Iftar + Birthday Feast @ Ramadan 2013

Saturday, 20 July 2013. Sangwolgok. 

Indonesian students along with their families who currently live in Seoul, especially those studying at KDI, KAIST, KIST, HUFS, Korea University, Kwangwoon University, and others. 

We had our first gathering during Ramadan.

First, it's Fasting Month and what could be more exciting than meeting other Indonesian friends in Korea and celebrating the fasting? 

The first iftar we had: kolak: a coconut-milk cocktail. 

Well, apart from iftar feast, we were actually also attending the birthdays of two cute little sons of mas Khairul and mas Ismail. Mas Khairul (the only male visible in the picture) was the host of the occasion in the evening. 

Some mommies were busy pampering their babies in one room. 

While the Daddies were having their shares of their first iftar. Not enough space so..we got to split the occasion into two. 

We met at Mas Khairul's house @ Sangwolgok to have this dinner. 

It's one great evening to share.

Could not imagine that we managed to squeeze and jammed pack ourselves into this small room^^

1st Day of Ramadan @ Itaewon

The first iftar we had in Seoul Central Mosque. It's a tradition that the Masjid holds every Ramadan on a daily basis. Everyone coming to the Masjid is served with iftar (breaking the fast). It was like a privilege to be here since we could meet lots of Muslim from other countries sharing the common way of celebrating Ramadan. 

This is where we get donation..I suppose. 

Today's first menu was well..what would a Ramadan be without dates. 

The committee prepared hundreds of iftar everyday. It's neatly arranged an hour before dusk and then... 

people started to sit around the food and we started the first iftar of the first day of Ramadan.... 

As for me, it was also a good start to make friends and associate myself with others who came to the Masjid. 

It's been a great day.

Alhamdulillah. 

Then..came the big feast...after Magrib prayer, people lined up to have their share of the first big meal ( I did not know what). I went home as soon as I finished magrib prayer. But, I'm sure that it must be something with 'meat' or 'chicken' which....happen  to be not in my list: hey..I am a vegetarian.^^

I wonder as to when there'll be vegetarian-friendly 'feast'? 

Not a chance, right? But, it's a good thing that I am not into meat-eating culture..so I can skip this long line-up and concentrate on other things. 

So..that's been my first day of Ramadan.

Ramadan Kareem... Ramadan Mubarak

It's the 1st day of Ramadan. And it's my 2nd year of celebrating and passing the holy month of Ramadan in Korea. Ramadan Kareem. May Allah's blessings come to all of us everyone in this world.

Bismillahirrohmanirohim...

What would a Ramadan be without one of its typical fruit: dates! Whenever Ramadan comes, dates come from different part of the world to be sold at Itaewon or any other shops where Muslim community resides.

This one, I got a special gift from friends in Uijeongbu. 

Well....Ramadan also means big business. Although I am sure that it surely is not from Korea, this kind of ad is eye-catching. 

This BK knows his lot in 'wittily twisting' its ad so as to match the holy month.^-^

In Korea, we follow the Korea Muslim Federation's rulings to serve the Ramadan. They provide us with information about the start of the Ramadan. Even, last week they provided us with the schedule of Ramadan.

Fajr (break of the dawn) starts at 03.26 and that means that we must have our sahur (pre-fasting meal) in the wee hour of 2.30 a.m. 

Magrib (fasting breaking time) is at 7.57 p.m.

That means.... in Korea .....we should refrain ourselves from eating and drinking and other should-not-do's from dawn till dusk for app. 16 hours 30 minutes.  

But...apart from that, one thing we should heed to is....by sleeping less, and praying more during this Holy Month of Ramadan.

Yes, bismillahirrohmanirrohim...

"semoga puasa Ramadan kali ini, saya dan sekeluarga bisa genap dan menjalaninya dengan baik dengan Ridho-mu, Ya Allah'

Amin.

Ramadan in Korea: Itaewon Mosque

This was the third day of the Ramadan. Since I got no class that day...I rushed myself to the Mosque at Itaewon. Just wanted to feel the real Ramadan among other fellow friends from other countries. We are observing the fasting month so it would be a great time to mingle and get to know one another...

( The picture about: I took right before Magrib)

Another angle of the Mosque where I was. I stood on the left side of the 2nd floor of the Mosque to capture the evening sky in Ramadan in Korea.

Apart from admiring the beauty that Allah has put into the evening sky, for sure..I also wanted to take this picture...  just for the sake of remembering my being there.^^

Inside the Mosque. People were seen reciting Al Quran, praying, and some were asleep. ^^ Well, there are many ways to spend an afternoon right before Breaking the Fast.

(keisengan). A bit restless of what to do next after praying for a while. I took a snap of one section inside the Mosque where...some books on Islam were written in Indonesiab, Malay, Uzbekistan, Arabic, and others...

Now...it was the breaking the fast time. After having served our Magrib prayers, people started to go down stairs and made a queue to receive their portion of meals as a part of the breaking the fasting tradtion.

The moon somewhat greeted us from above. Lots of people were taking a queue lining up... 

It was the situation right before the dusk or magrib. I took a chance to take a picture when the committee were preparing for Breaking the fast tradition or iftar...The beverages, the milk banana, dates were all put on their plates and places..and people would just sit down accordingly ...mingled with anyone.

This is the fasting month schedule that I took a chance to take a picture of.

Some of the jamaah were already there sitting and preparing themselves for the break fast.

The other section of the lot. More and more people were pouring in...

The dates were the main dish or the most important meal for breaking the fast as it was the very food that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had for breaking the fast...

The last two pictures that I wanted to put in this blog are....

The Itaewon Mosque facade at Dusk.

I loved the serenely peaceful atmosphere and the calmly tranquil feeling I had when visiting this Mosque...