A group of Indonesian Islamic extremists have attacked and disrupted a scout camp organised by a Protestant group in Yogyakarta, central Java. According to the extremists, the Protestant group was not authorised to organise any public activity, especially, they claimed, since Ramadan had begun on 18 June, and public activities that violate the sacred nature Read more
More than 40,000 New Zealand Muslims began the month of Ramadan with the new moon that occurred on Wednesday night. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Relations, have written a letter of support addressed “our Muslim brothers and sisters” offering them “best wishes for a blessed and holy Ramadan.” “Catholics share with you a Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations has sent a message to Muslim communities in New Zealand. Sent to mark the Muslim feast of Eid-al-fitr, which ends the Ramadan period, the message encourages prayers and work for peace. The text of the message reads: “Dear friends, “Eid al-fitr draws near. On behalf of the Read more
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (Fianz) estimates more than two-thirds will be taking part in the fast, which is expected to start on Sunday or Monday. Muslims in New Zealand will this year be fasting just 11 hours during Ramadan while their counterparts in the Northern Hemisphere will be going without food Read more
Muslims around the world marked the end of Ramadan, ending the holy month of fasting with the Eid al-Fitr festival over the weekend. In Palestine, President Mahmoud Abbas placed a wreath on the grave of his predecessor Yasser Arafat. In France, which has some five million Muslims, the Great Mosque of Paris intervened to settle Read more
Wednesday is an important day for Muslim faithful around the world. They will be celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, the breaking of the fast to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. For 30 days, starting this year on July 9, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, and abstain from smoking, swearing and sex. But Read more
Pope Francis on Friday called on Muslims and Christians to observe “mutual respect through education” in his message for Muslims at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. “We are called to respect the religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values,” Pope Francis said in a statement. “We have to Read more
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started July 20 in many countries, is a time of fasting, prayer and repentance, when Muslims distance themselves from worldly activities in an effort to align their lives more closely with God and his laws. According to the Vatican’s point man for dialogue with Islam, Ramadan is also Read more
As the season of Ramadan draws closer, the difficulties of practising in a country where Muslims are often a minority can become more pronounced, particularly for the younger generation. Yet for some the UK is more receptive to Ramadan than others. Shanon Shah, a Malaysian who is currently studying for an MA at Kings College Read more
Giving up a bad habit for Lent may make you feel less guilty or cleanse your soul if you are religious. This is the outcome of a University of Queensland research that identifies some self-inflicted pain helps ease the psychological burden of immoral behaviour. Researchers wanted to test the hypothesis that people seek out pain Read more