Ramadan reflections

Today, depending on the part of the world you're currently in, it’s either the 17th or 18th of Ramadan, the blessed month of Fasting.
And today is also the day I realized its been about a month I've been away from (mine and other people's) blogs, and the social internet in general.

Now coming to Ramadan, I’m guessing almost everyone knows at least someone muslim, but I find it alarming that in spite of this, a lot of people have quite a few misconceptions; so here we present, The Square Circle's Guide to Understanding Ramadan... for the people who didn't know it already
:)

1.
Firstly, "Ramadan" (or "Ramzan", depending on how you pronounce it) is NOT the festival. It is the blessed month when we fast and it lasts 29 to 30 days depending on the lunar calendar.
The festival is called "Eid", and that comes at the end of the month.

2.
There’s more to fasting than just staying away from food and water. The fasting person also exercises mental discipline – and that includes staying clear of fights, arguments and abusive language as well.

3.
We don't particularly appreciate it when people ask us if we’re hungry, and then wonder out loud that its incredible how you can go a whole day without eating anything.
Its not like we’re setting up a new world record by being without food and drink for 15hrs – people have been doing this for at least 1,400 years.

4.
Actually, people have been fasting for even longer than that – and every major religion on earth has and requires of its members to undergo fasts.

5.
We don’t fast to lose excess flab, cut down on calories or save on lunch money. Quite surprising even some (educated) people from work think that.
We fast because the Creator of the heavens and the earth asks us to, and we do it to seek His bounty, who has bestowed upon us all we have and don't think twice about.
(including that snickers bar in your hand right now!)

6.
If you’re a smoker, no it is not ridiculous that you have to go through the day without a smoke.
Personally, I think it is smokers who are ridiculous.

7.
Yes, women fast too.

8.
Not everyone gets to eat haleem everyday (or for that matter, knows how to make it). Yes, I do miss it, but there’s only so much a guy can cook for himself.

9.
Iftar (after sun down) is not an excuse to stuff yourself with everything in the fridge and make up for the lost food.
Unfortunately, even most muslims seem to have no clue about this.

Above all, Ramadan is a time to reflect – upon all things that we have been blessed with, of all things we aren’t thankful for, and think about all those people, who involuntarily fast every single day…

…whose fasting doesn’t necessarily end at sunset with a big table of food.

May Peace be upon you all.

11 comments:

A New Beginning said...

The conluding line I must say is worth being appreciated :)Yes thats exactly what Ramzan is all about, it teaches us to be thankful for the innumerable blessings that the Almighty has showered upon us, there are many people who go without food every single day of their life,for them let alone food being a bare necessity is a luxury, and thats what Ramzan truely makes us realise.
May the blessed month bring peace in the world and hapiness to all, especially the less fortunate.Amen

Darshan Chande said...

Wow! First of all, I did not know you are a Muslim. Hm... :) And this was a very enlightening post. Subject is serious but it's written which such lightness that makes it all the more interesting. The point about smokers was sharp, and the "world record" thing was humorous but wittily said... Ramzan, it's a nice thing.

Dhanya said...

I think smokers are ridiculous too! It's SO not cool to smoke...

I heard from one Muslim that when you break your fast, you don't actually feel like eating much or eat as much as you thought you would. Stomach shrinking does that to u I guess :)

Mohammed Musthafa said...

Glad to see ur back...was wondering where u'd gone...spot on observations about Ramadan....especially the last one...

-=A.R.N.=- said...

@A new beginning
Ameen to that!
Most ppl I know simply look at Ramadan as the opportunity to brush up more on their culinary skills :)

@Darshan
Hmm, I wonder why that happened?
:D
And thx!

@Dhanya
Well, its not exactly stomach shrinking...I know lots of ppl who eat a ton after the fast breaking.
But even from a purely medical perspective, its not a good idea to eat a lot after being without food for a while.
Besides, overeating isn't good in any case.

-=A.R.N.=- said...

@Mohammed Musthafa
Thx...yeah, I'm kinda staying away from blogs and the like for a while now (what I refer to as the "Social Internet" ).
What I do use is the "essential internet" such as my banking and stuff

There is so much hunger and suffering in the world that it now becomes our responsiblity to do something about it.

Unknown said...

So nice to see you back :)
And yes.. beautiful way to present Ramadan...
May the Almighty bestow His blessings upon you for the enlightenment you provide...

-=A.R.N.=- said...

@issam
Thx! And may this Ramadan be of much benefit to you too!

Sheeraz Ahamed Khateeb said...

Congrats dude..... this is for NOT-separating u r worldly blog with Islamic blog...
It was right thing u posted here..
i would rather suggest u to use this same blog instead of using broken fish tank for islamic post.

one small addition to point 3. Fasting is being done by people who lived before Prohpet Mohammed (PBUH) as per quran.. i know u wrote atleast 1400 yrs b4.. but fact is may be from the time of existance of human on earth. as there is no time frame in Quran.

Last... you hit the right points, which teaches lesson not only for people following other religion's but for muslims too..
May Allah reward u for this...

Rayees Ahamed said...

jazakallah...

the concluding line is simply superb. I think that is exactly the essence of ramadhan, realize the sufferings of the poor, pay zakath, pay Fitra(charity), thus it concludes with Eid-ul-Fitra (The festival of charity)

-=A.R.N.=- said...

@Sheeraz
Thx!
I kinda realized I was drawing a blank on the other blog. The reason I started that was because I tried to follow someone's (wrong) advise that you need to have separate blogs for each topic etc.

And regarding the fasting years, yes, I know the verse as well...but I was referring to what is currently Islamic fasting (dawn to dusk).

@Rayees
Congratulations!!
(That's for the other thing :)
Hope your new life's going on good.

And you're right about Eid as well. Its really a pity that even most muslims don't know its called "Eid ul-Fitr" or what "fitr" stands for.