Oh, if I had a dollar for every time I heard that…
So, no, I am pretty sure that, unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from fasting, you wouldn’t die if you had to fast for a month. There are millions of people in the world today for whom one meal a day is a norm, and millions more for whom one meal a day is a luxury. Most of us who’ve had the privilege of growing up having all our needs, and most of our wants, met, really cannot even imagine how life is everyday of the year for those less fortunate than us. I’ll say that having to go through the experience of not giving into every little desire will change you as a person, give you new perspective, and most importantly, empathy.
There are over 1.5 billion muslims in the world, a number which has been growing exponentially in recent years, and a great number of us fast everyday for a month without dying. Some even able to do what most might consider impossible, for example soccer player Kanoute (link thanks to Leila), who is a really great role-model for muslim youth.
The fact is, fasting is part of most religions, it helps us to deal better with worldly losses, and makes us inwardly stronger. Ramadan is something we love to hold on to because we are taught of it’s blessings, but more than that, we hold on because of our previous experiences, because of how we know it changes us, because of the fullness and contentment we feel in our hearts. It’s not just “something we have to do“, it’s so much more, but again, can only be understood when it is experienced.
by shaz on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 04:17 AM
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ramadan.
It seems to be a common assumption that all we think about while we’re fasting is food, or rather the food we can’t eat. But, no, usually fasting feels pretty normal and routine – for me at least, and I think this is probably true for most people, especially those of us who have been fasting for many years.
(my picture is bad so as not to tempt you!)
However, that’s not to say that we don’t “feel” hungry or thirst – that is the point of it – we feel so we can truly empathize with those less fortunate and increase our generosity and good will.
There are cravings though… and I am sure you all know what I’m talking about! The one thing that you think about during the day and MUST have it when you break fast? My sister has a real serious “milk and cookies” craving, but I am more of a “crackers and jam and tea” kinda person.
Every Ramadan, it’s usual for us to set goals for ourselves, most of us have spiritual betterment type of goals, some have “breaking bad habits” kind of goals, and then for some of us, well, for me at least, goals that are kinda very basic.
It apparently takes 30 days to break a habit, so…if you’re a smoker for example, Ramadan is a pretty good time to try to quit. Or, on the “loftier” side, it’s a good time to get into the routine of Tahajjud, or very early morning prayers.
Before I had kids, my goals were quite lofty! I did actually manage to pray Tahajjud for quite a while, and it was the best days I’ve ever had – there is just nothing that compares to the feeling – something that can really only be experienced and not explained, and only really understood by those who have experienced it as well. Even before I was married, as a teenager, my Ramadan felt more productive – I remember waking up to fast (sometimes just by myself), I remember praying Tarawih on my own in my room because I could not go by myself to the masjid.
Now however, my goals don’t even attempt to include any more prayer than those that are obligatory, not even finishing the Quran! It saddens me, but at the same time, I’ve taken such an emotional beating lately that it’s all I could do sometimes to make sure that my kids are good – its difficult to do things that are just for “me”. Anyway, my goals this year are praying on time, reading Quran every day, working on increasing my patience, decreasing my anger. Um, yup, that’s it!
For those of you with goals this month, may you accomplish them easily, and keep it in your routines even after the month.
I’ve been asked this question so many times, I thought I’d respond to everyone.
Short answer, no. Fasting is not meant to be a burden to anyone; like any other type of fasting it’s meant to take us away from the material things and increase our spirituality and closeness to god. If you are able to, you fast with the intention of pleasing god.
Most kids however, like with anything else, love to participate in anything that their family is doing. When I was about 7 or 8, my grandparents lived with us and I remember waking up with them and eating early in the morning and thinking to myself that I was going to fast ALL day, only to secretly and accidentally eat chocolate like 5 minutes after!
My 2 older kids woke up this morning with Sid and I to “fast” – I’m pretty sure they’ll last until I serve the little one breakfast! They were excited to wake up though, excited about Ramadan, which is great. I’ll definitely not wake them up every morning, because, most importantly, they are extremely loud and jarring at 4:30 in the morning, but also because soon school will reopen and all of that. But for now a few times on the weekends I think is nice for them to feel like they are taking part in Ramadan.
This morning I took them outside for a little bit to see the sun rise. I love the early morning, LOVE it – my favorite time of the day… and if I was on the ocean, even better… but you know, I’ll take what I can. So we stood on the porch thingy and enjoyed the moment, until the kids starting talking in a very loud outside voice, and pointing out each and every mosquito that they saw, and then we decided to come back in.
