Ramadan

[tGette]

Ramadan is definitely one of the highlights of Islam. This holy month was one of the things that attracted me to the piety of Islam. Admittedly, Islam does have some pious practices.

I guess I was wondering if anyone might be using this as an opportunity to do more fasting, to fast with the Muslims (or fast for the Muslims), etc.

Maybe some of you do not have fasting as a part of your prayer life?
If not…why not?
If so…what does your fast involve?

I know we have Lent (I do not feel like a lot of take advantage of it though); I feel like we could learn some things from how devoted Muslims are to this month of Ramadan.

Any thoughts…Thanks!

…Please I do not want this to turn into Islam bashing…
Thanks again!

 

[dolphinlove]

My Muslim friends never wish me a Merry Christmas or Happy Easter, there is no way im going to have anything to do with their religious beliefs.
Although i could lose a few pounds, fasting to support a false religion is not one way to do it…

 

[tGette]

My Muslim friends never wish me a Merry Christmas or Happy Easter, there is no way im going to have anything to do with their religious beliefs.
Although i could lose a few pounds, fasting to support a false religion is not one way to do it…

Understandable…
See I had Muslim friends who would give appropriate holiday greetings.

I am not necessarily talking about supporting the religion…but supporting the followers of the religion. We still must “pray for those who persecute us” (though not all do…but persecute could here loosely mean that they say we are wrong as Christians too). And since fasting is a form of prayer I was wondering if people are doing it. I am hoping and praying that this Ramadan be a time for a spiritual awakening for them.
See my Prayer Intention.

I was wondering if Ramadan has motivated anyone to fast…for no other reason than that the subject of fasting is upon them.

Also…I was hoping this might lead into general conversations about fasting. Whether it is a common practice in people’s prayer/faith life or not.

 

[Sam_777]

Ramadan is definitely one of the highlights of Islam. This holy month was one of the things that attracted me to the piety of Islam. Admittedly, Islam does have some pious practices.

I guess I was wondering if anyone might be using this as an opportunity to do more fasting, to fast with the Muslims (or fast for the Muslims), etc.

Maybe some of you do not have fasting as a part of your prayer life?
If not…why not?
If so…what does your fast involve?

I know we have Lent (I do not feel like a lot of take advantage of it though); I feel like we could learn some things from how devoted Muslims are to this month of Ramadan.

Any thoughts…Thanks!

…Please I do not want this to turn into Islam bashing…
Thanks again!

Since my flesh is still a Muslim, I’m still fasting with my Muslim family, however, if there are special rituals in Catholicism for fasting that I can incorporate, then please point them to me.

 

[Nepenthe]

My goodness, Ramadan is here again so soon? I tell you, time sure flies faster as you get older!

Peace be upon you and the blessings of this time of fasting, contemplation and memory, all you Muslims out there (and everyone of us)!

 

[planten]

My goodness, Ramadan is here again so soon? I tell you, time sure flies faster as you get older!

Peace be upon you and the blessings of this time of fasting, contemplation and memory, all you Muslims out there (and everyone of us)!

**It is definitely a special month (ramadhan). The revelation of Quran started in that month in the cave of Hira near Makkah. All the Muslims try to fast in this month.

I remember, in UK in summer, the fast used to be for about 18 hours or more. It was very difficult. But the British officers gave much importance to it. One Officer asked me “What is this feast of Ramadhan?” I told him “Sir, there is no feast. It is a fast of Ramadhan.”

When he knew the details, he gave us complete facility to eat as much as we liked soon after sunset every day. There was tons of food for about 550 students. We had the keys to mess and we used to eat from 9 p.m. till 10 p.m.

But that is all for the 24 hours. No other meal or drinks throughout the day. We could not eat anything in the Morning. But it went well, thanks to the managers. The Officer who arranged food for us was Mr. Holding. He had an assistant. His name was Pointing.

While travelling back to college after holidays, I passed through Rome. There the airline gave me two bottles of some special wine. I did not know anything about the wine and women. When I went back, I gave one bottle to my room mates. They shouted happy words for me.
Next day, I carefully went to the office of my Superior (Mr. Holding) with the bottle wrapped in a towel. I presented the bottle to him.He was so happy and jumped with joy. He said his wife loved that wine very much.

It was good time. I always attended the christmas festivities and the New year also. It was good while it lasted. May Allah bless those kind people.**

 

[Publisher]

Some Friends in my Meeting participate by fasting in Ramadan along with their Muslim neighbors. I have not been led to do so, but I would not discourage those who are so led.

 

[bpbasilphx]

This holy month was one of the things that attracted me to the piety of Islam. Admittedly, Islam does have some pious practices.

Holiness can exist ONLY with truth.

