My muslim friend wrote this explanation for me about Ramadan - and I thought I would share it with you all....

Ramadan is the name of a month, when Muslims do not let
any foods or drinks into their bodies, from DAWN till SUNSET

If you look at the calendar, that the Muslim use
you'll find it is twelve month, like his and hers and yours

but there is a difference in that, it depends on the moon
the beginning of the month is marked, by the birth of the moon

This means that Ramadan, is not in the same season every decade
it takes 33 years to complete a cycle for Ramadan to go back to the same date

In Ramadan people fast, not only food and drink
they also do not have sex, or what to it could link (kissing & hugging with desire)

People are ordered not, to exchange swearing and insult
Particularly in this month, and if someone did insult him, to say "today I fast"

Muslims do enjoy fasting, those days for that long
Coz they are doing it to clear, themselves from all wrong

Fasting like Salat(1) and Hajj(2) and Zakat(3)
is an act of worship, like praying on a mat

In Ramadan we get closer, to close and distant relatives
for better relation with neighbors, Ramadan is causative

There's joy in sitting to the table, just before sunset
with all the family members, waiting for the sun to set

The foods usually served, are different form the usual
the sweets and the drinks, could really be unusual

Most people in Ramadan, host other people for meals
because they know for certain, this is a very good deed

In Ramadan we're strongly encouraged, to give to the poor
for this is one reason why people fast for sure

It is to remember how poor people feel
when they do not have money or any food to feed

This way we symbolically, share, the suffering of the poor
then we don't just know how they feel, but we would look for a cure

People in Ramadan get kinder and more humble
because they are strongly advised with sins not to stumble

You see even those smoker,s who can not live without it
They find it quite easy to stop, and for the command to submit

But when the sunsets, the smoker feel different
the first thing he feels for is a fag which earlier was indifferent

The streets are usually lively, more than the usual nights
They go out for sweets and corn, they visit many sites

The Mosques get filled with worshipers in Ramadan
Lots of prayers and conversations and lots of prayers to who can

People break their fast, either with dates or with water
They like it when they see it done, by their boys and their daughters

You can see this happening, in all Muslim countries
In Africa in the Middle-east, and islands like maldives

Fasting is healthy, and as one has said
God Allah surely knows, what for his slaves is best

The body relaxes after, 11 months of feeding
like after you work hard, you sit and and put your feet up.

People took "Ramadan", as a name for their kids
you can find some in Turkey, nothing that forbids

In addition there are the rewards, for fasting we expect
that is what we were promised and that is what we're going to get (inshallah)

I hope I gave a good explanation and cleared up some things
I wish a pleasant Ramadan to all the paupers and kings



(1) Salat: 5 daily prayers performed at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and night.
(2) Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca, required once in a life time if one can afford and able to do it.
(3) Zakat: a financial system in Islam in which moneys or other properties are taken from those who qualify to give it and given to those who qualify to take it.

hmmmmm - well I guess it helps with the 'no kissing'

iyimser - optimist !!

Fleetwood Mac - Man of the World

siyah - black

ERNIE (THE FASTEST MILKMAN IN THE WEST)
(Benny Hill)
Benny Hill - 1971


You could hear the hoof beats pound as they raced across the ground,
And the clatter of the wheels as they spun 'round and 'round.
And he galloped into market street, his badge upon his chest,
His name was Ernie, and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie loved a widow, a lady known as Sue,
She lived all alone in Liddley Lane at number 22.
They said she was too good for him, she was haughty, proud and chic,
But Ernie got his cocoa there three times every week.

They called him Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)
And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

She said she'd like to bathe in milk, he said, "All right, sweetheart,"
And when he'd finished work one night he loaded up his cart.
He said, "D'you want it pasturize? 'Cause pasturize is best,"
She says, "Ernie, I'll be happy if it comes up to my chest."

That tickled old Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)
And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie had a rival, an evil-looking man,
Called Two-Ton Ted from Teddington and he drove the baker's van.
He tempted her with his treacle tarts and his tasty wholemeal bread,
And when she seen the size of his hot meat pies it very near turned her head.

She nearly swooned at his macaroon and he said, "If you treat me right,
You'll have hot rolls every morning and crumpets every night."
He knew once she sampled his layer cake he'd have his wicked way,
And all Ernie had to offer was a pint of milk a day.

Poor Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)
And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

One lunch time Ted saw Ernie's horse and cart outside her door,
It drove him mad to find it was still there at half past four.
And as he lept down from his van hot blood through his veins did course,
And he went across to Ernie's cart and didn't half kick his 'orse.

Whose name was Trigger, (Triggerrrrrrrr)
And he pulled the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie rushed out into the street, his gold top in his hand,
He said, "If you wanna marry Susie you'll fight for her like a man."
"Oh why don't we play cards for her?" he sneeringly replied,
"And just to make it interesting we'll have a shilling on the side."

Now Ernie dragged him from his van and beneath the blazing sun,
They stood there face to face, and Ted went for his bun.
But Ernie was too quick, things didn't go the way Ted planned,
And a strawberry-flavoured yogurt sent it spinning from his hand.

Now Susie ran between them and tried to keep them apart,
And Ernie, he pushed her aside and a rock cake caught him underneath his heart.
And he looked up in pained surprise and the concrete hardened crust,
Of a stale pork pie caught him in the eye and Ernie bit the dust.

Poor Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)
And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Ernie was only 52, he didn't wanna die,
And now he's gone to make deliveries in that milk round in the sky.
Where the customers are angels and ferocious dogs are banned,
And the milkman's life is full of fun in that fairy, dairy land.

But a woman's needs are many fold and soon she married Ted,
But strange things happened on their wedding night as they lay in their bed.
Was that the trees a-rustling? Or the hinges of the gate?
Or Ernie's ghostly gold tops a-rattling in their crate?

They won't forget Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeee)
And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.



What more can I say - for my dear friend

raki - raki

dev - giant