ancient persia, modern iraniran’s most predominant pre-islamic faith was zoroastrianism, a creed...

Modern day Iran, OPEC’s second biggest oil producer, exists

in a nervous neighbourhood. The former Soviet republics

of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are to the north, whilst

Afghanistan and Pakistan are to the east. Iraq and Turkey are to the

west. Since 1979, and the deposing of the pro-west Shah Reza Pahlavi

by the exiled cleric, Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran has become the world’s

largest theocracy. As an ‘Islamic Republic’, Iran’s post-revolution support

for Islamic and other movements caused tensions in western capitals.

In 1995 the US instituted sanctions against Iran, already battered by a

sapping border conflict with Saddam Hussain and Iraq [1980-88] that

cost over a million lives.

RELATIONS WITH THE WEST

Relations with the west warmed slightly with the presidency of

Mohammed Khatami in 1997. They chilled with Mahmoud Ahmedinejad

[2005-13] when he vowed to continue Iran’s nuclear programme –

something red-flagged by Israel, itself a nuclear power, concerned by

Iran’s anti-Zionist policies and its support for Hezbollah.

Hassan Rouhani became president in 2013, and President Barak

Obama’s conciliatory telephone call to him – in response to Rouhani’s

more appeasing diplomacy – broke the ice and probably thwarted

Israel’s ambitions to bomb Tehran.

The 1979 revolution was prompted by outrage at the corruption of

the Shah’s regime. Since the revolution, Iran’s clerics have been the

supreme constitutional brokers. Shi’ism [or Twelverism] is the official

state religion with Jewish and Sunni minorities accorded recognition.

Iran’s political leadership is answerable to the clerical Supreme Leader

in a syncretism of absolute theocracy and qualified democracy. Iran has

a network of co-opted and elected institutions such as the Supreme

Leader, the President and the parliament, the Assembly of Experts, the

Guardian Council, the Judiciary and the Expediency Council.

However, the sum of Iran is so much more than its politics of religious

conservatism and its more liberal socio-economic aspirations. Iran – a

derivative of the word ‘aryan’ or ‘noble’ – boasts layers of Mesopotamian

civilisation that date back thousands of years. Situated between the

Gulf and the Caspian Sea, Iran is not Asiatic, and nor is it Arabic.

Iran is Persian, and it is through this Persian lens that Islam’s development

and culture come into focus. As the Orientalist, Bernard Lewis, once

observed, ‘Iran was indeed Islamicised, but it was never Arabicised.’

Certainly, it is largely through the Persians that Islam became a major

contributor to the arts, engineering, science, astronomy, music and

poetry from the 7th century onwards. It was Persian Sunnism, and not

its Arab version, that eventually arrived at the walls of China.

SONS OF PERSIA

The sons of Persia, and their contributions, are too many to mention.

There is Salman al-Farsi [Prophetic companion], Abu Hanifah [theologian],

Imam Hanbal [theologian], Ibn Sina [medicine], Al-Ghazali [polymath],

Jalal ud-Din Rumi [poetry], Sayyid Abd ul-Qadir Jilani [Sufism] and Omar

Khayyam [astronomy].

Then there is Ibn Hayyan [chemistry], Al-Khawarizmi [algorithms], Al-

Tabarani [theologian], Al-Tabari [historian], Al-Razi [physician], Al-Biruni

[geography], Al-Farabi [musicologist], Al-Khusraw [traveller], Al-Tusi

[theologian] and Sibawaih [the father of Arabic grammar]. These are

just some of the Islamic luminaries who had Persian origins. As Ibn

Khaldun wrote in his famous Muqaddimah: ‘It is a remarkable fact that,

with few exceptions, most Muslim scholars in the intellectual sciences

have been non-Arabs…thus the truth of the Hadith becomes apparent

Ancient Persia, Modern Iran

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Concept, Research and Editing: Shafiq Morton

Admin and Production: Sumaya Sonday

Salah Times: Muslim Judicial Council, Cape Town

Crescent Data: Johannesburg Planetarium and Faldi Davids COS

DTP: Allegro Design Studio, Photographs: Shutterstock.com

Note: Lunar phases are calculated and Wembley cannot be held

responsible for any changes that might occur.

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The Islamic Republic of Iran

Population: 72 million.

Resources: Oil, gas, coal, minerals, carpets, agriculture.

Area: 1, 636,000 sq kms.

Capital: Tehran.

Per capita GDP: $12,800 US per annum.

Religions: Shi’ah (89%), Sunni (9%), Jewish, Christian (2%).

Currency: Riyal (+/- R26 Iranian to $1 US).

“if learning were suspended in the highest parts of heavens, the Persians

would grab it…”’

With archaeological findings going back 100, 000 years, Persia had

advanced cities 10,000 years ago. Persia’s ‘modern’ history begins in 600

BCE with the Achaemenid period. This was followed by the Seleucians [306

BCE], the Parthians [247 BCE-224 CE] and the Sassanians [224 CE-651 CE].

Persia, which became an empire from Africa to Afghanistan, enjoyed many

famous rulers, and came under the influence of Alexander the Great (Dhul

Qarnain) and the Greeks in 306 BCE.

CYRUS THE GREAT

One of the most celebrated leaders was Cyrus II, known as Cyrus the

Great, who on his coronation in 580 BCE, read out a human rights charter

preventing slavery. The full text, inscribed on a clay tablet, was unearthed

by archaeologists in Iraq in the 1800s. The Persian rulers also built great

cities, especially Persepolis, and pre-dated the Suez Canal by over 4,000

years, when Darius I began to construct a canal from the Nile River to

the Red Sea. That same canal was used by Cleopatra’s barges in 48 BCE.

Iran’s most predominant pre-Islamic faith was Zoroastrianism, a creed

introduced by Zoroaster in the 6th century BCE. Essentially monotheistic

in nature, it believes in an uncreated ‘Lord of Wisdom’, the Ahura Mazda,

and the forces of good and evil, the role of archangels and heaven and

hell. Fire is seen as the original, divine light. It was this fire, which had

burnt unceasingly for thousands of years, that was extinguished on the

birth of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet would later send a letter

to the Emperor, Khusraw, who would tear it up in anger. It was during

the ‘Abbasid era that Islam established itself in the region. The Persian

empire was toppled in 651 CE and the ‘Abbasids moved their capital from

Damascus to Baghdad. Many Islamic dynasties came and went – from the

Buyids to the Ghaznavids, to the Seljuqs to the Timurids and to the Safavids

and the Zand. And whilst the Shi’ite Buyids had established themselves

in Qom in the 10th century, Iran was predominantly Sunni until the 16th

century.

THE SAFAVIDS

It was the Safavid ruler, Shah Ismail, who declared that Shi’ism would be

the official faith of his subjects. In 1514 the Ottomans, led by Selim I,

waged war against the Safavids whose territory included Afghanistan and

Anatolia. The conflict was resolved in 1639 when the two rivals established

borders that are almost the same shared by Iran and Iraq today. Safavid rule

ended when the Afsharid strongman, Nader Shah, took power in 1736.

He attacked the Mughals, sacking Delhi. After his assassination in 1747,

Shah’s dynasty was replaced by the Zands.

The Qajars, who ruled from 1796 to 1925, had to face Russia, England and

France playing ‘The Great Game’ when oil was discovered in 1908. In 1925

the Pahlavi regime seized power and began to modernise the economy and

secularise Iranian society. Destined to be victim to the new world powers

after World War 2, Iran was buffeted by a myriad of conflicting local forces

and foreign interests. In 1979 the Shah, the last of the Persian dynastic

leaders, was deposed in a popular uprising that shook the world.

The arabesque stained glass in the Nasir ul-Mulk masjid in the historical city of Shiraz creates a dazzling kaleidoscope on the carpet in the main prayer hall as the afternoon sun beams through the windows.

