Oman Local Custom Tips by Geoff_Wright

Visit My Omani VT Friends

Now that you have come this far, take a look at the Oman sites of two of my great VT Friends, Ali al-Dohani and Abdallah Bahantah.

(To be updated Mar 04)
Ali's Oman Page
Abdallah's Oman Page

Learning Arabic

If you would like to learn a little Arabic before your travels, just click on this site. Apologies for the adverts which appear on it:

Babel Arabic

Ramadan

In Islam, Ramadan is the holy month of fasting, the ninth month of the Muslim year, in which “the Qur'an was sent down as a guidance for the people” (Qur'an 2:185).

For more information on the Holy Month, click here to visit my Travelogue The Holy Month of Ramadan

Tthe following poem was sent...

<font face=algerian color=red size=+2>T</font><b><font color=green>the following poem was sent to me by my Omani friend Abdallah:</font></b>

<font face=algerian color=magenta size=+2>O</font><b><font color=blue>n this blessed and glorious occassion, I dedicated this poem to to you and loved ones!</font></b>

<center><b><font color=green>The sky has changed so many hues,

from blue, to purple, to red
,
and a solitary cloud is floating by,

on the numerous upturned heads.

The people have gathered on their roofs,

to witness the moon of Eid,

and a wish flutters in every breast,

to be the first to perform this deed.

And then someone points to the moon,

so thin, so distant; yet clear,

many hands are raised instantly,

with hearts brimming with prayers.

With the heralding of the Eid,

the rejoicing has begun,

the bazaars have come to life again,

and the youths rush there for fun.

The girls are displaying their exotic clothes,

and the children are playing in streets,

and Grandmas, Grandpas are remembering old days,

of their childhood and hilarious deeds.

Moms are preparing for delicious dishes,

while fathers are greeting friends,

and a naughty child is at his tricks again,

bringing laughter from his sister's friends.

O'ye people, on far off lands,

may all of you be blessed,

and this very auspicious Eid,

may always brightens your nests.

I donot ask you to tell,

your colour, class or creed,

I just wish all of you,

a very happy Eid.

</font></b>
<b><font face='Lucida handwriting' color=blue>Abdallah</font></b></center>

“A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain”!

Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on...

<font face=algerian color=magenta size=+2>Eid-ul-Adha</font><b><font color=blue> is celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Zul-Hijja.

1st Zul-Hijja 1421 AH should be on 25th February 2001 for most of the world pending the sighting of the crescent on the previous evening (24th Feb 2001).
This festival is incorporated in the great pilgrimage to Mecca which should properly be made during this month but it is also observed all over the Muslim world at the same time. The underlying importance of this festival is the spirit of sacrifice (qurbani) in memory of Abraham's great act of faith many centuries ago.

Eid-ul-Adha is, according to Islamic teaching, a time for Muslims to learn the value of self-denial by making a sacrifice of something living to God.