Muslim chef breaks down Ramadan, fasting
Says holy month about self-discipline, patience
Waseem Ahmed, chef-owner of Kebabish Bites, 283 34th Ave. SW in Norman, is Pakistani; he is also Muslim. This means that beginning Thursday, the chef will spend a month fasting daily for Ramadan.
Ahmed jokes that those who practice Islam have been, for centuries, part of the intermittent fasting craze that has recently become more popular in the United States. He said the month for him is a time when he has to lean heavily on members of his restaurant staff who are not Muslim.
“My job is the toughest job in Ramadan because you smell food all day, and that also makes me more patient,” he said. “In Ramadan, I literally have to make other people taste it.”
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the observance of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows moon sightings. The crescent moon marks the beginning of the month and there is special anticipation among many Muslims for Ramadan, Ahmed said.
During this month, Muslim people observe a period of fasting during which they consume no food or drinks, including water, from sunrise to sunset daily. They also prepare zakat, similar to tithes in the Christian faith, a calculated percentage (at least 2.5%) of one’s wealth and sadaqahs, or donations to charities.
“The holy month of Ramadan, Muslims believe that their rewards are doubled from God, so most of the Muslims try to do charity and good deeds,” Ahmed said.
Why do people fast for Ramadan?
Ahmed said basic reasons for fasting are actually two-fold for many in the Islamic faith.
“First, of course, it teaches you patience, it teaches you tolerance and all of that stuff because basically you skip all of those favorite foods and everything around you for a whole day from sunrise to sunset,” he said. “Scientifically, it detoxes our body. Our organs, our body get time to work that they usually don’t because we don’t let them.”
Ramadan is bigger than just the act of giving up food and beverages, he added, it’s an exercise in obedience, how you treat others and encourages acts of generosity.
“God doesn’t need your food,” he said. “The concept is self-discipline and patience, and we tend to have less and less every single day. That’s the problem.”
How do people break their Ramadan fasts?
A Ramadan fast is typically followed by an Iftar, the traditional meal used to break a fast after sundown. These meals contain specific foods and beverages for different cultures.
“Dates. Dates are the most important thing for Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis,” Ahmed said. “I think Rooh Afza is the second thing. Technically it’s like a summer drink with the basil seed. Of course, at that time, you want something to drink immediately after you break your fast.”
The breaking of the Ramadan fast has become an occasion for celebration among many Muslim families and friend groups, Ahmed said. This sometimes leads to overconsumption.
“Ramadan is the month everybody gets overly excited about family gatherings and get-togethers and invitations and stuff, so we overcook everything and big meals and a lot of other varieties of food,” he said. “Of course, everybody tries to make their best of best in that month and eat best of best, although they should not be.”
“But people still do it. We’re all human. We’re all going to make mistakes and errors.”
For more information about Ramadan and Islam visit the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City’s website at isgoc.com.