To someone who does not believe in religion?
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To the non Muslims I usually explain it from a spiritual angle....how it teaches you self control, empathy, tolerance etc etc
Or I talk about the nutritional benefits.
Most days however, I'm defending it because teachers are moaning about kids as young as 6 in their class who are fasting these days....and then falling asleep in the afternoons or not having any strength to do anything.
I don't know about anyone else, but these are the hardest fasts I have ever kept in my life - cos they're the longest. I'm knocked out after school - I hardly have the strength to go to Tarawih.
I dont understand how a 6year old kid can/should do them.
In fact, I dont even agree that my sister - who's almost 10 should be keeping them. Mostly cos, she's a tiny/skinny kid - and looks like a 5year old. But she's doing them. And reading Tarawih with us down the road.
However, non Muslim teachers see this being 'cruel'. I cant make them think otherwise.
I would say that Ramadhan is the act of relinquishing worldy desires and needs, such as food, water, relationships etc for a short period of time, upon which the individual has time to reflect upon his life and faith. It teaches you to be grateful for the food that you eat and the things you have.
It brings you closer to God because it is a struggle and you are striving for Allah(swt), it also tests your will power and increases your spirituality. You also learn not to talk badly about people or swear (if a person regularly does this). On top of all this, you have the opportunity to give money to charity in Ramadhan eg countries which need food for Ramadhan.
The really special thing is that all the Muslims are in the same position, all doing the same thing. One Ummah!
Religion is the heart in a heartless world.
I don't think kids should be keeping fasts.
Maybe start at around 10-12 years of age, and even then start at home so that someone can keep an eye on them. Especially in the longer days.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Defo.
6 year olds fasting? No way! I didn't fast till around 10-11. I did well, but they were in winter so were short.
Religion is the heart in a heartless world.
I remember first fasting at 8/9 but mum would only let us keep about 10 fasts saying that I was to young. Started doing all of them when started high school. Most of my non muslim friends know about ramzan through either having Muslim friends or living in a Asian populated area. The only questions I get asked at this time of the year are, Are you hungry? How long is your fast? Are you hungry now? When does you fast open? Are you hungry now?
If a non Muslim (who did not know what ramzan was) asked me about ramzan I would state that it is compulsory for all Muslims to fast ( explain that it is 1 of the 5 pillars of Islam). What it teaches etc. Most non-Muslims will have this misconception that most Muslims only fast because their parents force them too.
No not the gum drop buttons! – Gingy
my friend's little brother tried fasting at 8 yrs old and got really sick. i think that perhaps they should try partial fasting (til 3pm or something) til they get a bit older.
in regards to explaining ramadan to non muslims, my boss was SO funny the other day:
'are u doin' ramadam?'
'yeah'
'i couldn't do it myself'
'fasting is not very difficult, and it is SO rewarding when you do it.'
'it ain't the food and drink i'm worried about, i'd miss smoking too much!'
'are u gonna try it? just for on day?
'no way!'
ok, maybe u had to be there for it to be funny, it was just the way she called it 'ramadam' it a cockney accent...
Don't just do something! Stand there.
I posted in another forum:
followed by:
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Someone who does not believe in God cannot understand religion and tenets of religion.
Ramadan is a mystery to those who reject Allah.
Kaafirs need to accept God first before they can understand His commandments.
Ayatollah rightly named America as "Great Satan".
www.presstv.ir
Two years ago, before I took shahada, I was very interested in Islam (and had accepted it in my heart without quite realising it yet). I tried fasting Ramadan and found the whole thing almost IMPOSSIBLE! There were a number of reasons for this:
-I wasn't used to getting up at 3.30am so normally overslept so didn't eat.
-I wasn't going to the mosque so I didn't have that community spirit that you get from realising that everone's doing it together.
-Most of all, I didn't have a propor intention for Allah (swt): when I'm not fasting, I'm usually SO hungry by lunchtime, but with the intention Allah (swt) makes it so easy for me to not want food til the evening.
The 1st and 2nd of these points are easy to explain to non-Muslims, but the last point is something that you can only understand if you experience it yourself.
Don't just do something! Stand there.
So what made you defect to Islam?
Ayatollah rightly named America as "Great Satan".
www.presstv.ir
Don't just do something! Stand there.
I see. Truth rang a bell in Bell.
Now make it perfect, and say [b]Ya Ali Madaad[/b]!
Ayatollah rightly named America as "Great Satan".
www.presstv.ir
.....
err, maybe later
Don't just do something! Stand there.
Salaam
I think you're being a bit soft. If there is a medical condition or a similar problem then fair enough. But otherwise its not so very difficult as long as one takes the pre-dawn meal.
Reduced sleep on the other had is a killer, I might have sympathised with you if You had said "I don't think kids should be observing Tahajjud."
Personally I don't think the need for is disccipline is so much in the fasting as it is in the not-scoffing-everything-in-sight as Iftar. Joke, of course fasting is more than abstinance from food, and Night prayer is a beneficial practise, so much so it can correct bad habits.
Gentleness and kindness were never a part of anything except that it made it beautiful, and harshness was never a part of anything except that it made it ugly.