Lunar Oct Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 26 Sun 4:31 5:52 6:12 12:30 12:33 16:11 17:14 19:11 20:24

2 27 Mon 4:29 5:51 6:11 12:30 12:33 16:11 17:14 19:12 20:25

3 28 Tues 4:28 5:50 6:10 12:30 12:33 16:11 17:15 19:13 20:26

4 29 Wed 4:27 5:49 6:09 12:30 12:33 16:11 17:15 19:14 20:28

5 30 Thurs 4:25 5:48 6:08 12:30 12:33 16:11 17:16 19:15 20:29

6 31 Fri 4:24 5:47 6:07 12:30 12:33 16:12 17:16 19:16 20:30

7 Nov Sat 4:23 5:46 6:06 12:30 12:33 16:12 17:17 19:17 20:31

8 2 Sun 4:22 5:45 6:05 12:30 12:33 16:12 17:17 19:18 20:32

9 3 Mon 4:20 5:44 6:04 12:30 12:33 16:12 17:18 19:18 20:33

10 4 Tues 4:19 5:43 6:03 12:30 12:33 16:12 17:18 19:19 20:35

11 5 Wed 4:18 5:42 6:02 12:30 12:33 16:12 17:19 19:20 20:36

12 6 Thur 4:17 5:41 6:01 12:30 12:33 16:13 17:19 19:21 20:37

13 7 Fri 4:16 5:40 6:00 12:30 12:33 16:13 17:20 19:22 20:38

14 8 Sat 4:15 5:40 6:00 12:30 12:33 16:13 17:20 19:23 20:39

15 9 Sun 4:13 5:39 5:59 12:30 12:33 16:13 17:21 19:24 20:41

16 10 Mon 4:12 5:38 5:58 12:30 12:33 16:14 17:21 19:25 20:42

17 11 Tues 4:11 5:37 5:57 12:30 12:33 16:14 17:22 19:26 20:43

18 12 Wed 4:10 5:36 5:56 12:30 12:33 16:14 17:22 19:27 20:44

19 13 Thurs 4:09 5:36 5:56 12:30 12:33 16:14 17:23 19:28 20:45

20 14 Fri 4:08 5:35 5:55 12:31 12:34 16:14 17:24 19:29 20:47

21 15 Sat 4:07 5:34 5:54 12:31 12:34 16:15 17:24 19:30 20:48

22 16 Sun 4:07 5:34 5:54 12:31 12:34 16:15 17:25 19:31 20:49

23 17 Mon 4:06 5:33 5:53 12:31 12:34 16:15 17:25 19:32 20:50

24 18 Tues 4:05 5:33 5:53 12:31 12:34 16:16 17:26 19:33 20:52

25 19 Wed 4:04 5:32 5:52 12:31 12:34 16:16 17:26 19:34 20:53

26 20 Thurs 4:03 5:32 5:52 12:32 12:35 16:16 17:27 19:35 20:54

27 21 Fri 4:02 5:31 5:51 12:32 12:35 16:16 17:28 19:36 20:55

28 22 Sat 4:02 5:31 5:51 12:32 12:35 16:17 17:28 19:37 20:57

29 23 Sun 4:01 5:30 5:50 12:32 12:35 16:17 17:29 19:38 20:58

SUNSET SUNSET SUNRISE

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Muharram 1436

Significance of Muharram

Dates to Remember New Moon REFLECTION

November /December 2014

“Muharram” lexically means “forbidden”, and is one of the four Holy Months during which fighting has been forbidden by Allah.

1 Muharram – Islamic New Year 1436.

9 Muharram – Lailut ul-‘Ashura (after Maghrib).

10 Muharram – Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (ra); escape of Bani Isra’il with Nabi Musa (as) from Fir ’aun in Egypt; the day which Adam (as) was created; the day Nabi Nuh’s (as) ark settles; the day when Prophets Musa (as) and ‘Isa (as) were born.

New Moon – 22 November (orbit 379,466 kms from the earth)

Born – 14:32 pm

Age at sunset – 5 hrs (not visible)

Possible sighting – 23 November

Time to sight moon after sunset – 58mins @ 29 hrs (good luminosity)

“Love is simply Creation’s greatest joy.”

Hafez

Muharram1436Oct / Nov 2014

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The northern city of Qom is another ancient centre. It is a City of theology and is renowned for its bookshops. It is also famous for a brittle toffee, ‘souhan’, which is sold in over 2,000 outlets.

Lunar Nov Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 24 Mon 4:00 5:30 5:50 12:33 12:36 16:17 17:29 19:38 20:59

2 25 Tues 4:00 5:30 5:50 12:33 12:36 16:18 17:30 19:39 21:00

3 26 Wed 3:59 5:29 5:49 12:33 12:36 16:18 17:31 19:40 21:01

4 27 Thurs 3:58 5:29 5:49 12:34 12:37 16:18 17:31 19:41 21:02

5 28 Fri 3:58 5:29 5:49 12:34 12:37 16:19 17:32 19:42 21:04

6 29 Sat 3:57 5:29 5:49 12:34 12:37 16:19 17:32 19:43 21:05

7 30 Sun 3:57 5:28 5:48 12:35 12:38 16:20 17:33 19:44 21:06

8 Dec Mon 3:57 5:28 5:48 12:35 12:38 16:20 17:34 19:45 21:07

9 2 Tues 3:56 5:28 5:48 12:35 12:38 16:20 17:34 19:46 21:08

10 3 Wed 3:56 5:28 5:48 12:36 12:39 16:21 17:35 19:47 21:09

11 4 Thurs 3:56 5:28 5:48 12:36 12:39 16:21 17:35 19:48 21:10

12 5 Fri 3:55 5:28 5:48 12:37 12:40 16:22 17:36 19:48 21:11

13 6 Sat 3:55 5:28 5:48 12:37 12:40 16:22 17:37 19:49 21:12

14 7 Sun 3:55 5:28 5:48 12:37 12:40 16:22 17:37 19:50 21:13

15 8 Mon 3:55 5:28 5:48 12:38 12:41 16:23 17:38 19:51 21:14

16 9 Tues 3:55 5:28 5:48 12:38 12:41 16:23 17:38 19:52 21:15

17 10 Wed 3:55 5:28 5:48 12:39 12:42 16:24 17:39 19:52 21:16

18 11 Thurs 3:55 5:28 5:48 12:39 12:42 16:24 17:39 19:53 21:17

19 12 Fri 3:55 5:29 5:49 12:40 12:43 16:25 17:40 19:54 21:18

20 13 Sat 3:55 5:29 5:49 12:40 12:43 16:25 17:41 19:55 21:19

21 14 Sun 3:55 5:29 5:49 12:41 12:44 16:26 17:41 19:55 21:19

22 15 Mon 3:55 5:29 5:49 12:41 12:44 16:26 17:42 19:56 21:20

23 16 Tues 3:56 5:30 5:50 12:42 12:45 16:27 17:42 19:57 21:21

24 17 Wed 3:56 5:30 5:50 12:42 12:45 16:27 17:43 19:57 21:22

25 18 Thurs 3:56 5:30 5:50 12:43 12:46 16:28 17:43 19:58 21:22

26 19 Fri 3:57 5:31 5:51 12:43 12:46 16:28 17:44 19:58 21:23

27 20 Sat 3:57 5:31 5:51 12:44 12:47 16:29 17:44 19:59 21:23

28 21 Sun 3:57 5:32 5:52 12:44 12:47 16:29 17:45 19:59 21:24

29 22 Mon 3:58 5:32 5:52 12:45 12:48 16:30 17:45 20:00 21:25

30 23 Tues 3:58 5:33 5:53 12:45 12:48 16:30 17:46 20:00 21:25







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Safar 1436Significance of Safar


November /December 2014

“Safar” means “empty” or “yellow”, and is the month when the Qisas al-Anbiya’ says great tribulations befell the Prophets, may Allah bless them all.

