Ramadan is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, which begins with the sighting of the crescent moon. By Alia Chughtai and Marium Ali The first day of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan in Mecca will likely be Thursday, March 23, depending on the sighting of the new moon. Ramadan is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, which begins with the sighting of the …

PROPHET [Sal Allahu `Alaihi wa Sallam] said… “ Whoever feeds the person who is breaking his fast, he will have his reward (for his fasting) without decreasing anything from the reward of the fasting person.” [Source: Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah – Classed as Sahih by al Albaani] *************************************************************** ALLAH~ [May HE be glorified and exalted] states that… one of the characteristics …

Indians took the tea the British were marketing to them, added spices, milk and sugar, and transformed it forever. Chai can be enjoyed alone, but it excels in company [Courtesy of Prerna Kumar] I remember jumping up to sit on the kitchen counter one afternoon. My five-year-old self wants to watch my mother making chai. She pushes me away from …

The booksellers of Baghdad’s Mutanabbi Street have faced invasion and bombings, two decades on from the war in Iraq. A statue of Abu al-Tayyib al-Mutanabbi stands on the banks of the Tigris, gesturing towards the water to people walking down the street named after him [Abdulrahman Zeyad/Al Jazeera] Baghdad, Iraq – Haj Mohammed al-Khashali has outlived four sons and one grandson, …

The Gira Sandesha composed in the 15th century is a typical Sinhala Sandesha or Messenger Poem where a parrot serves as the Messenger. This poem refers to a people known as Baburan: matvana abin kaṅsā kā ralu paralu attana kusum rat mal kanä lā lakulu gatvana maguru leḷavā ädä ädä ravulu sit mena bamana baburan raňga bala yahalu   “Have a …