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Heat makes Ramadan fasting a greater challenge

By HELEN T. GRAYThe Kansas City Star

Imagine going a whole day without anything to eat or a drop to drink during these long, hot summer days.

This is what Muslims are preparing to do starting Monday and continuing during the month of Ramadan. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Farrukh Hasan of Shawnee said it is definitely a challenge because the days are so long, and the weather is so hot.

Thirst and exhaustion are especially a challenge for Muslims who work outside in the excessive heat, Server Sheriff of Kansas City said.

Hasan said, “Even though I have air conditioning, I miss water because I usually drink a lot of water.”

“I’m from India, and most people don’t have air conditioning there,” Hasan said. “This makes us think of how fortunate we are in this country. Even our cars are air-conditioned.”

When she was growing up in India, she and her schoolmates would fast along with the adults. People got used to it, even in the hot months.

“It’s amazing the tolerance of our bodies,” Hasan said.

Yet she conceded this week that she’s always a bit nervous before the start of Ramadan that she can do the fast.

“I’m getting older, but I’m thankful that I am healthy,” she said.

During Ramadan, she and her husband start their day with a small meal before dawn. they eat again after sunset and then go to the mosque for an extra prayer. they go to bed at about midnight, so Muslims are not only food-deprived but also sleep-deprived, unless they can catch a nap during the day.

Fasting helps get rid of bad eating habits, Hasan said, and it’s a confirmation of her strength.

“It is very satisfying to know that if I want to do something, I can do it,” she said. “It shows you that you can handle the difficulties in life. I come out of Ramadan stronger.”

Another positive side of Ramadan in the summer is that the children are out of school, Qurat Mir of Leawood said.

“they get to spend the extra-special nights of Ramadan basking in the love of friends and family, worshipping in the masjid and staying up late for night prayers, reading of the Qur’an and occasionally a pick-up basketball game or hang-out session.”

Many Muslims say fasting brings them closer to God.

“when we fast, we also are supposed to stay away from a lot of immoral things and think more about God,” Riyaz Lareef of Olathe said.

The intention is that if Muslims abstain from harmful things during Ramadan, they can keep it up the rest of the year.

“During Ramadan, we are to stop doing any kind of sins as much as we can, not just stop eating and drinking,” he said. “The purpose is to teach us to stay away from doing any sins throughout the year.”

Also, he said, researchers have discovered medical benefits from fasting, such as ridding one’s body of toxins.

“these medical benefits are not the reason to fast but a side benefit,” he said.

When Christians ask Khaldoun Ahmad, a doctoral student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, why he’s not eating, it gives him the opportunity to tell them about Islam, he said. For him, fasting teaches patience, and he likes getting together with friends who invite him to their homes to break the fast.

Tanveer Papa of Leawood said the first couple of days are always difficult because of the lack of water. Also, he’s a coffee drinker, plugging in the coffeepot before he starts getting ready for work.

Now that first cup is at about 4:15 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. He also downs a lot of water each day before fasting and a lot after fasting.

Mir emphasized that Ramadan is not just about fasting.

It’s about worship, prayer, reading the Qur’an and breaking fast as a community and within families, she said.

Also, “we focus on the spiritual, and we turn our attention away from the worldly,” she said. “It is a way to detox both our bodies and our souls from unhealthy things and to recharge our bodies and souls with good clean nourishment of family, home-cooked meals and spiritual centeredness.”

Sheriff said that from a spiritual point of view, he gains “tranquility, peace of mind and a sense of achievement at successfully meeting one of the basic tenets of Islam. Physical gains may differ from person to person, the most important being self-control.”

Giving alms to the poor is one of the five pillars of the faith. Although it is not specifically to be done at Ramadan, feeding the poor and hungry have become good works associated with the month, Mir said.

“This year our attention turns to Somalia and the parts of Africa in which the reported drought is taking lives,” she said. “we will also focus on the problem of hunger locally as well.

“we plan and hope this year that my son and I have the opportunity to volunteer at Harvesters, and I would like to take him to a soup kitchen to help now that he will be 8 years old.”

Hasan said that during Ramadan, Muslims consciously look for people to help.

“If you live in Johnson County, you may think everybody is all right, but this is not true,” she said. “I call relatives in India to find out who is in a worse situation and try to help.”

She said she recalls beggars coming to their door each day and her mother giving out food she had prepared.

“I wish I didn’t live so isolated,” she said. “I feel that I’m not doing enough.”

One reason more charity is performed during Ramadan is that the Prophet Muhammad said Muslims will receive more rewards for charity during that month, Papa said.

Food drives will take place this month, Lareef said, and the food will be distributed locally and globally. The local chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America feeds the homeless downtown every two weeks throughout the year.

“During Ramadan, people give more than they ordinarily would to a charity,” Papa said. “The altruistic nature comes out. It would be very unusual during Ramadan for someone not to give you anything if you were in need.

“as human beings, we need to do this throughout the year. at Ramadan we practice it even more, and hopefully it will become a year-round habit.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT RAMADAN

Q. What is Ramadan?

A. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. since a lunar month is about a day shorter than a solar month, the lunar year is shorter, and Ramadan comes about 11 days earlier each year.

When does Ramadan begin this year?

According to the calculations of the Fiqh Council of North America, the first day of fasting will be Monday. these calculations are accepted by the Islamic Society of North America.

When does Ramadan end this year?

Fasting ends at sunset Aug. 29, and the next day marks Eid ul-Fitr, the Feast of Breaking Fast. This is a time when Muslims gather for prayer and celebration.

What are the requirements for Ramadan?

Fasting is from dawn to sunset and includes abstaining completely food, drink and sex during those hours. During Ramadan, Muslims are to refrain from impure thoughts and spend more time in prayer, reading the Qur’an and striving to grow closer to God.

Persons who are ill, pregnant, elderly or traveling may fast the same number of days at another time. If they are unable to do this, they are encouraged to feed a needy person for each day missed.

What important event do Muslims believe happened during Ramadan?

Muslims believe Ramadan was the month the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims call the night that the Qur’an was revealed “The Night of Power” or “The Night of Destiny.” Traditionally, this is celebrated on the 27th night of Ramadan.

To reach Helen Gray, call 816-234-4446 or send email to hgray@kcstar.com. | Helen T. Gray, The Star

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