1 Safar – Adam (as) was sent to earth with Hawwa; Habil (son of Adam) was murdered by Kabil; Ibrahim (as) was put into Nimrud’s fire; Ayyub (as) was afflicted with disease.

20 Safar – Passing of Imam Hasan (ra), grandson of the Prophet (SAW.

27 Safar – Prophet’s (SAW) Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah with Sayyidina Abu Bakr, father of A’isha, begins in 622 CE; also passing away of Salahuddin Ayyubi, liberator of Jerusalem in 1187 CE.

New Moon – 22 December (orbit 367,309 kms from the earth)

Born – 3:36 am

Age at sunset – 16 hrs @ 17 mins lag (not visible)

Possible sighting – 23 December

Time to sight moon after sunset – 69 mins @ 40 hrs (excellent luminosity)

“Great religions are ships. Poets are

lifeboats.” Hafez

Safar1436Nov / Dec 2014

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Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, north-east Iran. Imam Reza (d818 CE) is ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, the grandson of Ja’far ibn Sadiq. Opposite his tomb is that of the ‘Abbasid Caliph, Harun al-Rashid (d 809 CE)

Lunar Dec Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 24 Wed 3:59 5:33 5:53 12:46 12:49 16:31 17:46 20:01 21:25

2 25 Thurs 4:00 5:34 5:54 12:46 12:49 16:31 17:47 20:01 21:26

3 26 Fri 4:00 5:34 5:54 12:47 12:50 16:32 17:47 20:02 21:26

4 27 Sat 4:01 5:35 5:55 12:47 12:50 16:32 17:48 20:02 21:26

5 28 Sun 4:02 5:36 5:56 12:47 12:50 16:33 17:48 20:02 21:27

6 29 Mon 4:02 5:36 5:56 12:48 12:51 16:33 17:49 20:03 21:27

7 30 Tues 4:03 5:37 5:57 12:48 12:51 16:34 17:49 20:03 21:27

8 31 Wed 4:04 5:38 5:58 12:49 12:52 16:34 17:49 20:03 21:27

9 Jan Thurs 4:05 5:39 5:59 12:50 12:53 16:35 17:50 20:04 21:27

10 2 Fri 4:06 5:39 5:59 12:50 12:53 16:35 17:50 20:04 21:28

11 3 Sat 4:07 5:40 6:00 12:50 12:53 16:36 17:51 20:04 21:28

12 4 Sun 4:08 5:41 6:01 12:51 12:54 16:36 17:51 20:04 21:27

13 5 Mon 4:09 5:42 6:02 12:51 12:54 16:36 17:51 20:04 21:27

14 6 Tues 4:10 5:43 6:03 12:52 12:55 16:37 17:51 20:04 21:27

15 7 Wed 4:11 5:43 6:03 12:52 12:55 16:37 17:52 20:04 21:27

16 8 Thurs 4:12 5:44 6:04 12:53 12:56 16:38 17:52 20:04 21:27

17 9 Fri 4:13 5:45 6:05 12:53 12:56 16:38 17:52 20:04 21:27

18 10 Sat 4:14 5:46 6:06 12:54 12:57 16:38 17:52 20:04 21:26

19 11 Sun 4:15 5:47 6:07 12:54 12:57 16:39 17:53 20:04 21:26

20 12 Mon 4:16 5:48 6:08 12:54 12:57 16:39 17:53 20:04 21:26

21 13 Tues 4:18 5:49 6:09 12:55 12:58 16:40 17:53 20:04 21:25

22 14 Wed 4:19 5:50 6:10 12:55 12:58 16:40 17:53 20:04 21:25

23 15 Thurs 4:20 5:51 6:11 12:55 12:58 16:40 17:53 20:03 21:25

24 16 Fri 4:21 5:52 6:12 12:56 12:59 16:41 17:53 20:03 21:24

25 17 Sat 4:22 5:53 6:13 12:56 12:59 16:41 17:53 20:03 21:24

26 18 Sun 4:24 5:53 6:13 12:56 12:59 16:41 17:53 20:02 21:23

27 19 Mon 4:25 5:54 6:14 12:57 13:00 16:41 17:53 20:02 21:22

28 20 Tues 4:26 5:55 6:15 12:57 13:00 16:42 17:53 20:02 21:22

29 21 Wed 4:28 5:56 6:16 12:57 13:00 16:42 17:53 20:01 21:21







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Rabbil Awwal 1436

Significance of Rabbil Awwal


December 2014 /January 2015

The phrase means “the first spring”, and in this month is the blessed birth date of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

8 Rabbil Awwal – Prophet Muhammad (SAW) arrives in Quba on Hijrah in 622 CE.

11 Rabbil Awwal – Milad un-Nabi (after Maghrib), traditional celebration of the Prophet’s birthday.

12 Rabbil Awwal – Birthday of the Prophet (SAW) and his mother, Aminah, sees a great light entering the world; Prophet finally arrives in Madinah after staying in Quba with Ayyub Ansari (ra) for three days.

New Moon – 20 January (orbit 360,704 kms from the earth, third closest orbit of the year)

Born – 15:14 pm

Age at sunset – 4 hrs 8 mins (not visible)

Possible sighting – 21 January

Time to sight moon after sunset – 34 mins @ 29 hrs (fair luminosity)

“Fear is the cheapest room in the house.”

Hafez

Rabbil Awwal1436

Dec 2014 / Jan 2015

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Iran produces 5 million square metres of hand-woven Persian carpets annually. It is a craft that has graced the regions souks for over 2,000 years. The oldest known Persian carpet, the Pazyryk, dates back to 500 BCE.

Lunar Jan Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 22 Thurs 4:29 5:57 6:17 12:58 13:01 16:42 17:53 20:01 21:20

2 23 Fri 4:30 5:58 6:18 12:58 13:01 16:42 17:53 20:00 21:20

3 24 Sat 4:31 5:59 6:19 12:58 13:01 16:43 17:53 20:00 21:19

4 25 Sun 4:33 6:00 6:20 12:58 13:01 16:43 17:53 19:59 21:18

5 26 Mon 4:34 6:01 6:21 12:59 13:02 16:43 17:53 19:59 21:17

6 27 Tues 4:35 6:02 6:22 12:59 13:02 16:43 17:52 19:58 21:16

7 28 Wed 4:37 6:03 6:23 12:59 13:02 16:43 17:52 19:58 21:16

8 29 Thurs 4:38 6:04 6:24 12:59 13:02 16:43 17:52 19:57 21:15

9 30 Fri 4:39 6:05 6:25 12:59 13:02 16:43 17:52 19:56 21:14

10 31 Sat 4:41 6:06 6:26 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:51 19:56 21:13

11 Feb Sun 4:42 6:07 6:27 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:51 19:55 21:12

12 2 Mon 4:43 6:08 6:28 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:51 19:54 21:11

13 3 Tues 4:44 6:09 6:29 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:50 19:53 21:10

14 4 Wed 4:46 6:10 6:30 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:50 19:53 21:09

15 5 Thurs 4:47 6:11 6:31 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:50 19:52 21:08

16 6 Fri 4:48 6:12 6:32 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:49 19:51 21:06

17 7 Sat 4:50 6:13 6:33 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:49 19:50 21:05

18 8 Sun 4:51 6:14 6:34 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:48 19:49 21:04

19 9 Mon 4:52 6:15 6:35 13:00 13:03 16:43 17:48 19:48 21:03

20 10 Tues 4:53 6:16 6:36 13:00 13:03 16:42 17:47 19:47 21:02

21 11 Wed 4:55 6:17 6:37 13:00 13:03 16:42 17:47 19:46 21:01

22 12 Thurs 4:56 6:18 6:38 13:00 13:03 16:42 17:46 19:45 20:59

23 13 Fri 4:57 6:19 6:39 13:00 13:03 16:42 17:46 19:44 20:58

24 14 Sat 4:58 6:20 6:40 13:00 13:03 16:42 17:45 19:43 20:57

25 15 Sun 5:00 6:21 6:41 13:00 13:03 16:41 17:44 19:42 20:56

26 16 Mon 5:01 6:22 6:42 13:00 13:03 16:41 17:44 19:41 20:54

27 17 Tues 5:02 6:23 6:43 13:00 13:03 16:41 17:43 19:40 20:53

28 18 Wed 5:03 6:24 6:44 13:00 13:03 16:40 17:42 19:39 20:52

29 19 Thur 5:04 6:25 6:45 13:00 13:03 16:40 17:42 19:38 20:50

30 20 Fri 5:05 6:26 6:46 13:00 13:03 16:39 17:41 19:37 20:49







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Rabbi ul-Thani 1436

Significance of Rabbi ul-Thani


February /March 2015

The phrase means “the second spring”, or the second month of spring. It is also called Rabi ul-Akhir.

