Ramadan

[Blueberry]

I heard in the news that Ramadan - the islamic month of fasting and prayer- starts this day.

In my ignorance I always believed that you were allowed to drink water during the day.
Apparently this is not so.Water is also excluded.

This means that to stay healthy you can't do anything during the day than to be inactive,hide from the sun and move around as little as possible ?!

I'm not in any way trying to mock muslims for practising Ramadan.
I'm pretty certain its a very valuable tradition and from my own experience I know fasting can be good for your body - at least as long as you can IMMEDIATELY replace lost body fluids.(In fact - for each percent lost body fluid you'll lose 10% endurance)

Call me a simpleton - but I really think this simple issue is important.

Should drinking water during the day necessarily interfere with the muslim objective of Ramadan as "a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control" ?

It would be interesting if someone with a muslim background could comment on how muslims regard Ramadan and how it should be practised,both here and further east.

Cheers - Peace
- Rob.

[Deuce Bigolo]

During the daytime for sure

Its a committment i could do without but once the Fast is over comes the night time binge



cheers
B....OZ Non-Muslim

[Blueberry]

exactly but if it was a committment I had to make,I would be forced to sleep during the day to have any chance of fullfilling the strict regime of R.
Most muslims live in very warm areas,sucking the energy out of you if you can't drink water.
The Aborogines in Australia though should find the regime nothing special,masters as they are of surviving on scarce food and little water(if need arises)

cheers Rob - non-downunder (land of ice and snow)

[Deuce Bigolo]

As a Muslim who was interviewed by Aussie George Negus for his book Islam said

I arise 5.00am... an hour before the fast begins...hydrate and feed myself for the next 12 hours and go about my business as per usual
It sounds difficult but it isn't because I am committed

The biggest irritant according to him wasn't Lack of Water during the day but lack of the usual non-necessities like nicotine & caffeine which made people irritable to deal with

Remember they do have Air-Conditioning in the Middle East
They're not all out riding camels like the Bedouin
another misconception the west has about the middle east
Go to any of the 7 emirates and you'll see Modern Society flourishing side by side with religion

Then thers the fact that where you live locally you are acclimatised to the conditions.

Any Indigneous local to the region who is still in touch with his culture will be able to survive easily.Some of the Australian Aborigines would be up to the task but many wouldn't....lost their culture due to the "Stolen Generation Fiasco"

A good reason as any why Religion should never rule the State

cheers
B....OZ

[Guilbert]

I visited Saudi Arabia on business a few years ago, just before
Ramadan was going to start.

During Ramadan people have parties in the evening where they
eat and drink a lot to make up for the fasting during the day.

The company I visited had posters on the wall warning people
about driving after a day of fasting, because of tiredness due to
lack of food and drink.

They also warned people about driving too fast to get to the
evening party because their reactions were impaired.

So maybe we should watch out for hungry and thirsty Muslims
driving at 80 miles an hour to get to the evening parties.

Guilbert

[RetroDon]

Is there a better example of the silliness of organised religion?

[mart]

or once I agree with you Retrodon. It's a complete load of bollocks.

Mart

[Deuce Bigolo]

Silly it maybe to us outsiders

Extreme practice for sure

At least its something that can be measured to say you are truly of that religion unlike others I could name

Turn up to Church on Sunday for a few hours to show that your a Christian
but the other six days of the week its business as usual and your anything but....

Actions & Deeds that take more than your usual amount of committment speak louder than token gestures

cheers
B....OZ

[steve56]

yeah they are a funny lot always praying.lol.

[Pervert]

Another astute observation on race, culture and religion.

And how sane and sensible is eating fish on Friday? Or the belief that a wafer becomes the flesh of Christ when it moves from a priest's hand on to the tongue of a worshiper?

Whatever we may think of Islam, it cannot be denied that it takes a great amount of self-discipline to keep to the rules of Ramadan. Pretty sure I couldn't do it.