Ramadan is a month of blessing, marked by prayers, reading the
Holy Quran, and performing zakat (charity). It focuses on self discipline and
devotion to Allah.
Ramadan in Southeast Asia is best experienced through the
bazaars in cities like Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. These bazaars are closed
throughout the day, but come to life in the late afternoon as bazaar food shops
prepare food for Muslims breaking their fast at sundown.
Pasar Ramadan in Stadium Shah Alam is one of the biggest Ramadan
Bazaar in Selangor, they offers a variety of food to choose from, the usual
buka puasa dishes like Murtabak, Nasi Lemak Ayam to some other more traditional
Malay delicacies such as Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Minyak plus a few Western delicacies
such as burger, grilled lamb and kebab.
But there are some of the appetizing delights are Skewered BBQ
Kebab, Raja Murtabak, Sabri Hoi Roasted Duck, Papa John (Roti John), Beriyani Ghafur,
Kelapa Laut Afrika and Kerang/Ikan Bakar Asam Pedas.
Ramadan bazaars also offer great shopping value on traditional
items, including textiles, clothes, decorative gewgaws, and even modern
conveniences like CDs.
From the point of view, there is a lot of wastage during the
month of Ramadhan.
Prophet Muhammad broke his fast with fresh dates and water.He
ate a light meal only after Isyak prayers. It is important not to eat to the
full when breaking fast.
“Eat when you are hungry and stop before you are full.” — Sunnah (The Prophet’s behaviour, habits and practices).
Ramadan should the month that we can save money since we don’t
have to eat during the whole day. But contrarily most of people spend more
money in Ramadan especially for breaking fasting as if that is the time for
them to eat as replacement for not be able to eat from morning till Maghreb. But
sadly, with prosperity and change of lifestyle, Ramadan has now become commercialized.
Muslims in Malaysia, too, seem to deviate away from the sunnah.
This is not what Ramadhan teaches us. Maybe Malaysian Muslims should
look back at themselves and the way they practice Islam. Islam is not what you
show outside but through your daily practice and your internal understanding of
the teaching.
May we be good Muslims, insyaallah.
