Ramadan

[dolphinlove]

Hi dolphinlove & famdigy,

Temperature here in Saudi Arabia under direct sun can reach up to 60°C (140F), the temperature you hear in the news forecast is taken in the shade.

As for the fasting and as famdigy said, people are staying in air conditioned environment all the time (cars, offices, homes), and usually work load degrades in Ramadan here in Saudi Arabia and productivity is very low, we have shorter working hours (only 5 hours per day for government sector and 6 hours for private sector), government timing will be shifted from 7:30am to 10am (so people will have more time to sleep), and we almost have the last ten days of Ramadan as holiday because of Eid vacation, this year we will have official Ramadan plus Eid vacation from 23ed September till 5th October.

Thanks for your response Sam, i only saw this now.
Do a lot of people suffer from heat stroke etc though?

 

[Booklover]

Hi
And thanks for taking the time to answer my question, but the one remains about time before air con.
Look, i know people must be thinking im just bringing up silly little points, but i think points like this need to be answered.
Why would God expect us to fast, without water, in 60 degree temperatures? As i said, in a previous post, even the healthiest people can suffer under these circumstances.
I myself come from a very hot country in the summer, in Australia, out in the desert, it can reach up to 50+ degrees as well, and i know full well, if you go without water for a day, the survival rate is not high.
I honestly do not think this type of fasting was intended for us by God, no matter how little you do, the human body will find it impossible to survive with no water during the day in 60 degree temperatures.
This is why im so adamant with this point.
Im like a dog with a bone, i keep going till i get the answer

Just another example of the illogic and fanaticism that permeates Islamic belief!

Vickie

 

[Agabriel]

Wow, it seems that a lot of people don’t understand Islam at all. Ganging up on one of your own is not the way, it only emboldens Muslims. I have seen it in action.

Anyway, I hope to enjoy some posts.

 

[Muslim_Woman]

Salaam/peace

… even the healthiest people can suffer under these circumstances.

this has been answered already. If there is a risk , it’s allowed for Muslims not to fast or break the fast. But s/he must make up the fasting in future as earliest as possible or feed the poor ( if health does not permit ) .

 

[R_not]

I got this in my email box about ramadan. So much for toleration of others!

outcastweb.com/iaction/ramadan.pdf

Some extra info:
outcastweb.com/iaction/circle3.pdf

 

[Americanrevert]

**

Hi
And thanks for taking the time to answer my question, but the one remains about time before air con.
Look, i know people must be thinking im just bringing up silly little points, but i think points like this need to be answered.
Why would God expect us to fast, without water, in 60 degree temperatures? As i said, in a previous post, even the healthiest people can suffer under these circumstances.
I myself come from a very hot country in the summer, in Australia, out in the desert, it can reach up to 50+ degrees as well, and i know full well, if you go without water for a day, the survival rate is not high.
I honestly do not think this type of fasting was intended for us by God, no matter how little you do, the human body will find it impossible to survive with no water during the day in 60 degree temperatures.
This is why im so adamant with this point.
Im like a dog with a bone, i keep going till i get the answer

Hello dolphinlove,

In Islam, Allah is considered the Most Merciful, the Most WISE. He never wishes harm to come to His FAITHFUL, BELIEVING, servants. In saying this, there are requirements and duties, laws and ordainments that must be carried out. After all, He is the Creator and He knows us better than we know ourselves.

There are sahih ahadith that state one can be exempted from such situations if it is absolutely necessary. Allah is Mericful and Gracious and Loving. These fasts though, however, need to be made up at a later date God willing if they are able. Just like women who are on their menses, or if one is sick, ill, traveling, etc., they are exempted from fasting but must make them up at a later date after Ramadan has passed. Allah says that fasting is* FOR HIM* so we listen and obey…here is the hadith

On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (PBUH), who said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says:
*Fasting is Mine and it I who give reward for it. *[A man] gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for my sake. Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy whin he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of the mouth of him who fasts is better in Allah’s estimation than the smell of musk.
It was related by al-Bukhari (also by Muslim, Malik, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah).

It is one of the 5 main pillars of Islam~Fast Ramadhan.

Hope this answers your question

“So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can” [al-Taghaabun 64:16]

“Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope” [al-Baqarah 2:286]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If I command you to do a thing, do as much of it as you can.” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 1337; al-Nasaa’i, 5/110).

americanrevert**

 

[Sam_777]

Thanks for your response Sam, i only saw this now.
Do a lot of people suffer from heat stroke etc though?

Yes indeed, lots of poor labours working under extreme heat conditions here in SA, and lots of them get heat strokes, however, recently in UAE they introduced new labour law prohibiting labours working outdoor from working in extreme peak hours, but that’s not the case here in SA.

 

[marymol]

May all those who are fasting draw strenght by joining their fasting with our Lord’s 40 day fast in the desert , in preparation of His mission to destroy the powers of evil !

May the comforting presence of Our Lady of Sorrows , our Blessed Mother, help us all to be compassionate for the sufferings of all and to be able to turn our hearts to our Merciful Lord in gratitude - for He , in His oneness with us in our pains , can be our strenght !

Peace !

 

[CatholicComrade]

**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.**

I think fasting is a great thing. I belive it takes us closer to God. But fasting should be more of a personal choice rather than an obligation.
Jesus says that when the hypocrite fasted, he would walk around with a sad face. He wanted everyone to know how much he was suffering. Some people look like this all the time, but that’s not the point. These people were deliberately letting people know they were fasting. If someone would come up and ask them why they looked so sad, they would immediately and mournfully respond, “I’m fasting.”
Jesus says that His disciples should wash their face and anoint their heads with oil whenever they fasted. The point is to not advertise your fasting. If someone finds out, make sure that it is not because of the way you presented yourself. When you fast only before God the Father, He will reward you openly!