Dave Andrews

Day 8

Fasting is about being willing to forego food and/or drink for a period of time. A person is assumed to be fasting after eight hours from their last meal. Which is why the first meal we eat after eight hours sleep is called breakfast or break-fast, which is considered to be breaking our overnight fast. The most common kinds of fast are the partial fast, the classical fast and the total fast. The partial fast involves abstaining from some food but not water The classical fast involves abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not water. The total fast involves abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, and water.

Day 9

The partial fast, abstaining from certain foods, but not water, was practiced by Daniel. ‘I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning, or meat or wine.’ (Daniel 10.3) The classical fast, abstaining from food, but not water, was practiced by Jesus. ‘For forty days and nights in the wilderness (Jesus) ate nothing.’(Luke 4.2). The total fast, abstaining from food and water, was practiced by Mohammad, from dawn to dusk for thirty days during Ramadan, a month in which, he said, ‘Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night.’[i] In the Abrahamic traditions fasting is not deemed complete without praying – without prayer ‘it’s simply going hungry.’[ii]

Day 10

The Arabic word to fast is sawm – which literally means ‘to abstain’. For Muslims sawm is obligatory during the month of Ramadan from fajr (dawn), until maghrib (dusk). During this time Muslims are expected to totally abstain from eating any food and drinking any water. However Muslims believe that fasting is more than merely abstaining from food and drink. My Muslim friends believe that during Ramadan we also need to learn to abstain from any other addiction that might be deleterious to our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health – such as any angry, aggressive and argumentative impulses.

Day 11

Fasting is obligatory in Islam for a person if he or she is a Muslim, who is mature, and who is able to fast – that is if he or she has no impediments to fasting. Men who are traveling are permitted to suspend fasting. Women who are menstruating, pregnant or nursing are also permitted to continue at a more opportune time. While those who suffer extreme pain from injury, or acute incapacity from illness are excused. In Islam fasting is not permitted when it is potentially dangerous to one’s health. After all ‘Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.’ (Qur’an 2.185).

Day 12

In a consumer society, those of us who may choose to limit our consumption, particularly for a ‘religious’ reason, will inevitably be challenged about the sanity of our choice. More than likely we will be bombarded with objections. ‘Isn’t fasting a bit extreme?’ ‘Won’t it sap your strength so you can’t work.’ ‘Don’t you know fasting is bad for you, it’s not really good for your health?’[iii] Really? The contrary is true. When done correctly, fasting can be very good for our health. Fasting can reduce our body weight, our blood pressure, our cholesterol levels, our insulin sensitivity and can reboot our immune systems.[iv]

Day 13

When done correctly, fasting can be very good for our health. Unfortunately I’ve fasted during Ramadan for the last five years and never done it correctly. That may be because I’m Christian, not a Muslim. But I think its because I’m human. ‘After 12 hours in which it seems that everywhere you turn someone is munching on a cake, your self-control wears thin. Which is why every night this month’, Homa Khaleeli says, ‘millions of people (not just me!) will finish up with a meal that would put a rugby-club curry night to shame.’[v] God help us.

Day 14

‘Sunita Wallia, a dietician, advises people on how to keep fasting as healthy as possible. Although people find it hard to wake up for the morning meal or sehri, Wallia warns that eating only one large meal a day can be bad for you. She suggests eating a breakfast of wholegrain cereals, such as porridge or muesli with chopped fruits, nuts and seeds, or granary bread. While bingeing at night may seem impossible to avoid, Wallia advises enjoying some treats, but having a salad with the meal, adding vegetables to meat dishes, stay(ing) away from fried food and taking a 20-minute walk after iftar or evening meal.’ [vi]

[i] Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith, http://www.minhaj.org/english/tid/2954/Quranic-Verses-and-Hadith-on-the-Month-of-Ramadan-and-Fasting.html

[ii] Wirthlin, Joseph B. http://www.ibtimes.com/ramadan-quotes-2015-10-sayings-about-fasting-share-twitter-facebook-instagram-1972258

[iii] Foster, Richard J. (1978). Celebration of Discipline. Harper & Row. Kindle location 905-7

[iv] Whiteman, Honor ‘Fasting: health benefits and risks’ Medical News Today Mon 27 July 2015 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295914.php

[v] Khaleeli, Homa ‘Feast or famine?’ The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/sep/18/healthandwellbeing.features11

[vi] Khaleeli, Homa ‘Feast or famine?’ The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/sep/18/healthandwellbeing.features11