What Ramadan means to me
RAMADAN has one context for all those who observe it… to cleanse their soul to get a centimetre closer to the Creator.
I’ve been asked the question about why Muslims fast during Ramadan all my life and it has always been difficult to answer, with deduction, because there are many reasons for this month-long journey… so my answers have mainly been scattered according to the enquirer.
For thousands of people reading this column, I would say that Ramadan is a time for reflection and finding peace within oneself, a sort-of mandatory time out.
With our very busy lifestyles, schedules and diets, most of us forget about taking time out to reflect about where life is leading us and how we wish to pursue our goals and I have noticed that when I am observing a fast, I automatically find the time to act on positive contexts that benefit my being.
Today, scientists have discovered that intermittent fasting as well as a month-long dry fast has benefits that outweigh any dietary regimen one can undertake.
As a Muslim, I am glad that it has been a norm in my life, so undertaking this context of dry-fasting is comfortable for me as a high-flying individual.
I wont go into the history of how Ramadan began because I am sure it has been published many times before but I would like to provide you as a reader more insight into how beneficial it has become to my lifestyle as a human being.
Because I truly miss Ramadan when it is over each year I have volunteered to add regular fasting into my life.
I took on this act as a way of attempting to emulate the lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and as a means of becoming even the slightest bit similar to his character, so on a Monday and a Thursday I regularly dry fast as a way of life. From what I gathered during my fast, I have become more silent when it comes to my ordinary vices such as being too extreme or getting irritated by silliness.
Observing the fast provides you time to reflect on things one would never think of on a full tummy, so it adds mindfulness contemplation into my lifestyle because hunger is a conduit, trust me.
I’ve always been advised that it is better to be mild rather than too extreme but with my nature of being born an extrovert I have had to train myself into being mild and fasting has been the best cure for this.
As a 38-year-old I have also gained some kilos and I found that to keep my body mass index on par with my vanity requirements, fasting helps keep my weight to 50kg, which I am most comfortable with.
And as a writer I have been able to enjoy more time being inspired because I am not spending time relaxing and coiling under a blanket as most of us can do after eating a full meal.
What I wish to add are little tidbits of information I have gathered over the years, which have afforded me great opportunity to thoroughly enjoy my fast each Ramadan and on other voluntary observances.
For all day fresh breath I suck on some honey before sunrise, along with other routines, when the fast begins to ensure that my breath does not appear rancid throughout the day. I mention this because I once had a curious colleague who wished to smell my breath while fasting and I let her because I was confident it was worth a sniff.
Second, I don’t suggest drinking anything caffeinated for your early morning breakfast because caffeine is a diuretic and could pass through your body before 7am, which leaves you thirsty for the next 12 hours of your fast. Third, I have tried eating a number of different breakfast options since being Ramadan-ready as a child and I found that the best breakfast is a banana smoothie with ProNutro as the base with dates as its sweetener or simply two to three glasses of pure 100% fruit juice.
I noticed that you still end up hungry with toast or a big meal because they digest fast and you’re left with a starving feeling throughout the day and I doubt that leaves one enjoying the fast much.
Fourth, I have noticed that eating much less than I normally do during a non-Ramadan month does the trick to help me secure a better dietary lifestyle throughout the year, so perhaps try eating less and drink more water after breaking your fast. Studies have proven that most people mistake thirst for hunger, so try drinking a tall glass of water over choosing a bigger portion of food.
And last, it is important that we consider how our organs react to fasting, so it is important to not over exert your body when observing Ramadan.
One important fact I read while researching Ramadan diets was that many people drank icy drinks as their first beverage after breaking the fast during iftaar. This is not suitable for the body because it can hurt our organs, so rather drink room temperature drinks so we do not shock our systems which were standing still during the day while fasting.
My enjoyment of Ramadan has grown as I have matured and with this evolution I have been able to savour the benefits of feeling more spiritual, quieter and more loving which has provided training for how I can live throughout the year when it is not Ramadan.
Science has proven that if you wish to form a habit try doing something daily for at least a month, why not try this during Ramadan… that is living more holistically.
With much hope I am writing this editorial to afford others who dry fast the opportunity to enjoy the moment and feel more blessed because at the end of the day feeling enlightened, elevated and empowered is the context of this month called Ramadan in the Islamic calendar.
Wishing everyone observing this month a time for mindful reflection to gain honour for your spirit and soul.