I'm a Muslim and it's Ramadhan - AMA

[ttcchapter1]

😌

How are you?

Im not Muslim so am not fasting but have clients who are in the UAE who I believe will be.

Am I right in that it’s no food or water between sun up and sun down?

How does this affect you for work?

I know Ramadan near the equinoxes is not much difference between northern and southern places, but in summer Ramadans do people further north have to fast for longer than their southerly counterparts?

If so, does this cause confusion or tension as some have broken their fast while others continue?

If not, how is the "official sunset" decided and communicated, and would it feel strange if it was still obviously light where you break your fast?

Ooh, thanks for the thread. There is something I'd like to know but no way would I ask someone in real life - and feel free not to answer if you think it's too personal!
I know there are exemptions for fasting, and that this can include menstruating women. My understanding is that if you skip time you can add it on at the end. So is this what women do, and if so it must affect so many women given Ramadan is a month? If you have to add some days on at the end, what happens during Eid when everyone is breaking the fast together do you not get to join in?
Thank you, and I hope it is going well for you so far.

What's your favourite things to eat when you break fast?

What age did you start fasting?

Was it annoying that the clock change happened right before the start?

Why when the sunrise and sunset times are so ridiculously late/early can Muslims not agree to look to the Middle East for start/ end times. Having a 3/4 hour window in the middle of the night when you are allowed to eat/drink does not happen there. Also in Muslim countries lifestyle changes during ramandan result in most people sleeping most of the day and being awake more at night. In this country life is expected to go on as normal with people working long hours during daylight, having to wait until 9- 10pm to even have a drink having had breakfast at 3 in the morning. Sleep deprivation adds to the difficulty of fasting. Surely being more practical about start and end times would make it more manageable and safe. I don't think it was ever intended to be so difficult and dangerous as it has been for the last few years. When I have asked Muslims this question it is like a red rag to a bull, they say it's not meant to be easy and the suffering is supposed to make you a better person. It's like it is competitive as to how much suffering each person can cope with.

Omg so happy with all the questions!

@ememem84 im well thank you! And correct, no food or water between sunrise and sunset. In the UK we start the fast at 4.30AM (here in Scotland, times vary slightly around the country) and we open fast at 8.20PM.

The first few days are the hardest but after that you get used it. During work hours you can get a slight headache but after 3/4 days of fasting you're absolutely fine. Just need to take regular breaks and fresh air :)

@InMySpareTime hi! Yes so, for example I live in Scotland and I know people in London open their fast approx 30 mins before me. And then the length of fast also varies around the world depending on the times of daylight. Some countries (not sure how accurate this is but I have heard that certain areas in Iceland) only get an hours sunlight. So they would only fast for the hour.

The official sunset is explained very plainly in the Quran, God has said for us to fast between dawn to dusk. So if ur alone or don't have a local mosque who has published a timetable, you can open your fast when you truly believe its dusk and your fast will still be valid.

Hope that explains it well!

@Reteacher101 hi, yes so woman are exempt if menstruating. You skip these fasts and then can make up for them at any time in the year or really at any time in ur life. It doesnt have to be straight after that particular Ramadan. So a lot of woman wait till the days are shorter in winter and make up for their fasts then. Alternatively you can also give money to charity for those days and that would make up for them. Same with people who are ill, they are exempt and don't have to make up for missed fasts but if they want to they can also give money to charity to make up for those fasts.

@jay55 my favourite thing is watermelon being the first thing I eat. Followed by pretty much anything haha!

I started fasting properly when I was around 14 but even then only on weekends not on school days. But Islamically as soon as a girl starts menstruating she is considered old enough to fast but in this day and age it's interpreted differently and girls usually start around 14/15. It varies around the world depending on how long the fasts are. For boys its usually around the time there voice breaks!

Clock change wasn't as annoying tbh, a few years ago when Ramadan was in July/August we were fasting till around after 10PM! So anything is better than that.

Thank you for answering my question, I appreciate that.