7 Rabbi ul-Thani – Passing of Imam Malik (ra), the famous Madinah scholar, and father of the Maliki madh-hab or school of legal thought, in 795 CE.

10 Rabbi ul-Thani – Passing of Sayyid Abd ul-Qadir Jilani (ra) in 863 CE. From Prophetic bloodline, he was a spiritual adept and author of “Futuh al-Ghaib” (the Openings of the Unseen).

12 Rabbi ul-Thani – Passing of Imam Ibn Hanbal (ra), father of the Hanbali madh-hab or legal school of thought, in 855 CE. He was a student of Imam Shafi’i (ra)..

New Moon – February 19 (orbit 357,171 kms from the earth, closest orbit of the year)

Born – 1: 47 pm

Age at sunset – 17.8 hrs @ 14 mins lag (not visible) Possible sighting – 20 February


“What we speak becomes the house

we live in.” Hafez

Rabbi-Ul-Thani1436

Jan / Feb 2015

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Gardens at the Jameh, or Imam, Mosque in Isfahan. It is one of Iran’s oldest mosques and is regarded as a condensed history of Persian architecture due to its many renovations over the centuries

Lunar Feb Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 21 Sat 5:07 6:27 6:47 13:00 13:03 16:39 17:40 19:36 20:48

2 22 Sun 5:08 6:28 6:48 13:00 13:03 16:39 17:39 19:35 20:46

3 23 Mon 5:09 6:28 6:48 13:00 13:03 16:38 17:39 19:34 20:45

4 24 Tues 5:10 6:29 6:49 12:59 13:02 16:38 17:38 19:32 20:44

5 25 Wed 5:11 6:30 6:50 12:59 13:02 16:37 17:37 19:31 20:42

6 26 Thurs 5:12 6:31 6:51 12:59 13:02 16:37 17:36 19:30 20:41

7 27 Fri 5:13 6:32 6:52 12:59 13:02 16:36 17:35 19:29 20:40

8 28 Sat 5:14 6:33 6:53 12:59 13:02 16:36 17:35 19:28 20:38

9 March Sun 5:15 6:34 6:54 12:59 13:02 16:35 17:34 19:26 20:37

10 2 Mon 5:16 6:35 6:55 12:58 13:01 16:34 17:33 19:25 20:35

11 3 Tues 5:17 6:35 6:55 12:58 13:01 16:34 17:32 19:24 20:34

12 4 Wed 5:18 6:36 6:56 12:58 13:01 16:33 17:31 19:23 20:32

13 5 Thurs 5:19 6:37 6:57 12:58 13:01 16:33 17:30 19:21 20:31

14 6 Fri 5:20 6:38 6:58 12:58 13:01 16:32 17:29 19:20 20:30

15 7 Sat 5:21 6:39 6:59 12:57 13:00 16:31 17:28 19:19 20:28

16 8 Sun 5:22 6:40 7:00 12:57 13:00 16:31 17:27 19:17 20:27

17 9 Mon 5:23 6:40 7:00 12:57 13:00 16:30 17:26 19:16 20:25

18 10 Tues 5:24 6:41 7:01 12:57 13:00 16:29 17:25 19:15 20:24

19 11 Wed 5:25 6:42 7:02 12:56 12:59 16:28 17:24 19:14 20:22

20 12 Thurs 5:26 6:43 7:03 12:56 12:59 16:28 17:23 19:12 20:21

21 13 Fri 5:27 6:44 7:04 12:56 12:59 16:27 17:22 19:11 20:20

22 14 Sat 5:28 6:44 7:04 12:55 12:58 16:26 17:21 19:10 20:18

23 15 Sun 5:29 6:45 7:05 12:55 12:58 16:25 17:20 19:08 20:17

24 16 Mon 5:30 6:46 7:06 12:55 12:58 16:25 17:19 19:07 20:15

25 17 Tues 5:30 6:47 7:07 12:55 12:58 16:24 17:18 19:05 20:14

26 18 Wed 5:31 6:48 7:08 12:54 12:57 16:23 17:17 19:04 20:12

27 19 Thurs 5:32 6:48 7:08 12:54 12:57 16:22 17:15 19:03 20:11

28 20 Fri 5:33 6:49 7:09 12:54 12:57 16:21 17:14 19:01 20:10

29 21 Sat 5:34 6:50 7:10 12:53 12:56 16:20 17:13 19:00 20:08







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16 mins earlier

Jamadil Ula 1436

Significance of Jamadil Ula


February /March 2015

The phrase means “the first freeze”, it is also known as “Jamad ul-Awwal”.

14 Jamadil Ula – Death of Imam al-Ghazali (ra), known as Hujjat ul-Islam (the Proof of Islam) and author of the famous “Ihya ‘Ulum ad-Din” (the Revival of the Religious Sciences) 1111 CE.

22 Jamadil Ula – Death of Sayyidina Abu Bakr (ra), friend of the Prophet (SAW), his father-in-law and the first Caliph. He hid with the Prophet (SAW) from the Quraish on their escape to Madinah in 622 CE. Sayyidina Abu Bakr passed away in 634 CE.

New Moon – 20 March

(orbit 358,352 kms from the

earth – second closest orbit

of the year)

Born – 11:36 hrs

Age at sunset – 7.4 hrs @

5 mins (not visible)

Possible sighting – 21

March

Time to sight moon after sunset – 48 mins @ 31 hrs

(good luminosity)

“An awakened heart is a sky that pours love.”

Hafez

Jamadil Ula1436

Feb / March 2015

Assorted Biscuits - A Wembley ProductServing Suggestion


Persepolis, set out like a modern city where Xerxes ruled in the 5th century BCE. Alexander the Great (Dhul Qarnain in the Qur ’an) conquered it in 330 BCE. It took 5,000 camels and 20,000 mules to carry away its treasures.

Lunar March Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 22 Sun 5:35 6:51 7:10 12:53 12:56 16:20 17:12 18:59 20:07