Through cheating, stealing, and lying, one may get required results but finally one becomes
i think there's a lot of benefit for young kids to fast until 3 oclock or a similar time. this way they get used to controlling their appetites and stuff, but don't pass out (usually)
Don't just do something! Stand there.
I think 6 is far too young for a child to be fasting, but if they want to start about 7 or 8 don’t see why not. Kids in the 21st century can cope with a lot, especially Muslim children. From an early age Muslim children learn to juggle their school work, and Islamic studies, they are much tougher then we anticipate. I think once the child starts high school then they should be doing all the fasts for the full time. Kids are much more honest and sincere (in comparison to the youths) when it comes to fasting. I think most little kids do understand the meaning of what it means to fast and they do take it very seriously. Its good for kids to start fasting at an early age that way they know what to expect and hopefully get use to it when they start fasting properly.
No not the gum drop buttons! – Gingy
on 6 year olds? winter fasts - maybe. IMO.
Summer fasts? no. or only when at home, but not at school.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Subhaan Allah.. spot on and I couldnt agree more!!
An excellent example.. Subhaan Allah.
I shouldnt be blunt but...from my experience fat kids can handle fasting.
I know 6/7 year olds that weigh more than me. They're pretty good when it comes to fasting.
Its usually the 10year olds - who look like 5year old who feel faint during their fast.
6 yr olds fasting? I thght fasting is obligation at the age of puberty. If that;s the case 6 is too young. It's a good age for practising fast, i/e encouraging children to fast maybe half a day and eventually a full day, in preparation.
By 9 or slightly older most kids reach puberty, so they have to fast. But if parents don't encourage them from a younger age, expecting a full months fast all a sudden is asking the impossible for most kids.
From my experience bengali parents are too soft with kids. Their kids have reached 12 and yet they're stilling allowing them to do half a days fast coz they feel sorry for them. This isn't love but stupidity. They need to be postively encouraging their child, rather than helping the child to give in so easily.
The first fasts are difficult even for adults, so why would it be any different for a child.
I've never been great with the first days of fasting, especially in summer. First day i'd usually end up feeling really nauseous, and have mind blowing migraines. I'd sit there keeled over as iftar time was approaching. Unforunately the same happened this yr, nothings changed since i was a kid. But a few days in i've got into the cycle i'm fine. As i'm sure most kids are aswell. the key is to wake up for sehri, and have foods that burn off energy slowly. Eating rice, curry and roti in the early hrs of the morning won't help, makes me sick anyway.
P.S what of kids fasting the middle east they have a more gruelling experience in that heat, and even longer hrs. In this country i think we wrap our kids in cotton wool too much. It can't be nice to see your own child starve but you should keep in mind it's for their own spiritual benefit so apply some tough love instead.
we actually have longer hours than the middle east, asia and africa. cos of the time of year. it'll get longer each year too.
spare a thought for all the Muslim Eskimos.
but i get ur point about the heat.
Don't just do something! Stand there.
lols a college at work asked me abt Muslim Eskimos and how they survive!
He who sacrifices his conscience to ambition, burns a picture to obtain the ashes!
I have to disagree with that. I would say bengali parents are defo more strict in comparison to pak parents. Maybe they are just soft on the lads, but then so are pak parents.
No not the gum drop buttons! – Gingy
Fortunately, for the kids from Saudi Arabia they officially get the last ten days of Ramadan off from school/work.
And a fast at home is much easier than a fast in school/at work. Plus, they're protected from the sun that way too.
Plus, working hours are also changed around to accomodate those who keep a fast as well....I think its from 10am to 3pm or 8am to 2pm.
I didn't realise kids in middle east had those benefits, thanks for informing me.
ok so they have some benefits of being in a muslim country. But even so i don't feel sorry for muslim kids in the uk. We shouldn't feel sorry for them, we should try and see the positive side and prepare them from a young age so they don't suffer so much when it's fard on them, that's all i'm suggesting.
I'm not looking forward to seeing my kids go hungry that is gona be difficult, but there's no way round it so i'll just have to toughen them up ready for it.
I didn't realise we had the longest time, thanks for correcting my ignorance once again. yes muslim eskimos never thght of them...
P.S no Naz well the ones i know are just as bad with the girls. ie my parents i was twelve they still treated me like a child, no you don't have to keep it all, you'll get ill, you might faint blah blah. I'd have preferred them saying you have to keep it, i wanted to join in with all the adults. I'd get up for sehri although parents didn't call me . I;d cry my eyes out to be allowed to join. Eventually my mum gave in said she's wake me up in future. They were my first days of proper fasting.
lol. same here sis, i can remember in y4 i would want to fast but mum wouldn't let me but when i got to y5 she gave in allhamdulilah.
in primary school i used to think that when muslims were fasting it was just an excuse to get off doing PE :oops:
then last year when I tried cycling to work during ramadan i realised why they didn't use to do it.
Don't just do something! Stand there.
The other day someone at work asked me if I wanted a coffee. As soon as she finished speaking she remembered I was fasting said "oh" and put her hand up palm outwards and made a circular motion with it. :?