respective domains.

    Earlier, Gulf News reported that astronomers have predicted that the main connection will be on March 10 at 9 am. Resultantly, the moon will be visible only after sunset in most Islamic countries on March 10.

    However, astronomers believe that the chances of seeing the moon in the entire Arab and Islamic world on March 10 are very low.

    Ramzan is expected to start on Tuesday, March 12 in most Islamic countries including Pakistan.

  • Trailers for Hum TV’s upcoming Ramzan dramas are out

    Trailers for Hum TV’s upcoming Ramzan dramas are out

    Ramzan is a special time for television lovers in Pakistan. It’s when we get to enjoy a lot of new shows, especially after Iftar. This year, Hum TV is bringing not just one but two exciting dramas for Ramzan: “Dil Pe Dastak” and “Very Filmy.”

    “Dil Pe Dastak,” directed by Ali Masud Saeed and written by Hassan Imam, promises to be a fun-filled watch for the whole family. The teaser for the drama has already been released, giving us a glimpse of what to expect. Produced by Momina Duraid, the drama boasts a talented cast, including Aena Khan, Khaqan Shahnawaz, Taimoori, Parishae Adnan, Arjumand Rahim, Saman Ansari, Behroze Sabzwari, Agha, Uzma Beg, and Hassaan Imam.Alongside “Dil Pe Dastak,” Hum TV is also presenting “Very Filmy,” another Ramzan treat for viewers. Although details about “Very Filmy” are currently scarce, we can anticipate it to be a lighthearted and entertaining drama perfect for the festive Ramzan season. So, get ready to laugh and enjoy the heartwarming stories of “Dil Pe Dastak” and “Very Filmy” as you break your fast this Ramzan.