The Holy Month of Ramadan Begins in Three Days.

اللهُ أَكْـبَر، اللّهُمَّ أَهِلَّـهُ عَلَيْـنا بِالأمْـنِ وَالإيمـان، والسَّلامَـةِ والإسْلامِ، وَالتَّـوْفيـقِ لِما تُحِـبُّ وَتَـرْضَـى، رَبُّنـا وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ

Allaahu 'Akbar, Allaahumma 'ahillahu 'alayna bil'amni wal'eemaani, wassalaamati wal-'Islaami, wattawfeeqi limaa tuhibbu Rabbanaa wa tardhaa, Rabbunaa wa Rabbukallaahu.

Allah is the Most Great. O Allah, bring us the new moon with security and Faith, with peace and in Islam, and in harmony with what our Lord loves and what pleases Him. Our Lord and your Lord is Allah.

Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

This will be my last blog for over a month as I normally do not write here during Ramadan which starts on Tuesday.  But I have been so slack in writing that I doubt anyone will notice my silence.  

At the moment I am trying to prepare for Ramadan but the heat, even with the air con switched on to max, is a distraction.  Already the external thermometer outside the backdoor is reading well over 33C and we have been promised 36C temperature later, so Amina and I are keeping indoors.  I attended the masjid yesterday and by the time I got home I was soaked in sweat, but it was worth the efforts as the khutbar was inspiring.

BUT the temperature is of little importance compared with the terrible military coup which has seen democracy swept away from this country.  There can be no doubt that those who demonstrated against President Morsi and who gave the military the excuse to take over will soon be regretting their foolishness when the army again runs the country so we are back to the old days of corruption and brutality.  I am very UNpolitical but I would ask for your duaa that this poor country will find peace before too long.  

Fortunately we live far enough outside Asyut not to have been affected by the disturbances, but the information we are getting from friends in Asyut and Cairo is incredibly depressing.  Everyone fears that the army is ready to round up Brotherhood members during Ramadan and to convert the country into a One Party state, that party being controlled 100% by the military and run by their stooges and ex-generals.  There is a feeling that things could get even worse than it was under Mubarak with illegal detentions and the use of torture becoming commonplace again.

Many people are leaving the country already and I have to admit that I am tempted to return to Jordan.  But I intend to try to recharge my spiritual batteries during Ramadan and to keep my fear and anger in check during that most holy of months.

I hope that you all have a blessed and rewarding Ramadan.  May Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) make it a very special time for you all.  Ameen

"For those that keep from evil, with their Lord, are gardens underneath which rivers flow wherein they will abide..................."   [Qur'an  3:15]