THE FASTING OF RAMADAN by Dr. Mohamed Elmasry

Canadian Muslims, and Muslims worldwide, are presently fasting the month of Ramadan. For 29-30 days they fast during the daylight hours of each day (from one hour before sunrise until sunset). The keynote to all observances is self-discipline, self-restraint and flexibility. It is not an ascetic or self-mortifying practice.

On the material level, the fasting - during the fasting hours - involves total abstinence from all food, drink, tobacco and marital intercourse. On the behavioral level, abstinence from quarreling or engaging in angry talk, and wrong behavior of any sort. It is a time for reconciliation.

Fasting is in no sense an excuse for neglect of work or obligations, idleness irritability or outbursts of temper, but, on the contrary, should be a totally inner state leading to patience and inner peace. Muslims must carry on their work and other activities even though they may be hungry, thirsty and tired.

The basic rules of fasting are quite simple: every day of Ramadan is a fasting day. The very elderly, the very young, and the insane are permanently exempt from fasting; while travelling or sick persons, women during menstruation and up to 40 days following childbirth, pregnant and nursing mothers, and any other condition where fasting could cause harm, are temporarily exempt. Instead, he or she would feed a needy person or give a sum equivalent to the meal.

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic Hijra Calendar, and is followed by Eid Al Fitr, the festival of Fast- Breaking.

It should be noted that because Islam uses a lunar rather than a solar calendar, any given date falls 12 days earlier each year than in the preceding one. Consequently, Ramadan, (and all other dates), rotates throughout the seasons, completing the cycle of 12 months in about 33 years. So Ramadan can be in the spring, summer, fall or winter.

Fasting is naturally quite easy during the short days of winter, but can be extremely taxing in the heat of tropical summers. Under such conditions the fasting Muslims learn that food and drink are indeed precious gifts to be accepted with thankfulness and not taken for granted. They also learn to feel with the poor who are frequently in the same state of hunger they are now experiencing, and become even more charitable during Ramadan.

The most difficult time is the first 3 days, when the body is adapting to the new system of no food, no drink, and no smoking for so many hours. The body learns to survive, and spends its time cleaning up and putting its internal functions in order without the daily duties of consuming food. It possesses fantastic mechanisms whereby it can deposit and store fuel during periods of availability and it possesses the ability to mobilize this fuel at times of need. During fasting for example, the liver must provide glucose for tissues requiring this fuel, primarily the brain; This it does mainly by synthesizing new glucose from glycogenic amino acids released into the circulation from the muscles. This results in a fast rate of fat breakdown.

Does one lose weight during Ramadan? Yes, if one does not indulge at the time of breaking the fast!

In spite of the apparent hardship of fasting, Ramadan is a very enjoyable period to which Muslims look forward year after year, when a special family and social atmosphere prevails throughout. This article is excerpted by permission of the author, from Extracts published by the Toronto Star, April 25,1987.

This article was originally published in Cross Cultures Magazine in Volume 1 - Issue 3 - 1992. Unauthorized copying, distribution or other usage without express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.