2 23 Mon 5:36 6:51 7:11 12:53 12:56 16:19 17:11 18:57 20:05

3 24 Tues 5:36 6:52 7:12 12:53 12:56 16:18 17:10 18:56 20:04

4 25 Wed 5:37 6:53 7:13 12:52 12:55 16:17 17:09 18:55 20:03

5 26 Thurs 5:38 6:54 7:14 12:52 12:55 16:16 17:08 18:53 20:01

6 27 Fri 5:39 6:54 7:14 12:52 12:55 16:15 17:06 18:52 20:00

7 28 Sat 5:39 6:55 7:15 12:51 12:54 16:14 17:05 18:51 19:58

8 29 Sun 5:40 6:56 7:16 12:51 12:54 16:13 17:04 18:49 19:57

9 30 Mon 5:41 6:57 7:17 12:51 12:54 16:12 17:03 18:48 19:56

10 31 Tues 5:42 6:57 7:17 12:50 12:53 16:11 17:02 18:46 19:54

11 April Wed 5:43 6:58 7:18 12:50 12:53 16:11 17:01 18:45 19:53

12 2 Thurs 5:43 6:59 7:19 12:50 12:53 16:10 16:59 18:44 19:52

13 3 Fri 5:44 7:00 7:20 12:50 12:53 16:09 16:58 18:42 19:50

14 4 Sat 5:45 7:00 7:20 12:49 12:52 16:08 16:57 18:41 19:49

15 5 Sun 5:45 7:01 7:21 12:49 12:52 16:07 16:56 18:40 19:48

16 6 Mon 5:46 7:02 7:22 12:49 12:52 16:06 16:55 18:38 19:46

17 7 Tues 5:47 7:03 7:23 12:48 12:51 16:05 16:54 18:37 19:45

18 8 Wed 5:48 7:03 7:23 12:48 12:51 16:04 16:52 18:36 19:44

19 9 Thurs 5:48 7:04 7:24 12:48 12:51 16:03 16:51 18:35 19:42

20 10 Fri 5:49 7:05 7:25 12:48 12:51 16:02 16:50 18:33 19:41

21 11 Sat 5:50 7:06 7:26 12:47 12:50 16:01 16:49 18:32 19:40

22 12 Sun 5:50 7:06 7:26 12:47 12:50 16:00 16:48 18:31 19:39

23 13 Mon 5:51 7:07 7:27 12:47 12:50 15:59 16:47 18:29 19:38

24 14 Tues 5:52 7:08 7:28 12:47 12:50 15:58 16:46 18:28 19:36

25 15 Wed 5:53 7:09 7:29 12:46 12:49 15:57 16:44 18:27 19:35

26 16 Thurs 5:53 7:09 7:29 12:46 12:49 15:56 16:43 18:26 19:34

27 17 Fri 5:54 7:10 7:30 12:46 12:49 15:55 16:42 18:25 19:33

28 18 Sat 5:55 7:11 7:31 12:46 12:49 15:55 16:41 18:23 19:32

29 19 Sun 5:55 7:12 7:32 12:45 12:48 15:54 16:40 18:22 19:31

SUNSET SUNRISE SUNSET SUNRISE






16 mins earlier


16 mins earlier

Jamadi Thani 1436

Significance of Jamadi Thani


March /April 2015

The phrase means “the second freeze”, and the month is also known as “Jamad ul-Akhir ”.

3 Jamadi Thani – Passing of Prophet’s (SAW) beloved daughter Fatimah (ra), mother of Hussain and Hasan and wife of Sayyidina ‘Ali (ra), 649 CE.

20 Jamadi Thani – Birth of Prophet’s (SAW) daughter, Fatimah , in 619 CE in Makkah to Sayyidah Khadijah (ra).

Some Sunnah Fasts – Mondays & Thursdays as per the Prophet’s (SAW) practice. Any days in Rajab & Sha’ban. 6 days of Shawwal. 9 & 10 Muharram.

New Moon – 18 April (orbit 362,931 kms from the earth)

Born – 20 57 hrs

Age at sunset – 0 hrsPossible sighting – 19 or 20 April

Time to sight moon after sunset – 19 April 43 mins @ 21.4 hrs (weak to fair luminosity) 20 April 92 mins @ 45 hrs (good luminosity)

“Every child has known God.”

Hafez

Jamadi Thani1436

March / Apr 2015

Leg Of Lamb - A Wembley ProductServing Suggestion


Gardens of the Forty Columns Palace, or Chehel Soutun, at Isfahan. It is said:”Visit Isfahan, and you’ve visited half the world”. The pavilion has twenty columns, the other twenty reflect in its fountain in summer.

Lunar April Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 20 Mon 5:56 7:12 7:32 12:45 12:48 15:53 16:39 18:21 19:29

2 21 Tues 5:57 7:13 7:33 12:45 12:48 15:52 16:38 18:20 19:28

3 22 Wed 5:57 7:14 7:34 12:45 12:48 15:51 16:37 18:19 19:27

4 23 Thurs 5:58 7:15 7:35 12:45 12:48 15:50 16:36 18:17 19:26

5 24 Fri 5:59 7:15 7:35 12:44 12:47 15:49 16:35 18:16 19:25

6 25 Sat 5:59 7:16 7:36 12:44 12:47 15:48 16:33 18:15 19:24

7 26 Sun 6:00 7:17 7:37 12:44 12:47 15:47 16:32 18:14 19:23

8 27 Mon 6:01 7:18 7:38 12:44 12:47 15:47 16:31 18:13 19:22

9 28 Tues 6:01 7:18 7:38 12:44 12:47 15:46 16:30 18:12 19:21

10 29 Wed 6:02 7:19 7:39 12:44 12:47 15:45 16:29 18:11 19:20

11 30 Thurs 6:03 7:20 7:40 12:43 12:46 15:44 16:28 18:10 19:19

12 May Fri 6:03 7:21 7:41 12:43 12:46 15:43 16:28 18:09 19:18

13 2 Sat 6:04 7:21 7:41 12:43 12:46 15:42 16:27 18:08 19:18

14 3 Sun 6:05 7:22 7:42 12:43 12:46 15:42 16:26 18:07 19:17

15 4 Mon 6:05 7:23 7:43 12:43 12:46 15:41 16:25 18:06 19:16

16 5 Tues 6:06 7:24 7:44 12:43 12:46 15:40 16:24 18:05 19:15

17 6 Wed 6:06 7:24 7:44 12:43 12:46 15:39 16:23 18:04 19:14

18 7 Thurs 6:07 7:25 7:45 12:43 12:46 15:39 16:22 18:03 19:13

19 8 Fri 6:08 7:26 7:46 12:43 12:46 15:38 16:21 18:02 19:13

20 9 Sat 6:08 7:27 7:47 12:43 12:46 15:37 16:20 18:01 19:12

21 10 Sun 6:09 7:27 7:47 12:43 12:46 15:37 16:20 18:01 19:11

22 11 Mon 6:10 7:28 7:48 12:42 12:45 15:36 16:19 18:00 19:10

23 12 Tues 6:10 7:29 7:49 12:42 12:45 15:35 16:18 17:59 19:10

24 13 Wed 6:11 7:30 7:50 12:42 12:45 15:35 16:17 17:58 19:09

25 14 Thurs 6:11 7:30 7:50 12:42 12:45 15:34 16:17 17:57 19:09

26 15 Fri 6:12 7:31 7:51 12:42 12:45 15:33 16:16 17:57 19:08

27 16 Sat 6:13 7:32 7:52 12:42 12:45 15:33 16:15 17:56 19:07

28 17 Sun 6:13 7:33 7:53 12:42 12:45 15:32 16:14 17:55 19:07

29 18 Mon 6:14 7:33 7:53 12:43 12:46 15:32 16:14 17:55 19:06

30 19 Tues 6:14 7:34 7:54 12:43 12:46 15:31 16:13 17:54 19:06







16 mins earlier


16 mins earlier

Rajab 1436Significance of Rajab


April / May 2015

“Rajaba” means “to respect”, a term from which the month – a sacred one during which fighting was forbidden – derives its name.

4 Rajab – Passing of Imam Shafi’i (ra) born in Palestine and descendant of Quraish. Was a student of Abu Hanifah (ra). He is the father of the Shafi’i madh-hab, or school of legal thought. Passed away in 826 CE.

14 Rajab – Passing of Imam Nawawi (ra), an expert on Imam Shafi’i, 1229 CE.

24 Rajab – Passing of Hadith master, Imam Muslim, 883 CE.

27 Rajab – Lailut ul-Mi’raj, the Prophet’s (SAW) Night Journey to Jerusalem, and Ascension to Heaven from the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem revealing the five daily prayers, 621 CE.

New Moon – 18 May (orbit 373,766 kms from the earth)

Born – 6:13 hrs

Age at sunset – 34 mins @ 11.7 hrs (not visible)

Possible sighting – 19 May

Time to sight moon after sunset – 87 mins @ 36 hrs (good luminosity)

“Become the one who lives

with a full moon in each eye.”

