Assalaamu Alaykum
I will be posting up a hadith (a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (saw)) everyday for the rest of this month, insha'Allah.
'And he does not say anything by his own desire. It is but a divine revelation, which is revealed to him. He has been taught by the Extremely Powerful.'{Quran: Al Najm 3-5}
The dates are juicy and succulent and full of energy. The perfect way to open the fast. Shop keepers love them - they can charge a premium and people will pay. Better still, the people want them "Last year I did not stock them and people complained. I lost business and this year I am going to stock them. They are our best seller" is the word from their mouths.
It all sounds good, but there is one problem - these dates are like "blood dates" - the equivalent of blood diamonds where we are gorging on the misery of others. They are grown on occupied territory, watered using resources stolen from others.
Salaam Alaykum,
YES, the blessed month is just (about) 20 days away! 
so i thort id take the opturnity to say (a little early):
[center][size=30][color=green]Ramadhan Mubarak Everyone![/size][/color][/center]
Inshallah everyone will start and finish Ramadhan at the same time. (ok that may be a bit too much to ask :|)
Make sure u take advantage of this blessed month! 
Also, please forgive me for anything wrong i have done/said to you
EDIT - just to note:
If you wanna get the best out of Ramadan and achieve its purpose which is to gain Taqwa (God-Consciousness) then instead of 'killing time' here are some important things to do every day in Ramadan:
Five daily prayers - Try to read them in congregation (Jamaat) if possible. If you don't normally pray then this is the best month to start.
Qadah Salah (Missed Prayers) - Try to make up for as many missed Salah as possible i.e. all those you have missed over the years!Try reading Qadah Salah after each prayer if you can.
1. The Eid which comes immediately after Ramadan is called:
A. Eid ul Adha
B. Mawlid un Nabi
C. Eid ul Fitr
D. Ashura
2. Seclusion in the Mosque in the last ten days of Ramadan is called:
A. Istikhara
B. Istinja
C. I’tikaaf
D. Istighfar
3. If a person abstained from food, drink and sexual intercourse without having any intention, is their fast valid?
A. Yes
B. No
4. Having a wet dream breaks the fast.
A. True
B. False
5. The reward of obligatory deeds in Ramadan is multiplied by how much?
A. 60
B. 70
C. 80
D. 90
6. Worship in the night of Laylatul Qadr is better than the worship of:
A. 1000 days
B. 1000 weeks
C. 1000 months
D. 1000 years
The alarm on my Nokia went off. I turned over and glanced at the clock: 4:15am. Time for Suhur. I dragged myself out of bed so that I wouldn’t drop off back to sleep. With blurry eyes, I put on my dressing gown and made my way downstairs...
Salaams All, this is my latest poem written last year and slightly edited, please forward widely inshAllah.
Ramadhan is coming
It’s only a few dayss away
I can’t wait
In anticipation
The coming of the new moon
And the best month of the year
I hope I’m alive
Although I’m young
There’s no guarantee
That I’ll be here next month
Been waiting
Anticipating
Hoping
And silently praying
For a chance
To experience
Another Ramadhan
Last year I tried
To improve and change
Leave the bad habits
The drinking, womanising
Drugs and clubbing
Managed it for 30 days
But on Eid I went to a rave
I gave in, wasn’t brave
Went with the flow
And got totally smashed
Its true after Ramadhan Satan is unleashed
Since then it’s been downhill
Month after month
By Imam Zahid Shakir
As we eagerly anticipate the beginning of the Blessed Month of Ramadan, the staff of Zaytuna Institute wishes all of our volunteers, friends, and supporters an accepted and purifying fast. We pray that this blessed month is a time of spiritual renewal for all of you, a time when you are able to fully benefit from the many Divine Gifts that have been offered to the worshipper during this most special season. Those who have failed to take advantage of the months of Rajab and Sha’ban to prepare for the blessed month of Ramadan should be especially careful to take full advantage of the latter month. Reflect on the poet’s words:
Harken! O you who was not content to sin throughout Rajab.
The purpose of fasting in Ramadan is to achieve Taqwa, i.e. to become God-fearing and pious etc. But I fast year in, year out and see no change… especially when Ramadan is over! So what can I do to help become and remain a God-fearing and pious person?
By Shaykh Salim Ghisa
In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent and Merciful.
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says:
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious." (Al-Baqarah, 2:183)
Fasting has many benefits and grades. People believe that just by staying hungry and thirsty from dawn ‘til dusk it will make them a pious person.
By Sara Salim and Imaani Aslam
Jameela: As’salaam alaikum Sis. How you doin’?
Aliyah: Alright Jameela, where you at?
Jameela: Er… I’m good Alhamdulillah. What you been up to?
Aliyah: Not much, not much. Listen yeah, Ramadan’s starting soon innit?!
Jameela: Yep Sis, I can’t wait!!
Aliyah: Great!!! Not long now then. Iky says he wants to cool it during Ramadan. He says his Dad’s gonna be watching him like a hawk and he can’t risk gettin’ caught. Plus he says I’m gonna distract him, but I told him straight, look it ain’t my fault I’m so fit.
Jameela: I just love the whole atmosphere in Ramadan, I’ve been really looking forward to it.
