Understanding and Respecting Ramadan Practices: A Non-Muslim’s Handbook to Fasting and Cultural Sensitivity” Many are interested in Ramadan, which is the Muslim month of fasting.
If you’re looking to join more than a billion fervent Muslims during the fast, for whatever reason, learn how to do it properly and securely.
MOBRUK RAMADAN (mark `l(red) to my Muslim family and friends. I am with all of you during the celebrations of this beautiful month!
Could you manage it? You could go without food or drink for 14-17 hours a day for a month. Maybe even a week?
Hassan II Mosque — Casablanca, Morocco
Around the world, during Ramadan, nearly one billion people won’t consume any liquids or eat food from an hour before sunset until sunrise. They’re not part of the world’s population who are constantly hungry and aren’t part of any bizarre diet religion. They’re Muslim.
One billion Muslims will observe fasting in the month of Ramadan because they believe Allah has decreed that it be for them to do so. In verses 183-191 from Chapter Al Bakara in the Qur’an, Allah avows that faithful believers should fast from “the sunrise” till sunset in Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
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“[Fasting to] for a certain amount of days. If anyone among you is sick or traveling during these days, then the same number of days must be taken up in the form of].
For those capable of fasting and suffering the burden of hardship, the ransom is a replacement for the food a needy person needs each day each day. Anyone who volunteers more and can do so is more beneficial for him. However, fasting is the best in your case, but if only were aware of .”
Oddly enough, in addition to those who observe the fast for reasons of commitment, a lot of other people fast out of an obligation of solidarity to Muslim family members and friends or who are curious about the way that a full sixth of the world can remain a single thought for 29 days.
I was part of this group of auxiliary members for a long time. I decided to commit to a full-time fasting regimen as I tried to preserve faith in the spirit and purpose of this fast through my actions, words, and thoughts. I do not consider myself Muslim and have never ever been. However, this experience taught me to stand up for something and gain humility and appreciation.
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Ramadan is an experience in both spiritual and social aspects, regardless of one’s religious system. First, it has to be accepted that fasting is a challenging task. Without faith-based doctrines, fasting can be vulnerable to the temptations of our food and snack-laden consumerism-driven society.
Remarkably, outside our Muslim world, fasting appears to oppose the multitude of media stimulations afflicting our senses daily. The smells, signs, advertisements, the food of others, and the rumblings of our stomachs all attempt to deter the person on a fast from a purely personal decision to experience what it’s such a feeling to be without motives.
But here I am, a middle-aged man healthy and content for the times I’ve joined other people across the globe in declaring “No” to drinks and food for 12 or more hours during the day.
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Why do it?
Everyone has their reasons for going through a Ramadan fast. The reasons given by non-Muslims who enjoyed time with their fasting family and friends include:
“There are many people around the world that don’t have a lavish meal every day. It is a reminder of that in a very visceral, painful way.”
“I want to know whether I cannot do it even if I do not have a religious reason.”
“We are connected. All of us on earth. This way, I can honor my connection with a billion others.”
“I would like to be confident I can finish it until the very end.”
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When should you fast?
Fasting usually begins about an hour before sunrise. Be aware of the time of sunrise listed in the newspapers. To know when the fast is supposed to start, it is essential to know the Muslim prayer times.
It’s simple. Go to islamicfinder.org to discover, for instance, the beginning of Fajror Sehar, the fast day, which is at 4:17 am in Seattle on the 28th of April.
Also, in Maghreb, the day of fasting will be at 8:17 pm at the same time. Check out the prayer times and the zip of your address. Also, remember that as a volunteer, the beginning and ending time depend entirely on you.
To eat food before when the fasting begins, Muslims will rise a half-hour or an hour before the start of Fajr and eat quickly. This meal is known as “sour” or Sehar, which does not, in reality, necessarily mean “OMG, It’s so late!” The meal may contain a vibrant soup, fruit, tea, coffee, and bread.
Certain people find an egg-based S’hour too heavy, especially if they attempt to go back to sleep. Whatever your preference, eating food that takes time to digest can also mean you are hungry.
After the sun sets, hours later, families and communities get together to end the fast. It is a joyful dinner that conveys the triumph of human desires and feelings of shared joy. The dish is known as “four.” When it comes to Iftar, the name varies depending on the country or origin as well as accent.
It’s often a beautiful dinner that starts with cake, dates, and tea in various regions. For some, a fast dinner at sunset is not the only meal, followed by smaller meals served later in the evening.
My experience was that the four were served as the primary meal, with an evening snack before going to bed. Moderation is required even when eating mini-meals, as it is against the spirit of Ramadan when people overindulge or lose weight.
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The not-to-be
Do not fast if you are sick, take medication that requires liquid or food, are diabetic, or suffer from any condition that can put your health in danger.
– Don’t fast if you are pregnant. Certain Muslim women fast but are dissuaded from doing so because their baby’s health should be considered first.
Women experiencing their menstrual cycle are advised not to fast because their biochemistry is changing, and they could be anemic. I’ve known numerous Muslim women who eat their food regardless, perhaps because they don’t want to announce that they’re having menstrual cycles.
Stay calm if you will be performing intense manual labor outside in the hottest times during the summer. In the city of Marrakesh, Morocco, where the temperatures in August can reach up to 115 degrees, it’s well-known that workers are sometimes forced to break their fasts early, especially when Ramadan is in the spring and early autumn, simply because failing to follow the rules could result in death. It is not a spiritual nor any other benefit if health is in danger.
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The do’s and don’ts
Drink a glass of water in the final moments before beginning your speed up.
Create a game out of your stomach’s growling. My favorite is “George”. After a couple of days, George became more relaxed.
Take a nap, walk, or exercise in the few hours between returning to work. Then break your fast.
Eat a variety of foods during breaks in the fast, including protein, fats, and carbs. One of my favorite food items is hearty soup. Crepes with honey, dates, eggs, and honey.
Do make a plan to shed some pounds. The weight gain during Ramadan might require a review of your food and its quantities.
Start cooking or making the F’tour meal before you are ready to break your fast. Prepare dates, figs, or even an ounce of cake prepared together with coffee or tea to ensure that food can be prepared when the bell rings. Be sure to take the big glasses of water.
When seated, you’ll want to enjoy your family gathering, and preparing ahead can help ease the burden. After having a bite in between meals, you have plenty of time to cook before serving the main dinner. After that, you can prepare dinner for the evening. You’ll want to enjoy your family gathering after you’re seated. Preparing ahead makes it easier.
Also Read: Taraweeh Dua in English/Arabic for Ramadan Prayers
Fasting during Ramadan is a test of humility. The fasting process shows us how hard it is not to be hungry for just one or several days each day. The fast tests our patience with each other and ourselves, our dedication to a particular idea or belief, and our willingness to step from our comfort zone.
For Muslims as well, and all the one billion, it is a test, however, one they accept and follow in the name of religion and the feeling of the umma or worldwide community that develops in Ramadan.
This month is holy to Muslims. Ramadan. If you decide to go through the Ramadan fast, it’s a memorable, unforgettable experience. Be sure to be safe and speak with your physician for any questions.
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Categories: PRAYER (Salat), ALMS (Zakat), SAWN (Fasting) HAJJ (Pilgrimage) & DUA (Supplications), Hadith and Tafseer, The Holy Quran, Quran Jaz 1- 114
Topics: Hijab, Arabic Corner, Islamic History, Biography, Islamic Studies, Halal & Haram