Hafez

Rajab1436Apr / May 2015

Strawberry Puffs - A Wembley ProductServing Suggestion


The Alamut Valley where the 11th century Isma’ilis, historically dubbed the “Hashishin” or the “Assassins”, had a castle whose walls were only breached by the Mongols in the 13th century.

Lunar May Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 20 Wed 6:15 7:35 7:55 12:43 12:46 15:31 16:13 17:53 19:05

2 21 Thurs 6:16 7:35 7:55 12:43 12:46 15:30 16:12 17:53 19:05

3 22 Fri 6:16 7:36 7:56 12:43 12:46 15:30 16:11 17:52 19:04

4 23 Sat 6:17 7:37 7:57 12:43 12:46 15:29 16:11 17:52 19:04

5 24 Sun 6:17 7:37 7:57 12:43 12:46 15:29 16:10 17:51 19:03

6 25 Mon 6:18 7:38 7:58 12:43 12:46 15:29 16:10 17:51 19:03

7 26 Tues 6:18 7:39 7:59 12:43 12:46 15:28 16:09 17:50 19:03

8 27 Wed 6:19 7:39 7:59 12:43 12:46 15:28 16:09 17:50 19:02

9 28 Thurs 6:20 7:40 8:00 12:43 12:46 15:28 16:09 17:50 19:02

10 29 Fri 6:20 7:41 8:01 12:43 12:46 15:27 16:08 17:49 19:02

11 30 Sat 6:21 7:41 8:01 12:44 12:47 15:27 16:08 17:49 19:02

12 31 Sun 6:21 7:42 8:02 12:44 12:47 15:27 16:08 17:48 19:01

13 June Mon 6:22 7:43 8:03 12:44 12:47 15:27 16:07 17:48 19:01

14 2 Tues 6:22 7:43 8:03 12:44 12:47 15:26 16:07 17:48 19:01

15 3 Wed 6:23 7:44 8:04 12:44 12:47 15:26 16:07 17:48 19:01

16 4 Thurs 6:23 7:44 8:04 12:44 12:47 15:26 16:07 17:47 19:01

17 5 Fri 6:24 7:45 8:05 12:45 12:48 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:01

18 6 Sat 6:24 7:45 8:05 12:45 12:48 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

19 7 Sun 6:24 7:46 8:06 12:45 12:48 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

20 8 Mon 6:25 7:46 8:06 12:45 12:48 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

21 9 Tues 6:25 7:47 8:07 12:45 12:48 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

22 10 Wed 6:26 7:47 8:07 12:45 12:48 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

23 11 Thurs 6:26 7:48 8:08 12:46 12:49 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

24 12 Fri 6:26 7:48 8:08 12:46 12:49 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

25 13 Sat 6:27 7:49 8:09 12:46 12:49 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

26 14 Sun 6:27 7:49 8:09 12:46 12:49 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

27 15 Mon 6:27 7:49 8:09 12:46 12:49 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:00

28 16 Tues 6:28 7:50 8:10 12:47 12:50 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:01

29 17 Wed 6:28 7:50 8:10 12:47 12:50 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:01







16 mins earlier


16 mins earlier

Sha’ban 1436

Significance of Sha’ban


May /June 2015

“Sha’ban” means “to spread”, and signifies the season when the ancient Arabs would go out in search of water – alternatively, it means the division between the Holy Months of Rajab and Ramadan.

2 Sha’ban – Passing of Abu Hanifah (ra), father of the Hanifi madh-hab, or school of legal thought. Was a student of Imam Malik (ra). Died in Baghdad in 770 CE.

5 Sha’ban – Birth of Imam Hussein (ra), grandson of the Prophet (SAW), 626 CE.

14 Sha’ban – Lailut ul-Bara’, the Night of Destiny (after Maghrib).

15 Sha’ban – the Qiblah changes from Jerusalem to Makkah via Revelation, 624 CE.

25 Sha’ban – in 624 CE fasting is made compulsory in Ramadan.

New Moon – 16 June (orbit 382,606 kms from the earth)

Born – 16:05 hrs

Age at sunset – 1.7 hrs @ 16 mins (not visible)

Possible sighting – 17 June

Time to sight moon after sunset – 70 mins @ 25.7 hrs (good luminosity)

“The house of sorrows becomes

a garden; do not grieve

(excessively).” Hafez

Shabaan1436May / June 2015

Red Velvet Cake - A Wembley ProductServing Suggestion


The memorial garden in Shiraz of Khwaja Shams ud-Din Muhammad Hafiz i-Shirazi, Persia’s most influential poet who graced the 14th century. His work is regarded as the pinnacle of Persian literature.

Lunar June Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 18 Thur 6:28 7:50 8:10 12:47 12:50 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:01

2 19 Fri 6:29 7:51 8:11 12:47 12:50 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:01

3 20 Sat 6:29 7:51 8:11 12:48 12:51 15:26 16:06 17:47 19:01

4 21 Sun 6:29 7:51 8:11 12:48 12:51 15:27 16:07 17:48 19:01

5 22 Mon 6:29 7:51 8:11 12:48 12:51 15:27 16:07 17:48 19:02

6 23 Tues 6:30 7:51 8:11 12:48 12:51 15:27 16:07 17:48 19:02

7 24 Wed 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:48 12:51 15:27 16:07 17:48 19:02

8 25 Thurs 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:49 12:52 15:28 16:08 17:49 19:02

9 26 Fri 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:49 12:52 15:28 16:08 17:49 19:03

10 27 Sat 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:49 12:52 15:28 16:08 17:49 19:03

11 28 Sun 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:49 12:52 15:29 16:09 17:49 19:03

12 29 Mon 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:49 12:52 15:29 16:09 17:50 19:04

13 30 Tues 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:50 12:53 15:29 16:09 17:50 19:04

14 July Wed 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:50 12:53 15:30 16:10 17:51 19:04

15 2 Thurs 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:50 12:53 15:30 16:10 17:51 19:05

16 3 Fri 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:50 12:53 15:30 16:11 17:52 19:05

17 4 Sat 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:50 12:53 15:31 16:11 17:52 19:05

18 5 Sun 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:51 12:54 15:31 16:12 17:52 19:06

19 6 Mon 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:51 12:54 15:32 16:12 17:53 19:06

20 7 Tues 6:30 7:52 8:12 12:51 12:54 15:32 16:13 17:53 19:07

21 8 Wed 6:30 7:51 8:11 12:51 12:54 15:33 16:13 17:54 19:07

22 9 Thurs 6:30 7:51 8:11 12:51 12:54 15:33 16:14 17:54 19:08

23 10 Fri 6:30 7:51 8:11 12:51 12:54 15:34 16:14 17:55 19:08

24 11 Sat 6:30 7:51 8:11 12:52 12:55 15:34 16:15 17:56 19:09

25 12 Sun 6:29 7:50 8:10 12:52 12:55 15:34 16:15 17:56 19:09

26 13 Mon 6:29 7:50 8:10 12:52 12:55 15:35 16:16 17:57 19:10

27 14 Tues 6:29 7:50 8:10 12:52 12:55 15:36 16:16 17:57 19:10

28 15 Wed 6:29 7:49 8:09 12:52 12:55 15:36 16:17 17:58 19:11

29 16 Thurs 6:28 7:49 8:09 12:52 12:55 15:37 16:18 17:58 19:11

30 17 Fri 6:28 7:48 8:08 12:52 12:55 15:37 16:18 17:59 19:12







16 mins earlier


16 mins earlier

Ramaadan 1436

Significance of Ramaadan


June /July 2015

“Ramada” means “scorched”, and refers to the hot desert earth and a parched thirst, thus symbolising the burning away of unnecessary human desires.

17 Ramaadan – Battle of Badr 624 CE; also the passing of Sayyidah A’isha (ra) who narrated over 2,000 Hadith; death of Sayyidina ‘Ali in Kufa from the poisoned sword of Ibn Muljam, an extremist Kharijite.

