Ramadan

[Catherineanne]

A friend of mine is fasting for Ramadan. She explained the process, but I may not have understood it completely.

She prays, breaks her fast, eats and then prays for 2 hours in the middle of the night; in effect staying up all night. Then she eats again and then goes to sleep. She sleeps all morning, until perhaps 1 or 2pm, then gets up, showers, and stays awake all afternoon and evening, and into the night. She says about 6 hours of prayers every day during Ramadan, but only 1.5 hours during other times. Last night she broke her fast at about 9.30pm.

I suggested what some Imams have said; that people follow Mecca fasting times but she would have none of that at all. She also said that people in Sweden have to fast all day. We pointed out that they would die, and she said in that case they have to move. There is no other option.

I got the impression that she was on some kind of high from this; she is certainly deriving some kind of spiritual benefit, which is to be expected because we experience the same in Lent and Advent. (Well, some of us do.)

Has anyone else any experience of Ramadan, either directly or indirectly?

 

[ContraMundum]

I asked a Muslim just last week how many days of fasting through Ramadan would clean his slate of the sins he has committed during his whole life. He replied he didn't know. I asked him if the Hajj cleansed his soul and wiped away his sins. He said he didn't know. I asked the same about praying only fives times a day - same answer. I asked him if the uncertainly of his sins being wiped away was a problem for him...he said he'd have to think about and would get back to me.

Interesting.

 

[Catherineanne]

I asked a Muslim just last week how many days of fasting through Ramadan would clean his slate of the sins he has committed during his whole life. He replied he didn't know. I asked him if the Hajj cleansed his soul and wiped away his sins. He said he didn't know. I asked the same about praying only fives times a day - same answer. I asked him if the uncertainly of his sins being wiped away was a problem for him...he said he'd have to think about and would get back to me.

Interesting.

Those are good questions. I may ask my friend the same ... : )

Ramadan ends this week; of course the day is uncertain; Eid is perhaps Saturday in the UK.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I work with a number of Muslims, all are rather humble about their observance, but when asked are glad to answer questions. Their level of observance varies a lot; one young engineer went out for beers with us. One of our Quality Specialists (a great guy and a humerous and good natured friend) who was working with us on a special project, declined even to sit with us while we ate.

 

[Catherineanne]

Fortunately we have reached Eid (on Friday in fact). My neighbours brought us chocolates, which was very kind of them.