 

[MugenOne]

Most Christians simply don’t know how Muslims fast at all. I am not bashing them, but their concept of fasting is not fasting at all. They are just reversing their eating cycle from day to night. At night, they eat like crazy so they would stay full during the fasting period. As a result, they become hypoglycemic. Symptoms like Shakiness, anxiety, nervousness, tremor, and dilated pupils are common. Don’t expect to get anything done during Ramadan. They are very lethargic to do anything.

Another thing that you don’t hear from Muslims is that some Muslims especially the Arabs gain weight during Ramadan. InJesus and others from Middle East can attest to that. If you gain weight during fasting, something ain’t right.

Contrary to what Muslims say on TV, Ramadan isn’t that wonderful.

 

[cathopologist]

We Catholics have more fasting days than the Muslims. There is nothing admirable about the Muslim fasting. Go ahead, break fast with a Muslim and watch how they much they can swallow in one go. Gluttony is a sin, is it not?

Muslims (especially in America as i have been informed), use Ramadan as a propaganda tool to show the naive non-Muslim about the “peaceful” side of their religion.

I say, go for it. Fast with them and watch gluttony in action.

tGette, my sincerest apologies. I know you’re a wonderful heart, but i live in a country full of Muslims. I interact with them daily. I love them as a people and will protect my dear Muslim friends if their lives are in danger. But even they know i abhor propaganda.

Thankfully, Muslims don’t use Ramadan as a propaganda tool in Singapore to win converts over.

 

[BeeSweet]

Most Christians simply don’t know how Muslims fast at all. I am not bashing them, but their concept of fasting is not fasting at all. They are just reversing their eating cycle from day to night. At night, they eat like crazy so they would stay full during the fasting period. As a result, they become hypoglycemic. Symptoms like Shakiness, anxiety, nervousness, tremor, and dilated pupils are common. Don’t expect to get anything done during Ramadan. They are very lethargic to do anything.

Another thing that you don’t hear from Muslims is that some Muslims especially the Arabs gain weight during Ramadan. InJesus and others from Middle East can attest to that. If you gain weight during fasting, something ain’t right.

Contrary to what Muslims say on TV, Ramadan isn’t that wonderful.

I agree. The Ramadan fast makes little sense to me. Going to bed with a full tummy is not a fast.

A school mate of mine who is pregnant is practicing the Ramadan fast. She will eat in the morning, as long as it’s before sunrise. I asked her with some concern why she would not be excused from the fast because she is pregnant. She said she was not obligated necessarily, but that if she felt she could do it then it was OK. I don’t know if children are excused from the Ramadan fast, but they and pregnant women should be, and should be encouraged not to fast. A merciful God takes no glory in depriving nourishment from children.

I really don’t understand the point of the Ramamdan fast. It was explained to me that it teaches a person self-discipline and self-control. Do they observe it as a form of penance?

 

[tGette]

Most Christians simply don’t know how Muslims fast at all. I am not bashing them, but their concept of fasting is not fasting at all. They are just reversing their eating cycle from day to night. At night, they eat like crazy so they would stay full during the fasting period. As a result, they become hypoglycemic. Symptoms like Shakiness, anxiety, nervousness, tremor, and dilated pupils are common. Don’t expect to get anything done during Ramadan. They are very lethargic to do anything.

Another thing that you don’t hear from Muslims is that some Muslims especially the Arabs gain weight during Ramadan. InJesus and others from Middle East can attest to that. If you gain weight during fasting, something ain’t right.

Contrary to what Muslims say on TV, Ramadan isn’t that wonderful.

I think this would be due to the fact that they break their fast improperly.
If they gorge on food the whole night then it would defeat the purpose.
Though…I do not think it is fair to say that all Muslims pound their faces with food come night time. There are plenty who see this as something to take very seriously.

I definitely think the idea of not drinking water is ridiculous also. Fasting is supposed to be about appreciating the food we take for granted, denying ourselves pleasure, penance, etc…not damaging our bodies through lack of hydration.

 

[BeeSweet]

I definitely think the idea of not drinking water is ridiculous also. Fasting is supposed to be about appreciating the food we take for granted, denying ourselves pleasure, penance, etc…not damaging our bodies through lack of hydration.

They don’t take water either? That’s just self abusive. I wonder how many premature births occur during Ramadan due to dehydrated pregnant women (dehydration can trigger early labor). :nope:

All the more reason to pray for them.

 

[tGette]

This holy month was one of the things that attracted me to the piety of Islam. Admittedly, Islam does have some pious practices.

Holiness can exist ONLY with truth.

This is true…what you say about truth!
Thanks!

 

[tGette]

We Catholics have more fasting days than the Muslims. There is nothing admirable about the Muslim fasting. Go ahead, break fast with a Muslim and watch how they much they can swallow in one go. Gluttony is a sin, is it not?

