Opinion hamzah hussain

This year’s holy month of Ramadan is almost at an end and it’s been tough. But that’s the whole point.

The ninth month in the Islamic calendar marks the first Quranic revelations to the Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.) and the period Muslims must abstain from, amongst other things, eating and drinking during daylight hours – yes, including water.

The fast begins with the early morning Sehri or Suhur meal at sunrise, at the moment about 1.30am, and lasts until sunset, around 10pm, when the fast can be broken (Iftar).

Traditionally, this is with dates and water, before more elaborate meals.

Fasting, or Sawm in Arabic, is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with declaration of faith (Shahada), prayer (Salah), obligatory charity (Zakat) and the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

Ramadan begins on the night before the first fast and involves extra congregational (Taraweeh) prayers at the mosque.

Ramadan is intended to attain “Taqwa”, a God-consciousness, to empathise with those less fortunate, and exercise inner strength.

People frequently say they could never fast as we do. True, the first few days are tough but, after that, the body gets used to it.

For me, the most difficult part is not hunger but tiredness and thirst. The lack of water, energy and coffee is draining but is part of the experience.