27 Ramaadan (after Maghrib) – the Night of Power, Lailut ul-Qadr (worth more than a 1,000 months) in which Allah’s Infinite Mercy descends to earth. Also night of the first Revelation on Jabl Nur.

New Moon – 16 July (orbit 394,841 from the earth)

Born – 16:05 hrs


Possible sighting - 17 July


“The Night of Power is better than

1,000 months…” Qur’an

Ramadaan1436

June / July 2015

Koeksister - A Wembley ProductServing Suggestion


The 50,000 square metres Azadi (Freedom) Square in the capital Tehran. The tower is 50 metres high and was originally built in commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire.

Lunar July Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 18 Sat 6:28 7:48 8:08 12:52 12:55 15:38 16:19 18:00 19:12

2 19 Sun 6:27 7:47 8:07 12:52 12:55 15:38 16:19 18:00 19:13

3 20 Mon 6:27 7:47 8:07 12:52 12:55 15:39 16:20 18:01 19:13

4 21 Tues 6:26 7:46 8:06 12:53 12:56 15:39 16:21 18:02 19:14

5 22 Wed 6:26 7:46 8:06 12:53 12:56 15:40 16:21 18:02 19:14

6 23 Thurs 6:25 7:45 8:05 12:53 12:56 15:40 16:22 18:03 19:15

7 24 Fri 6:25 7:45 8:05 12:53 12:56 15:41 16:23 18:04 19:15

8 25 Sat 6:24 7:44 8:04 12:53 12:56 15:41 16:23 18:04 19:16

9 26 Sun 6:24 7:43 8:03 12:53 12:56 15:42 16:24 18:05 19:16

10 27 Mon 6:23 7:43 8:03 12:53 12:56 15:43 16:25 18:06 19:17

11 28 Tues 6:23 7:42 8:02 12:53 12:56 15:43 16:25 18:06 19:18

12 29 Wed 6:22 7:41 8:01 12:53 12:56 15:44 16:26 18:07 19:18

13 30 Thurs 6:21 7:40 8:00 12:53 12:56 15:44 16:27 18:08 19:19

14 31 Fri 6:21 7:40 8:00 12:53 12:56 15:45 16:27 18:08 19:19

15 Aug Sat 6:20 7:39 7:59 12:52 12:55 15:45 16:28 18:09 19:20

16 2 Sun 6:19 7:38 7:58 12:52 12:55 15:46 16:29 18:10 19:20

17 3 Mon 6:19 7:37 7:57 12:52 12:55 15:46 16:29 18:10 19:21

18 4 Tues 6:18 7:36 7:56 12:52 12:55 15:47 16:30 18:11 19:22

19 5 Wed 6:17 7:35 7:55 12:52 12:55 15:48 16:31 18:12 19:22

20 6 Thurs 6:16 7:35 7:55 12:52 12:55 15:48 16:31 18:13 19:23

21 7 Fri 6:16 7:34 7:54 12:52 12:55 15:49 16:32 18:13 19:23

22 8 Sat 6:15 7:33 7:53 12:52 12:55 15:49 16:33 18:14 19:24

23 9 Sun 6:14 7:32 7:52 12:52 12:55 15:50 16:33 18:15 19:25

24 10 Mon 6:13 7:31 7:51 12:52 12:55 15:50 16:34 18:15 19:25

25 11 Tues 6:12 7:30 7:50 12:51 12:54 15:51 16:35 18:16 19:26

26 12 Wed 6:11 7:29 7:49 12:51 12:54 15:51 16:35 18:17 19:26

27 13 Thurs 6:10 7:28 7:48 12:51 12:54 15:52 16:36 18:18 19:27

28 14 Fri 6:09 7:27 7:47 12:51 12:54 15:52 16:37 18:18 19:28

29 15 Sat 6:08 7:25 7:45 12:51 12:54 15:53 16:37 18:19 19:28







16 mins earlier


16 mins earlier

Shawwal 1436

Significance of Shawwal


July /August 2015

“Shawwal” refers to the Arab she-camels being pregnant at that time of year.

1 Shawwal – ‘Eid ul-Fitr.

3 Shawwal – Battle of Uhud 625 CE in which Quraish tried to avenge defeat of Badr; birth of Sayyidah A’isha, daughter of Sayyidina Abu Bakr (ra) and wife of Prophet (SAW) 603 CE.

13 Shawwal – Birth of Hadith master, Imam Bukhari (ra) who memorised nearly 300,000 Hadith, in 810 CE.

Fasting in Shawwal – “He who fasts Ramadan and six days of Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted the whole year.” Hadith.

New Moon – 14 August (orbit 401,381 kms from the earth, third furthest orbit of the year)

Born – 16: 54 hrs


Possible sighting – 15 August

Time to sight moon after sunset – 56 mins @ 25.4 hrs (fair luminosity)

“Lovers of God don’t tell all their secrets.”

Hafez

Shawaal1436

July / Aug 2015

The Wembley Whopper - A Wembley ProductServing Suggestion


The 17th century Shah, or Imam, mosque in Isfahan. It is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian architecture. It is featured on Iranian banknotes and is a UNESCO heritage site.

Lunar Aug Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 16 Sun 6:07 7:24 7:44 12:50 12:53 15:53 16:38 18:20 19:29

2 17 Mon 6:06 7:23 7:43 12:50 12:53 15:54 16:39 18:20 19:29

3 18 Tues 6:05 7:22 7:42 12:50 12:53 15:54 16:39 18:21 19:30

4 19 Wed 6:04 7:21 7:41 12:50 12:53 15:55 16:40 18:22 19:31

5 20 Thurs 6:03 7:20 7:40 12:50 12:53 15:55 16:41 18:22 19:31

6 21 Fri 6:02 7:19 7:39 12:49 12:52 15:55 16:41 18:23 19:32

7 22 Sat 6:01 7:17 7:37 12:49 12:52 15:56 16:42 18:24 19:32

8 23 Sun 6:00 7:16 7:36 12:49 12:52 15:56 16:42 18:25 19:33

9 24 Mon 5:59 7:15 7:35 12:49 12:52 15:57 16:43 18:25 19:34

10 25 Tues 5:58 7:14 7:34 12:48 12:51 15:57 16:44 18:26 19:34

11 26 Wed 5:56 7:13 7:33 12:48 12:51 15:58 16:44 18:27 19:35

12 27 Thurs 5:55 7:11 7:31 12:48 12:51 15:58 16:45 18:27 19:36

13 28 Fri 5:54 7:10 7:30 12:47 12:50 15:58 16:45 18:28 19:36

14 29 Sat 5:53 7:09 7:29 12:47 12:50 15:59 16:46 18:29 19:37

15 30 Sun 5:51 7:07 7:27 12:47 12:50 15:59 16:47 18:29 19:37

16 31 Mon 5:50 7:06 7:26 12:47 12:50 16:00 16:47 18:30 19:38

17 Sept Tues 5:49 7:05 7:25 12:46 12:49 16:00 16:48 18:31 19:39

18 2 Wed 5:48 7:04 7:24 12:46 12:49 16:00 16:48 18:31 19:39

19 3 Thurs 5:46 7:02 7:22 12:46 12:49 16:01 16:49 18:32 19:40

20 4 Fri 5:45 7:01 7:21 12:45 12:48 16:01 16:49 18:33 19:41

21 5 Sat 5:44 7:00 7:20 12:45 12:48 16:01 16:50 18:33 19:41

22 6 Sun 5:42 6:58 7:18 12:45 12:48 16:02 16:50 18:34 19:42

23 7 Mon 5:41 6:57 7:17 12:44 12:47 16:02 16:51 18:35 19:43

24 8 Tues 5:40 6:55 7:15 12:44 12:47 16:02 16:51 18:35 19:43

25 9 Wed 5:38 6:54 7:14 12:44 12:47 16:02 16:52 18:36 19:44

26 10 Thur 5:37 6:53 7:13 12:43 12:46 16:03 16:52 18:37 19:45

27 11 Fri 5:36 6:51 7:11 12:43 12:46 16:03 16:53 18:37 19:45

28 12 Sat 5:34 6:50 7:10 12:43 12:46 16:03 16:53 18:38 19:46

29 13 Sun 5:33 6:49 7:09 12:42 12:45 16:04 16:54 18:39 19:47

30 14 Mon 5:32 6:47 7:07 12:42 12:45 16:04 16:54 18:39 19:47







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16 mins earlier

Thul Qa’da 1436

Significance of Thul Qa’da


August / September 2015

“Thul Qa’da” is one of the four Holy Months, and means “to rest” as the ancient Arabs would stay at home at this time of year.