Hi thanks for doing this. I have always thought it was spelt Ramadan without a h. Is that wrong or are there multiple spellings?

Why does Ramadan happen at a different time each year? I remember possibly 5 or 6 years ago chatting with my DD's friend's mum at a sports day in a blistering hot June and she wasn't drinking water because of Ramadan. Something to do with the moon?

@Mumski45

Why when the sunrise and sunset times are so ridiculously late/early can Muslims not agree to look to the Middle East for start/ end times. Having a 3/4 hour window in the middle of the night when you are allowed to eat/drink does not happen there. Also in Muslim countries lifestyle changes during ramandan result in most people sleeping most of the day and being awake more at night. In this country life is expected to go on as normal with people working long hours during daylight, having to wait until 9- 10pm to even have a drink having had breakfast at 3 in the morning. Sleep deprivation adds to the difficulty of fasting. Surely being more practical about start and end times would make it more manageable and safe. I don't think it was ever intended to be so difficult and dangerous as it has been for the last few years. When I have asked Muslims this question it is like a red rag to a bull, they say it's not meant to be easy and the suffering is supposed to make you a better person. It's like it is competitive as to how much suffering each person can cope with.

Countries which have less sunlight are advised to set their own end time.

And no suffering does not make you a better person, its about patience, perseverance, increasing God conscious and tawqah.

Ignorant questions:

Why would you do this to yourself (what religious purpose does it achieve?)

How can you be certain that hungry, thirsty people are safe to drive during the busy rush hour home?

Ramadan Mubarak.

Is there ever any discussion about the actual calories consumed during Ramadan? I know Muslims who eat a large breakfast before dawn then an even bigger meal at Iftar! There often seems to be very little sacrificing going on.

A bit like Christians who piously give up chocolate at Lent - it's hardly going without!

This isn't really a question but a musing. I read that cancer rates are lower in countries that practise Ramadhan because spending just that time fasting every year cleans out your cells and strengthens your immune system.

It is interesting how fasting has been a part of many religions in the past.

Why do you do it?

Can you just not do it?

I have colleagues fasting. What is a nice token gift? Is it appropriate to give a little something, like at Xmas?

Hi OP, I'm not Muslim but I fast as my husband is and does. So solidarity over here! I love a bowl of fresh fruit and then what Brits would probably call a picky tea I spend ages getting food ready but find i get full up really rather quickly. This is probably my fifth year fasting and I've still not managed to learn how to break fast without being uncomfortably full 20min later.
Do you eat at 4am too? DH does but I just make sure I drink a gallon of water

@Empressofthemundane

I have colleagues fasting. What is a nice token gift? Is it appropriate to give a little something, like at Xmas?

You could give them dates. Would be a lovely gesture as that’s what we typically open our fast with at the end of the fast x

@heartofgrass

Hi OP, I'm not Muslim but I fast as my husband is and does. So solidarity over here! I love a bowl of fresh fruit and then what Brits would probably call a picky tea I spend ages getting food ready but find i get full up really rather quickly. This is probably my fifth year fasting and I've still not managed to learn how to break fast without being uncomfortably full 20min later. Do you eat at 4am too? DH does but I just make sure I drink a gallon of water

The sunnah way of opening your fast is with water and 3 dates. And then a light meal afterwards. I know that’s easier said than done when you’re starving!

Thanks @username9871028!

Do you lose weight?

Is it embarrassing as a teen (or an adult!) if you’re not fasting because you are menstruating but then everyone at work/school etc who sees you eating knows you are menstruating? I know it’s a very normal bodily function but I was mortified as a teen if I had a period and had to take my handbag to the loo, in case the boys might suspect!

Ramadan Mubarak!

My 10yr olds friend in school is Muslim, is it appropriate for us to give her a gift and could we also send something to her family? If so is there anything that’s a no no gift wise m? Would the appropriate time to give a gift be Eid?

Is there anything that others can do to help? I have students and colleagues who are fasting. (some for that first time)
Obviously, I would avoid eating/drinking Infront of them.

ramadan kareem