Breaking fast wherever they can
PETALING JAYA: First, the call of duty. Then, break fast wherever the job takes them, even if it means doing so by the roadside.
Photographs of a group of firemen, who broke fast with a simple meal by a deserted road while putting out a fire, have gone viral.
The Fire and Rescue Department personnel were also seen performing their prayers, using their fireproof uniforms as prayer mats.
These pictures were uploaded on Facebook by Tengku Mohd Ihsan and shared in the Friends of Bomba Malaysia group. The posting soon went viral.
“Ramadan is not only about enduring hunger and thirst,” the admin of the group wrote, adding that it was also important to be true to oneself.
Port Klang Fire and Rescue Department head Mohd Naim Mohd Nasir confirmed that the incident occurred near Bandar Sultan Suleiman, Klang, a few days ago.
“It was my men who were fighting the fire. They were working in teams. The non-Muslims in the team fought the fire first as the Muslims broke fast for a short while,” he said.
He added that since the fire was contained and presented no risk to any lives or property, the Muslim firemen quickly had their meal before jumping back into action.
The Facebook posting led other firemen to share their experiences with fasting and breaking fast when in the line of duty.
“There was one time when I was about to break fast by eating a curry puff. I hadn’t consumed any water yet.
“Then the fire station sirens starting ringing. I jumped straight onto the truck,” one Mohd Abe Joe wrote.
“After coming back from the operation, I put my hands into my pocket. Ah ... it was the curry puff that I had not eaten.”
Another Facebook user, Reen Muhammad, shared a story about her friend, a firefighter who had to cancel meal plans when he was called for duty.
“We had planned to have sahur (pre-dawn meal) together. I waited until dawn but he did not reply my WhatsApp messages or answer his calls. I had not cooked anything, so I just ate dates and drank water.
“He later called me and said he had a case, but I said it was okay as he was fatigued. Appreciate these unsung heroes,” she wrote.