1 Thul Qa’da – Official Hajj season begins, Hujjaj depart for Makkah and Madinah.

28 Thul Qa’da – Muhammad (SAW) sets out for his final pilgrimage, the Hajj ul-Wada’, from Madinah in 632 CE to deliver his final Sermon on the Mount of ‘Arafat on 9 Dhul Hijjah which calls for equality between believers and respect for women.

New Moon – 13 September (orbit 406,253 from the earth, the furthest orbit of the year)

Born – 8:41 hrs


Possible sighting – 14 September

Time to sight moon after sunset – 70 mins @ 34 hrs (fair luminosity)

“The sun never says to the earth: you owe me!”

Hafez.

Thul Qa’da1436Aug / Sept 2015

Assorted Breads - A Wembley ProductServing Suggestion


Yazd is the hottest city north of the Persian Gulf. For centuries it was the centre of Zoroastrianism, or fire worship, where dead bodies were left on the Towers of Silence to be consumed by vultures.

Lunar Sept Day Fajr Sunrise Ishraaq Zawaal Dhuhr Asr(S) Asr(H) Mghrib ‘Isha

1 15 Tues 5:30 6:46 7:06 12:41 12:44 16:04 16:55 18:40 19:48

2 16 Wed 5:29 6:44 7:04 12:41 12:44 16:04 16:55 18:41 19:49

3 17 Thurs 5:27 6:43 7:03 12:41 12:44 16:05 16:56 18:42 19:49

4 18 Fri 5:26 6:42 7:02 12:40 12:43 16:05 16:56 18:42 19:50

5 19 Sat 5:24 6:40 7:00 12:40 12:43 16:05 16:57 18:43 19:51

6 20 Sun 5:23 6:39 6:59 12:40 12:43 16:05 16:57 18:44 19:52

7 21 Mon 5:21 6:37 6:57 12:39 12:42 16:05 16:58 18:44 19:52

8 22 Tues 5:20 6:36 6:56 12:39 12:42 16:06 16:58 18:45 19:53

9 23 Wed 5:19 6:35 6:55 12:39 12:42 16:06 16:59 18:46 19:54

10 24 Thurs 5:17 6:33 6:53 12:38 12:41 16:06 16:59 18:46 19:55

11 25 Fri 5:16 6:32 6:52 12:38 12:41 16:06 17:00 18:47 19:55

12 26 Sat 5:14 6:30 6:50 12:38 12:41 16:06 17:00 18:48 19:56

13 27 Sun 5:13 6:29 6:49 12:37 12:40 16:07 17:01 18:48 19:57

14 28 Mon 5:11 6:28 6:48 12:37 12:40 16:07 17:01 18:49 19:58

15 29 Tues 5:10 6:26 6:46 12:37 12:40 16:07 17:01 18:50 19:59

16 30 Wed 5:08 6:25 6:45 12:36 12:39 16:07 17:02 18:51 19:59

17 Oct Thurs 5:07 6:24 6:44 12:36 12:39 16:07 17:02 18:51 20:00

18 2 Fri 5:05 6:22 6:42 12:36 12:39 16:07 17:03 18:52 20:01

19 3 Sat 5:04 6:21 6:41 12:35 12:38 16:08 17:03 18:53 20:02

20 4 Sun 5:02 6:19 6:39 12:35 12:38 16:08 17:04 18:54 20:03

21 5 Mon 5:01 6:18 6:38 12:35 12:38 16:08 17:04 18:54 20:04

22 6 Tues 4:59 6:17 6:37 12:34 12:37 16:08 17:05 18:55 20:04

23 7 Wed 4:58 6:15 6:35 12:34 12:37 16:08 17:05 18:56 20:05

24 8 Thur 4:56 6:14 6:34 12:34 12:37 16:08 17:05 18:57 20:06

25 9 Fri 4:55 6:13 6:33 12:34 12:37 16:08 17:06 18:57 20:07

26 10 Sat 4:53 6:11 6:31 12:33 12:36 16:09 17:06 18:58 20:08

27 11 Sun 4:52 6:10 6:30 12:33 12:36 16:09 17:07 18:59 20:09

28 12 Mon 4:50 6:09 6:29 12:33 12:36 16:09 17:07 19:00 20:10

29 13 Tues 4:49 6:08 6:28 12:32 12:35 16:09 17:08 19:00 20:11

30 14 Wed 4:48 6:06 6:26 12:32 12:35 16:09 17:08 19:01 20:12







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16 mins earlier

Thul Gijja 1436Significance of Thul Gijja


September / October 2015

This is the month of Hajj and during its first 10 days Allah accepted the repentance of Adam (as) after his descent to earth on Jabl Rahmah on ‘Arafat.

8 Thul Gijja – Hujjaj move to Mina from Makkah.

9 Thul Gijja – Hujjaj move from Mina to ‘Arafat for Wuquf until Maghrib.

10 Thul Gijja – After Maghrib Hujjaj move to Muzdalifah for collecting pebbles, to Mina for pelting of jamarat, and then to Makkah for Tawaf ul-Ifadah. For the rest of the Islamic world, 10 Dhul Hijja marks ‘Eid ul-Adha.

New Moon – 13 October (orbit 404, 868 kms from the earth, second furthest orbit of the year)

Born – 2:06 hrs


Possible sighting – 14 October

Time to sight moon after sunset – 83 mins @ 41 hrs (good luminosity)

“Start seeing everything as Divine,

but keep it quiet.” Hafez

Thul Gijja 1436Sept / Oct 2015

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All You Need Under One RoofWembley - the home of quality, service and convenience. Wembley presents a shopping experience to fulfil every need. Whether you are a gourmet chef, a discerning cook, a professional mom, or the grab -and-go individual always on the run, Wembley is the place for you. The Wembley Markette is renowned for its fresh fruit and vegetables, often straight from the farms to our store. The Wembley Markette also caters for various exotic tastes and the best quality goods from all over the world can be found in this store. The sweet, inviting aroma of freshly baked bread and rolls is impossible to ignore when you anywhere near Wembley Bakery. A variety of breads, savouries and cakes are available because Wembley Bakery makes every occasion a special occasion. Wembley Meat Market is home to the choicest, freshly cut meat, catering for the housewife or the braai king. The quality meat is complemented by a selection of tasty cold meats and a variety of spices. Wembley Roadhouse is simply a gastronomic delight - aromatic, spicy curries, delicious sandwiches, and the legendary Whopper! The Roadhouse is more than an eatery, it’s a place where friends and family meet … with much to talk about and even more to taste! Wembley Travel - Whether you’re traveling on business or taking the holiday of a lifetime, a Wembley travel agent will secure your flights and assist you in plotting out the perfect itinerary. We provide deals on flights, tours and accommodation for every destination on the planet, from Athens to Zanzibar, if on the other hand, the time for your pilgrimage has finally come, our experienced guides can ensure you find your way around the holy city and succeed in expressing your devotion to Allah within the allotted time.

ancient persia, modern iraniran’s most predominant pre-islamic faith was zoroastrianism, a creed...

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