‘Fasting teaches us tolerance and discipline’
Seven-year-old Hussain Ebrahim Gadiwala, a grade 1 student at GEMS Modern Academy, is looking forward to observing the daylong fast for the whole of Ramadan this time. Born in January 2011, the little boy observed his first fast at the tender age of four, during Al Isra Wal Miraj in 2015.
Last year, the then six-year-old was a kindergarten student and managed to observe intermittent fasting during Ramadan. He observed the dawn-to-dusk fast on weekends and some select days, according to his mother Arwa Gadiwala.
“I told him he need not fast, but Hussain who has been going regularly to the madrasa for religious instruction on weekends along with his elder brother Esmail was very keen to observe the fast during the month,” she said.
Hussain described how he was inspired to fast in the past. “At the madrasa, they teach us that fasting teaches us tolerance, peace and discipline and helps us to be better human beings, so I decided that I would fast. The one-day fasting on Al Isra Wal Miraj was not difficult. Last year, my elder brother Esmail observed the fast for all 30 days. I wanted to do the same but could manage to fast only on weekends and a few days before Eid,” recalled Hussain.
Like everyone else in his family, on fasting days last year, Hussain used to wake up early for suhour. “We used to sleep early and wake up at 3am. My mother would make a delicious egg roll with fresh chapatis and vegetables and I used to have fruit and water as well. Later when I had to go to school, I would not feel hungry or thirsty,” recalled Hussain.
The little boy said how his mother would not let him sleep during the day. “After suhour and prayer, I would sleep till 8.30-9am on weekends. My brother Esmail and I would get so busy playing with our friends that it wasn’t difficult for us to spend the day. But towards evening before iftar, I would feel very hungry,” he confessed shyly.
Hussain is keen to observe the fast for the whole of Ramadan this time. “If Esmail can do it, I can too!” he said.
“This time, it is warmer and I am going to school and I have a chance to tell all my friends I am fasting for Ramadan.”