Ramadan is Comming...
Happy and successful New Year to everybody, and welcome back on campus! While the Christians all around the world have just finished celebrating their major holidays, and America is sobering up after the New Year's parties, the greatest highlight in the Muslim calenar is yet ahead of us. You're guessing right. The Holy Month of Ramadan, when, according to the tradition, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received the first revelation of the Noble Qur'an, the month for which God has ordered the fast to all the Believers, is just about to start. To be more precise, the beginning of Ramadan is expected on Monday, January 22.
(cont. on p. 2)

From the Activities of ISMC...
During the Fall Semester 1995 Islamic Society has organized several events that were dedicated to present some aspects of Islam and Islamic culture to the Middlebury campus. On November 9, ISMC has sponsored the lecture by Cynthia Atherton, Associate Professor of the Art Department, entitled Islamic Calligraphy and the Power of the Word. In this very successful lecture, accompanied by a rich slideshow, Ms. Atherton outlined the origins, different styles and the meaning of calligraphy in Islam. The second event was the presentation of The Message, the historical movie about the struggle and sacrifices of Muslims during the time of the Prophet (PBUH), on November 10 in Warner Hemicycle. Unfortunatelly, and partly due to the current examination period, the attendence was rather poor. The movie has been purchased by the Society and is currently available as a part of the Sunderland video collection for anybody who might be interested. On the other hand, the attendence has been more than abundant at the traditional Fall Semester Islamic Society Dinner which was organized the following Friday and those who were present could enjoy traditional subcontinental food.

Yet from among other activities we should mention the establishment of regular weekly Jum'ah (Congregational) prayers which will resume again this Friday at 1:00 p.m. in Mitchell Green Lounge in McCullough. In this way we would like to extend our thank you to Mr. Mahmoud Hayyat from downtown Middlebury who volunteered to lead our prayers and prepare the weekly sermons.

From this semester onwards, we should also resume last-year's traditional weekly meetings of the Society members, Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. in Upper Proctor (Upstairs!), where we will be able to discuss and plan upcomming events or, simply, just "socialize" and talk about current Islamic issues. Insha'allah [if God will], this semester will be at least as successful as the last one.

Advertisement...
For those who are interested there is a possibility to purchase a copy of The Noble Qur'an (Arabic text and a very good English translation by Dr. Thomas B. Irving in a good looking print) for only $10. Those who need the Qur'an and cannot afford it, can received it as a free gift. If you are interested, please contact Alex Perjéssy (x3983).

Upcoming Events...
There are two major events which we are planning for this Winter Term. Firstly, on Tuesday, January 30, our Society, together with the Religion Department will co-sponsor a lecture by an honoured speaker Suleyman Nyang who is going to talk about the Challenges Facing Muslims in the United States at 4:15 in Munroe Lecture Hall. After the lecture, there will be a related dinner discussion at 7 Franklin Street (Cynthia Atherton's house). This will be followed by another lecture and slide-presentation by Hasan-Uddin Khan from MIT on the Mosques in North America: Issues of Muslim Identity at 7:15 in Warner Hemicycle.

The second major event will be the Eid Dinner at the end of the month of Ramadan, which should be a cultural and informative as much as a gastronomical event. Everybody is welcome to contribute ideas to make this a festive event of the year.

Apart from these two events, the Society will try to make the best possible meal arrangements for the Muslim members who are planning to fast during the month of Ramadan. Therefore, those interested please contact Fauzia Rehman (x6366) before Tuesday, January 16!!! If we have a reasonable number of people, we can also arrange for occasional Taraweeh prayers.

(continued from p.1)
On the Meaning of Ramadan...

Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting...
(2:185)

As God told us in His Book, Ramadan is a very special month since it was then that the Noble Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad for the first time. This is the reason this month of the Islamic calendar should be spent with special solemnity and should possess the most intensive spiritual charge. The fasting that was ordered by God for this very period is to help the Believers break away from the usual materialistic life and worldly rush; from dawn to dusk, Muslims are ordered to refrain from any consumption of food or drinks and from all sexual pleasures, fighting and quarrels. Instead, all believing men and women should spend their time, more than usual, in prayers and contemplation of God.

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.
(2:183)

The significance of the fasting in Ramadan also consists of making everybody realize the hardship and hunger of the indigent in our world and evoke the sentiment of compassion. The month of Ramadan should be the time for more alms-giving and for sharing.

(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will - it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.
(2:184)