From Monday 6th May, approximately 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will begin their month of fasting to celebrate Ramadhan. It is one of the five Pillars of the Islamic faith – Belief in one God, the Five Daily Prayers, Charity and the Pilgrimage to Makkah being the remaining four.
The start date for Ramadhan changes each year as its based on the lunar calendar which is roughly 10 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar. At the moment, some of the longest days of the year will be in Ramadhan but by 2028 Ramadhan will be back in January.
From dawn (more than an hour before sunrise) till sunset, a Muslim must abstain from all food and drink. Yes, that means they can’t even drink water. It’s only for able-bodied adults, however, so children, the sick and the pregnant, amongst others, are exempt. If a person gets dehydrated or is at risk of harm, they must also break their fast.
Fasting is not mere a physical exercise, but utmost importance is given to the spiritual and moral dimensions of human behaviour. Muslims are reminded that if they are able to go for so long without food or water, surely they can also resist the temptation to sin, to be greedy, to backbite, to hate, to look down on others, etc., which are all vice at any time of the year. Whilst they struggle with hunger themselves, they are encouraged to think about the plight of those less fortunate than them who struggle with hunger all year round. Ramadhan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, acts of kindness, excessive charity and spending time with loved ones. Muslims often make a special effort to connect with their communities and reach out to people who need help.
They will often use the time saved eating to get some extra sleep to help them with special mosque prayers they might attend during the night on top of trying to to recite as much of the Quran as possible as well as praying themselves whenever they can.
Although the eating window is very short, it’s crucial foods are chosen wisely to avoid making the fast more difficult than it needs to be or causing one’s self harm.
Most importantly, drink plenty of water and fluids throughout the night. Avoid or limit greasy, spicy and sugary foods.
Eat a good balanced pre-dawn meal as this will make fasting more manageable. Complex carbohydrates (e.g., lentils, beans, wheat, barley and unrefined rice) take longer to digest and release energy slowly, helping reduce hunger through the day.
Lastly, your health and well-being can’t be compromised so adhere to the doctor’s advise if you are unwell and be ready to break your fast if in danger.
I wish everyone a very happy and blessed Ramadhan and on behalf of those fasting would like to thank all our colleagues for their support and love. God bless.
Written by Maulanah Ilyas Gajia
Go backRamadhan 2019
Published on May 1, 2019
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From Monday 6th May, approximately 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will begin their month of fasting to celebrate Ramadhan. It is one of the five Pillars of the Islamic faith – Belief in one God, the Five Daily Prayers, Charity and the Pilgrimage to Makkah being the remaining four.
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