Last year on the first day of Ramadan, I was spotted standing in line in the cafe at work. A very savvy, in-the-know physician, who only an hour earlier had wished me a well meaning and extremely jovial "Happy Ramadan!", saw me buy a coffee and a bagel. He didn't say anything as I gratefully sipped the steaming hot brew but I saw the look on his face as I passed. That look screamed, "Ah ha! Caught you eating!"
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is not meant as a hardship. The purpose of the fast is to gain mastery over our desires and to learn to be grateful for what we have been blessed with. It isn't a punishment and as such there are certain times when a Muslim may not fast.
1. A woman who is pregnant, menstruating, or nursing
2. A person who is sick or in pain.
3. The elderly and infirm.
There are others who don't have to fast but these are the most common. Why do I say this all? Just so you know, next time you see me drinking a coffee during Ramadan, it could be because I'm elderly and infirm. ;)
Ma Salaam
Khaalidah
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is not meant as a hardship. The purpose of the fast is to gain mastery over our desires and to learn to be grateful for what we have been blessed with. It isn't a punishment and as such there are certain times when a Muslim may not fast.
1. A woman who is pregnant, menstruating, or nursing
2. A person who is sick or in pain.
3. The elderly and infirm.
There are others who don't have to fast but these are the most common. Why do I say this all? Just so you know, next time you see me drinking a coffee during Ramadan, it could be because I'm elderly and infirm. ;)
Ma Salaam
Khaalidah
Follow thou the inspiration sent unto thee, and be patient and constant, till Allah do decide: for He is the best to decide.
Quran 10:109
How many people are trapped in their everyday habits: part numb,
part frightened, part indifferent? To have a better life we must
keep choosing how we are living." - Albert Einstein
Sent from my iPod
Quran 10:109
How many people are trapped in their everyday habits: part numb,
part frightened, part indifferent? To have a better life we must
keep choosing how we are living." - Albert Einstein
Sent from my iPod
I would think Muslims who labor outdoors in Houston would also be exempt this year, if only from the requirement to abstain from water. Their physical fitness is probably sufficient to go without calories (I can run 20 miles on just water) but in this heat, anyone sweating heavily needs water and electrolytes. In fact, if you know any Muslims who are spending a lot of time outdoors during Ramadan, suggest Endurolytes. They're available at most running goods stores and will supply necessary electrolytes without calories. It's still like fasting, but without the danger of heat-related illness.
ReplyDeleteI've also read that Muslims who are starving may eat food that is not halal (including pork) if no other food is to be found and dire consequences to one's health are a real probability. Few non-Muslims seem aware of this. They think Allah would rather you die within sight of life-giving food. How silly!
In my study of Islam for a senior project on Islamic Spain, I found no evidence of irrationality, only of the occasional irrational individual. Well, crazy people come from all walks of life, don't they? I wish more people would study up on things, rather than assume that the loudest fanatics speak for everyone.
Hey Ann. Thanks for stopping in to read. Indeed you are correct. If one works in a challenging situation, ie. extreme heat, fasting is considered a hardship and not required. You'd be amazed but I've been hearing stories from my color yes of patients who maintain the fast while undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Ludacris! All in an effort to be pious. In such conditions the fast isn't just absolved but it is forbidden.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side a collegue said to me yesterday, "I don't know how you fast in this heat. I couldn't do it."
My response, or the snarky one that I wanted to say but didn't was, "Yeah, couse that twelve foot trek from my front door to my air conditioned car can be grueling!"
As for eating pork and dire situations, you're right again. If it means preserving life in emergent situations, almost anything goes.