Ramadan
is the holy month of fasting and prayer in the Islamic faith. Every year
Muslims across the world engage in a dry fast and also proceed to do good works
and charity. Read for yourself.
Since I was a teenager I would hear people speaking about Ramadan and
understood only that it was a month of fasting. In my mind it seemed to be a
month of not eating a single thing and doing nothing wrong, not even killing an
irritating fly. I also came to learn about lent which is a 40 day fast, in some Christian denominations, or giving up of certain luxuries. This period runs
from Ash Wednesday till the eve of Easter. Read for yourself. Still even knowing all of this I had
never engaged in any of these fasting periods in my life. I am a Christian
and from time to time I do fast but had never prepared myself nor have I
made an attempt to fast for longer than a week.
At
the beginning of the year I made a decision to engage in Ramadan. I prepared my
mind by telling it that this year is the year in which I do it and no matter what I will do it. I told the
people close to me that yes I am doing Ramadan this year. I gathered information about it the calendar,
the times and
the protocol. Since I am not a Muslim I will fast and pray in the way that I
know.
The
first seven days.
I
will be honest the first day of Ramadan was quite unbearable. I would look at
the time and had the urge to rush it forward so that I could break the fast and eat something before
my stomach’s grumble blows the building. While running a few errands, I walked
past many fast food restaurants that all had promotions on their lunch time
specials. I met an acquaintance who politely invited me for a chat and some coffee. It seemed like torture in an open chamber
where the captured can roam as he wills but not permitted to eat as he wanted to. As
the day progressed I would pray that I should not be tempted to eat the next
little piece of bread that came to sight. On the other hand I realised that
during the time of fast my mind was already tuned into not-eating and hence it had
enough capacity to focus on the daily tasks at hand. I became more productive
as the week went by and put more ideas into action than I did in the last month. My acceptance
towards people became better and I found it easier to converse with people.
The
first seven days of Ramadan were possible not only due to my mind being in a
good place and the spirit of God spurring me onward and forward but also due to
the support of those close to me and those who accepted that I am fasting.
Point of clarity: many people believed (and some still do) that I am a Muslim or am converting to
the Islamic faith. Well... I am not. However I am fasting and praying to God who is
in heaven. Then the question begs why you are fasting in the month of the
Muslims and to Allah. The simple response: I believe there is only one God, though there are many religions, and this time of fast is my journey in the path
of spiritual enlightenment and getting closer to Him. I digress. The next 3
weeks will be challenging and also filled with many temptations. I am optimistic
that at the end of Ramadan all will be well, Inshallah as the Muslims would say meaning as God wills it.