How's the fasting going?

The fasting is going slow. I wish it would go faster.

Really? I heard the first day was the hardest, while the rest was a breeze. But I wouldn't know. Stay strong, brotha.

Ennis,

Is 'Hawk' a pseudo name? It says Mohammad 'Haque' in the captions. Just curious.

I had the experience of eating no food at all for seven days for medical reasons this summer, and man, do I have newfound respect for anyone who fasts during Ramadan. You know those Bugs Bunny cartoons where two characters are trapped on a deserted island and one keeps turning into a big turkey leg? It really is like that.

Is not a little dangerous to have a cartoon that has anything to do with islam. I hope we don't see any protests over this.

Muslims like humor too. They only get overly sensitive like any other religious group when it comes to jokes about their God.

I had the experience of eating no food at all for seven days for medical reasons this summer, and man, do I have newfound respect for anyone who fasts during Ramadan.

Muslims like humor too.

Really???????????

But they can eat after sunset and before sunrise.

Yes, that occurred to me during my experience and I was terribly jealous. :)

Religious sentiments aside, I am not sure if fasting is actually a healthy thing. Depriving your body of nutrition when it is using it up the most (i.e. during the day) simply doesnt feel like best practice.

Is there any research in this direction that indicates one way or the other?

Muslims like humor too.

Really???????????

that was funny.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. WE WILL ISSUE A FATWA. WE WILL BAN ALL GOODS FROM THE NATION OF ... UM ... CARTOONS. OFF WITH HIS HEAD. LONG LIVE ALLAH.

:-)

That wasn't funny. Let's not go there, shall we?

It's going well, Alhamdulillah.

Glad to see the Sepia keel turning towards the light, though I think your "Muslim-problem" will remain until you get a blogger with deeper, more sympathetic insights (with a natural South Asian bias) of Islam.

Do people gain weight during Ramadan?

Eating a big meal at the end of the day is surely a diet no-no.

In Arab countries some people get upset if you are seen eating during the
day during Ramadan... I found it amusing, since 80% of UAE is foreign. In
Saudi, you can get in trouble for it with the religious police.

It can't be good for diabetics, fasting and then having to eat all the food they can eat in a day in just one sitting.

Wouldn't that be two sittings - one after sunset before going to bed, and one before sunrise after waking up?

oops yeah two. but it's still bad to eat two big meals, as opposed to several small meals throughout the day.

(i wonder why the divine didn't have the foresight for this! and this applies to all religions in which fasting plays a part... i can't fast for several hindu holidays b/c of this)

Well, diabetics probably wouldn't fast. Those who are sick or can't fast for medical reasons; they are exempt. Instead, they are to feed a needy person for that month.

Glad to see the Sepia keel turning towards the light, though I think your "Muslim-problem" will remain until you get a blogger with deeper, more sympathetic insights (with a natural South Asian bias) of Islam.

What????????????????,

Do people gain weight during Ramadan?

@But they can eat after sunset and before sunrise.

My hubby doesnt eat before sunrise, he prefers to get a good sleep instead- he as it is faces such irratic timings because of work. His mum though would have this irritating habit of ringing early in the morning around 4am to wake him up (she doesnt live with is) indirectly to ensure that he fasts. Intially we would just mute the phone, and later on waking up find like around 12-14 missed calls! Finally he told her politely not to, as it was his choice whether he would or would not fast and how he would get through it if he chose to. I dont think she was very happy- but then forcing someone to fast defeats the very purpose of fasting I think. I just fast on the first and last day.

In
Saudi, you can get in trouble for it with the religious police.

what part do they cut off?

I've heard some of the theory behind Ramadan, that it's supposed to encourage similar behavior outside a "the month", how many people who practice can corroborate this?

Is there any research in this direction that indicates one way or the other?

anyway, it's not good for people of a 'weak constitution' like me - i fasted for several days with a friends, and by the end, i was wiped out. but i suppose ramzan has served its purpose if people become aware of the starvation in the world and are more appreciative of their food. hopefully this incites them to do something to actually help those in need of food - i think the requirement of those who don't fast to feed those who need food would be a good idea for everyody, no?

Mmm, Ramadan. It only makes me think of awesome food at the temple (after sundown, of course)! As a weird student type person, I don't really eat much during the day, so fasting with my stepmom is pretty easy.

Do people gain weight during Ramadan?

Eating a big meal at the end of the day is surely a diet no-no.

nala, as #18 (muslim) mentioned, I'm pretty sure you're not to fast if it poses a health or medical risk. E.g. if you were pregnant, or diabetic, or frail and elderly, or "weak constitutioned" like ak.

or "weak constitutioned" like ak.

I prefer to buy my way out of the whole fasting thing. I simply cannot function without regular infusions of caffeine, and I'd much rather make a substantial charitable donation rather than be horrifically uncharitable and bitchy(-ier) because I haven't been able to get my hands on a mocha. And yes, people who're diabetic or otherwise in a situation where fasting would be harmful to their health are exempt from having to keep the fasts. My personal favourite though is the series of iftar parties that consist of cocktails a-plenty.

ahaha, i love that comic strip. how did i not know of its existence before.
also, i love the first comment on this thread.

and hm. having read the comments above, it would appear some basic facts need to be pointed out:
- people with medically valid reasons (diabetes, pregnancy, sickness, etc.) are not required to fast. instead, they're asked to donate charity. and in fact, charity is what closes the month of ramadan. before the celebration of Eid, Muslims (who aren't in debt) are required to donate a certain percentage of their income to charity. people who aren't fasting and who aren't in need are expected to donate more, in proportion to the days they fast.
- the argument that ramadan is about the awareness of global starvation, while true, is understood to be the shallowest understanding of the month. for me, ramadan is about a movement inwards, a return to a sense of my physical self as a collection of everyday miracles. for others, it is about the sense of community, the sense that millions of people around the world are willingly foregoing food and drink.
- and i won't deny that some people get short-tempered when fasting, but there are many who don't. in any case, fasting is all about patience - over gluttony, over our tempers, our tongues, etc.
- Muslims do fast outside the month of ramadan. what makes ramadan special is that is one of the few times in the year when we fast collectively. which is to say, while fasting is about abstinence, ramadan is about much, much more than that.

To those who asked about the research and the health of fasting
There has sure been reasearch about fasting if you read any topic about the miracles of the quran you will surely find there amazing things that you didn't know happen in your body while fasting
the only thing i remember though right now is that the stomach cells get renewed during fasting periods and such. . surely you will find information if you research and I am certain that it is actually healthy to fast even though many of you might be shocked of that