Wednesday, April 22, 2020

RAMADAN 2020: Locked down. Looking to heavens. Fibering up!

"Allah is with those who restrain themselves." ~(Sura 16.128 [The Bee])


Ramadan Mubarak! Which means "Blessed Ramadan," to our fellow Muslims, a holy month of fasting, introspection, and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam. It is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. This is the time for the Muslim faithful to once again pause and focus on prayer and fasting --  two of the five pillars of Islam (the other three being faith, charity, and the pilgrimage to Mecca). Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset.


Ramadan is celebrated with a three-day festival known as Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam’s major holidays. Ramadan always falls on the ninth month of the 12-month Islamic calendar, and Ramadan 2020 begins at sunset on Thursday, April 23, and ends on Saturday, May 23.

But with the whole world in the grips of Covid-19 and most countries in lock-down or on stay-home quarantine orders, the 2020 Ramadan scales especially highly on isolation and spirituality.  As travel both international and local ground to a halt... hearts, and souls turn massively to the Almighty for protection and comfort.  For salvation.  For an end to the pandemic.

Prayer and fasting during Ramadan commemorate the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel.  These spiritual activities cleanse the soul and body of impurities and restore the heart to Allah.  So much is the importance of prayer and fasting, that one prepares for it days ahead, to be fit for the holy observances.  

One important preparation is the quality of suhoor food.  Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal that one eats, before fasting for the day. Suhoor food must be high in fiber and protein to provide long-lasting energy throughout the fast.  Because of this, eggs, oatmeal, and fruits are some of the classic, favorite foods for suhoor.


Because oatmeal is rich in carbohydrates and protein, it causes the body to feel satiated longer and prevents hunger attacks.  Oatmeal is also a good source of vitamins and minerals that the body needs especially during fasting.  A good suhoor meal will always include oats, in all its forms and recipes, in the diet. Oats are high in arganine, an amino acid that keeps our body's immune system functioning.
Australia Harvest Oatmeal offers Instant Oats, Quick-Cooking Oats, Whole Rolled Oats and Oat Bran in its product assortment. With Australia Harvest Oatmeal, one can be nourished by suhoor daily during Ramadan, in the many ways to enjoy oats as hot oatmeal porridge as overnight oats as oat bran pancake or as wholesome muesli.


Running out of oats at home? You can still get your favorite Australia Harvest Oats at the following groceries near you. Australia Harvest Oatmeal products are available in all the leading supermarkets nationwide.  

It is exclusively distributed by Ideal Macaroni & Spaghetti Factory, Inc.  For product inquiries, please call (02) 8282-8282 or 8282-2222, or contact 0925-803-4179.  Or Like Australia Harvest Oatmeal on FACEBOOK.

Have a hearty and healthy Suhoor to our Muslim Friends while fasting this beginning of the Ramadan Season.

Kul 'am wa enta bi-khair
May every year find you in good health



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