As Ramadan approaches, Muslims discuss things they wish their peers knew about the holy month
As Ramadan approaches, Muslims discuss things they wish their peers knew about the holy month
The holy month of Ramadan will begin on Thursday with the
appearance of a crescent moon, initiating a month-long fast from sunrise to
sunset for many of the world's 1.9 billion Muslims.
Ramadan, the ninth and most important month of the Islamic
calendar, is when Muslims believe the first words of the Quran were revealed to
Prophet Muhammad.
And even though Islam is the world's fastest-growing faith, on track to eclipse Christianity as the largest religion globally, Ramadan still isn't well understood by many non-Muslims.
True, the Ramadan fast certainly means catch-ups and
hangouts with your Muslim friends and colleagues could look a little different
for a month, but there's no cause to worry about their well-being. The fast isn't
meant as a punishment or to torture people observing it. Contrarily, for many Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a
profoundly spiritual and consoling period that is rich in altruism,
introspection, thankfulness, and community. The major goal of Ramadan and fasting, according to Amr
Murad, 29, who has been fasting since he was nine years old, is to accomplish
taqwa, or spiritually growing closer to God. "Secondarily, it's to develop
discipline, self-control, and patience. After that, compassion for those in
need develops." Muslims also abstain from other behaviors such as gossiping,
cursing, lying, engaging in sexual activity, and disputing to acquire
this discipline and closeness to God. It's also vital to give zakat or a gift to
the underprivileged. The objective is to make better choices and filter out the
noise to make space for spirituality. Those participating in the fast are encouraged to really
look inward and ask themselves whether they're being the best people, friends,
spouses, children, or siblings they can be. So don't be concerned for your Muslim peers and their lack
of food and drink. They might not have the same amount of energy, but
everything happens for a purpose, and it's not supposed to be simple. Consider
it a spiritual detox or intermittent fasting. The most frequent query, according to 29-year-old Mohamed
Labib, is "Not even water?" And Labib isn’t alone, many Muslims say this is the most
frequently asked question they get every year from their non-Muslim peers. To settle it once and for all: No, not even water. No gum,
either. But your Muslim friends also want you to know that they can continue to
take showers and brush their teeth because Islam places a high value on good
hygiene. It's OK to eat and drink in front of Muslims observing the
fast Many people avoid eating and drinking in front of someone
who is fasting out of respect, but some of them go above and beyond, according
to Tarek Halabi, 30, who began fasting at the age of 14. Even if they
accidentally ate or drank, they would be concerned lest one of them suffer
harm. Fasting Muslims may appreciate the thoughtfulness, but one
of the purposes of the fast is to strengthen discipline, especially in the face
of any and all temptations. It's all a part of the package, whether it's observing
coworkers drink their coffee during a meeting or observing a friend consume a
donut.Year after year, your Muslim friends and coworkers are
seeing you stare at them in surprise once they say, “No, not even water.”
Ahead of Ramadan this time around, here are some things your
Muslim peers wish you knew.
It's not about starvation; it's about developing your
spirituality and closeness to God
No, not even water