Posts Tagged ‘Ramadan’

Catholics offer Muslims a blessed & holy Ramadan

Friday, June 19th, 2015

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

NZ bishops’ committee sends message to Muslims

Tuesday, July 29th, 2014

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

Sight of moon means start of Ramadan

Friday, June 27th, 2014

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

Muslim nations mark end of Ramadan, celebrate Eid al-Fitr

Tuesday, August 13th, 2013

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

Important day for New Zealand’s third fast growing religion

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

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 calls for mutual respect between Christians, Muslims

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

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

What Catholics can learn during Ramadan

Friday, July 27th, 2012

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

Young Muslims and Ramadan

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

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

Self-inflicted pain; exchanged for pure soul

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

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