Muslims (especially in America as i have been informed), use Ramadan as a propaganda tool to show the naive non-Muslim about the “peaceful” side of their religion.

I say, go for it. Fast with them and watch gluttony in action.

tGette, my sincerest apologies. I know you’re a wonderful heart, but i live in a country full of Muslims. I interact with them daily. I love them as a people and will protect my dear Muslim friends if their lives are in danger. But even they know i abhor propaganda.

Thankfully, Muslims don’t use Ramadan as a propaganda tool in Singapore to win converts over.

No need to apologize…that is why I started this thread! I wanted people’s thoughts and opinions.

I guess I can see how they use it is a propaganda tool…which is deceiving. I was more looking from the aspect of the discipline this requires…though it is unfortunate the gluttony that occurs in the evenings. Though I know not all Muslims do it this way…

Partly I was considering fasting along with them…more as fast for them. But the idea of no water is dangerous to me.

Mainly, it made me reconsider my current fasting habits. It is something all Christians should do throughout the year in some way. Whether it be a complete fast, a juice fast, or even if it is in limiting our meals and portions, etc.

 

[meedo]

My goodness, Ramadan is here again so soon? I tell you, time sure flies faster as you get older!

Peace be upon you and the blessings of this time of fasting, contemplation and memory, all you Muslims out there (and everyone of us)!

And peace and blessing and happiness and security be on you and your family , your nation and loved ones

Meedo

 

[Badaliyyah]

Ramadan is definitely one of the highlights of Islam. This holy month was one of the things that attracted me to the piety of Islam. Admittedly, Islam does have some pious practices.

I guess I was wondering if anyone might be using this as an opportunity to do more fasting, to fast with the Muslims (or fast for the Muslims), etc.

Maybe some of you do not have fasting as a part of your prayer life?
If not…why not?
If so…what does your fast involve?

I know we have Lent (I do not feel like a lot of take advantage of it though); I feel like we could learn some things from how devoted Muslims are to this month of Ramadan.

Any thoughts…Thanks!

…Please I do not want this to turn into Islam bashing…
Thanks again!

Growing up in the Middle East, my first real exposure to fasting and feasting was through Islam and the month of Ramadan. The month was an activity undertaken by the whole community (to varying degrees of course). It was a beautiful experience to be with large families or groups of friends as they broke fast and celebrated at night fall.

Today, as a Melkite, it remains my Muslim friends who are most interested and most supportive during our seasons of fasting (the solemn fast commemorating the Beheading of John the Baptist would only be the most recent example) even though they only occasionally overlap and take a different form. This experience is only compounded by the fact that the practice of fasting is, for all practical purposes, a dead one amongst Latin Catholics in America.

The experience of Ramadan (and Islam more generally) made and continues to make me a better Rumi (Byzantine Catholic). And, now, in America we support one another, Rumi and Muslim, in a culture that is not only deaf to our faith but dead to the things we value.

salaam.

 

[planten]

Most Christians simply don’t know how Muslims fast at all. I am not bashing them, but their concept of fasting is not fasting at all. They are just reversing their eating cycle from day to night. At night, they eat like crazy so they would stay full during the fasting period. As a result, they become hypoglycemic. Symptoms like Shakiness, anxiety, nervousness, tremor, and dilated pupils are common. Don’t expect to get anything done during Ramadan. They are very lethargic to do anything.

Another thing that you don’t hear from Muslims is that some Muslims especially the Arabs gain weight during Ramadan. InJesus and others from Middle East can attest to that. If you gain weight during fasting, something ain’t right.

Contrary to what Muslims say on TV, Ramadan isn’t that wonderful.

**Yes, it could be true. I can tell only about myself while in Qatar. I used to fast but (I feel) I used to eat more than normal days. I used to eat four times as follows:

1. Eat at breakfast (in evening at sunset). I used to eat faily well. Then offer prayers.
2. Eat proper eveing meal after prayers. That was my habit.
3. Walk about, sea side or do other work till midnight.
4. Eat somethings at about 11 p.m.
5. Eat 2 Parathas (fried chapatis) at early morning before starting my fast.

So that is four times. And I feel that it could be more than usual food intake. But please remember that it all used to burn out in the stomach before sunset.

After continous fasting for 20 or 25 days, we used to feel the weakness too.
Al hamdu Lillah.**

 

[bpbasilphx]

Some Friends in my Meeting participate by fasting in Ramadan along with their Muslim neighbors. I have not been led to do so, but I would not discourage those who are so led.

And do your Quaker and Muslim friends fast with the Orthodox during Orthodox Great Lent?

 

[meedo]

They don’t take water either? That’s just self abusive. I wonder how many premature births occur during Ramadan due to dehydrated pregnant women (dehydration can trigger early labor). :nope:

All the more reason to pray for them.

Pregnant women dont fast.

regards,