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My friend Shayra dropped in unexpectedly, and from the look on her face I knew she was either sad or not well. She told me abdominal pain was troubling her.

The conversation went on ... no she is not fasting, because of her stomach problems and needing to take medicines (so I get us both a cup of tea and some snacks) ... her daughters are both fasting ... Sayda was sick with fever, but is back working again now.

To my request for permission to write about her she replied "you know my whole story; God knows everything, why try to hide things from people?" Shayra is hard to read; she is often quick to bring God into the conversation, but also smokes and is not overly conventional or religious in other ways. Perhaps it's just that she's had a tough life, and is mainly focussed on getting on with whatever works.

Shayra is a widow with little support. Her eldest son is a labourer struggling to support his own wife and five children. Another son is a drug addict, currently in jail. Another son is a reformed drug addict with no steady job. A fourth son lives and works in Mumbai, and sends her money each month. Her last two unmarried daughters work at a local dairy making "gobar" (forming buffalo dung into round cakes which are dried to use as fuel). They earn a small income and are given some food and milk to take home.

Please pray for ...

- Shayra to successfully apply for the widow's pension

- a copy of her daughter Mumtaaz's birth certificate to be issued (she needs this to be eligible for a government scheme to help widow's daughters with wedding expenses)

- Shayra's daughters and grandson to be content to celebrate Eid with whatever they have

Did you know ...

Here is a very rough outline of the history of Islam

• Founded by Mohammed in 610 when he received his first revelation from Allah which was to become the Quran. (Revealed gradually over a 23 year period.)

• Rapid expansion into Middle East, North Africa & Spain till 732 when advance halted.

• Greatest empire was Ottomans (from Turkey) which lasted 650 years till 1924!

• Golden Age was 8th to 16th centuries during which arts, science & commerce flourished.

[Servants works in a number of Islamic settings, including India and Indonesia. This month is the month of Ramadan (also known as Ramazan), the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts about 30 days. It is a month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God. Each day this month we will be putting reflections, stories, and information about Islam on this website to help you learn more and pray for our Muslim friends.]