RAMADHAN KAREEM
Here's what you need to know about the Islamic holy month
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Muslims around the globe will begin observing the holy month of Ramadan, a period of deep spiritual reflection and celebration, in coming days.
Ramadan will see Muslims abstain from food during daylight hours and pray before breaking their fast at sundown alongside family and friends.
Here's a look at when the holy month begins, the importance of fasting, and why the date changes from one year to another.
When does Ramadan end?
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Lasting for 29 or 30 days, Ramadan 2025 will end around March 30, with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr estimated to start around 30 March, again with a possible difference of a couple of days.
What is Ramadan?
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Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims.
It remembers the month the Qur'an was first revealed to the prophet Mohammed.
During its 29 to 30 days, Muslims abstain from food and drink, including water, every day from dawn to sunset.
When the sun sets, adherents to the faith break their fast with a communal meal called Iftar, usually with family or friends.
The fast is traditionally broken by eating dates, to emulate how the prophet Mohammed broke his fast.
During Ramadan, Muslims are also encouraged to do good deeds and abstain from sinful acts, while refecting on their faith and developing positive habits to be brought forward when the holy month ends.
Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?
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The practice of fasting during Ramadan serves spiritual and social purposes.
According to Islamic Relief Australia, Muslims believe Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the prophet Mohammed more than 1,400 years ago.
The fast entails abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations to achieve greater "taqwa", or consciousness of God.
It is one of the five pillars of Islam.
When is Eid al-Fitr?
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Eid al-Fitr or the "festival of breaking the fast" marks the end of Ramadan.
It is likely to take place on the evening of Sunday, March 30 depending on the sighting of the moon.
It is celebrated as a time for family and friends to come together with communal prayer, gift-giving and dressing in new clothes.
Eid al-Fitr happens in the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic Calendar.
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Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.5% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.5% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Even Australians get it - so why not Kiwis???
“Ten years ago, if a heatwave as intense as last week’s record-breaker had hit the east coast, Australia’s power supply may well have buckled. But this time, the system largely operated as we needed, despite some outages.
On Australia’s main grid last quarter, renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity for the first time, while wholesale power prices were more than 40% lower than a year earlier.
[…] shifting demand from gas and coal for power and petrol for cars is likely to deliver significantly lower energy bills for households.
Last quarter, wind generation was up almost 30%, grid solar 15% and grid-scale batteries almost tripled their output. Gas generation fell 27% to its lowest level for a quarter century, while coal fell 4.6% to its lowest quarterly level ever.
Gas has long been the most expensive way to produce power. Gas peaking plants tend to fire up only when supply struggles to meet demand and power prices soar. Less demand for gas has flowed through to lower wholesale prices.”
Full article: www.theguardian.com...
If even Australians see the benefit of solar - then why is NZ actively boycotting solar uptake? The increased line rental for electricity was done to make solar less competitive and prevent cost per kWh to rise even more than it did - and electricity costs are expected to rise even more. Especially as National favours gas - which is the most expensive form of generating electricity. Which in turn will accelerate Climate Change, as if New Zealand didn’t have enough problems with droughts, floods, slips, etc. already.
New BEGINNERS LINEDANCING CLASS
Epsom Methodist church
12 pah Rd GREENWOODS cnr. Epsom
Monday 9th February 7pm - 9pm
Tuesday 10th February 10am -11am
Just turn up on the day
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