Today is the fifth fast of the thirty I am due to keep in this blessed month of the Islamic calendar. And despite the heat rolling a burn into the back of my neck whenever I step out to the garden, they've been going pretty swell.
But it excludes the one thing I do when I'm at home being a general childish slob - eating.
Now I don't mind not eating, it's fine. I hardly eat much during the day and it's normally a meal I take in the evening but it's a time-passer to be honest. I find I don't extract much fun or pleasure out of reading books or watching television compared to the indulgence of a packets of crisps or a twice-melted-in-your-jeans-pocket Snicker bar.
But even more so, I miss drinking. Drinking water, juice, bit of the fizzbizz Coca-Cola - you name it, I would become parched at the mention of it.
But in the last few days before Ramadan, I began to think to myself: what does it mean to fast and why do we do it?
These were questions I had very vague sketchy answers to, but here's a purplexed guide to Ramadan for those who aren't aware of what is it we do.
A bit of History first:
It was the Islamic month of Ramadan of which the beloved Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was in the Cave of Hira and the angel Jibrael (Gabriel) had asked him to three times to read. The Prophet (pbuh) was illiterate and said twice he could not read. On the third attempt, he miraculously began to read the first glorious message (Surah 96 Al Haq). It was also the month of Ramadan in which mankind was gifted a beloved Prophet, the magnificent Qur’an, and the beautiful way of life - our Deen - that was, Islam.
When the month of Ramadan starts, all the doors to Hell are sealed and the devils have been chained, thus leaving only the doors of Heaven wide open. Our deeds blessings are multiplied during this time for every good deed we do, so we're pretty lucky aren't we?
But it excludes the one thing I do when I'm at home being a general childish slob - eating.
Now I don't mind not eating, it's fine. I hardly eat much during the day and it's normally a meal I take in the evening but it's a time-passer to be honest. I find I don't extract much fun or pleasure out of reading books or watching television compared to the indulgence of a packets of crisps or a twice-melted-in-your-jeans-pocket Snicker bar.
But even more so, I miss drinking. Drinking water, juice, bit of the fizzbizz Coca-Cola - you name it, I would become parched at the mention of it.
But in the last few days before Ramadan, I began to think to myself: what does it mean to fast and why do we do it?
These were questions I had very vague sketchy answers to, but here's a purplexed guide to Ramadan for those who aren't aware of what is it we do.
A GUIDE TO RAMADAN FOR DUMMIES
It was the Islamic month of Ramadan of which the beloved Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was in the Cave of Hira and the angel Jibrael (Gabriel) had asked him to three times to read. The Prophet (pbuh) was illiterate and said twice he could not read. On the third attempt, he miraculously began to read the first glorious message (Surah 96 Al Haq). It was also the month of Ramadan in which mankind was gifted a beloved Prophet, the magnificent Qur’an, and the beautiful way of life - our Deen - that was, Islam.
When the month of Ramadan starts, all the doors to Hell are sealed and the devils have been chained, thus leaving only the doors of Heaven wide open. Our deeds blessings are multiplied during this time for every good deed we do, so we're pretty lucky aren't we?
So, what do we do?
We get up before sunrise and eat a balanced amount of grub before the sunrise prayer, Fajr, is called for. Then we eat nothing til the sunset, when the fourth calling of prayer of the day, Mughrib, is announced. But go easy on the fried stuff and gut rot fizz, because you've still got a long night of prayer and meditation ahead of you.
But don't get the wrong impression that you should do nothing during the time you're not eating. Remember the gates of Hell are closed and the more good you do, the closer you become to the Almighty! Consider Ramadan a jackpot of reaping the best of blessings (in consideration that you should be just as good for the rest of the year, of course)
Utitlise that time with every good deed possible. Read the Qur'an, read about the Prophet's sayings (they're called Hadiths that give accounts of what the Prophet pbuh did in everyday life) and you'll be multiplying your blessings. Avoid swearing, eating or drinking (chewing gum is also a no, dudes), backbiting, pornography and having sex. It's a hard one for the dirty boys and girls, but hey if you can withstand going near it for 30 days, you can probably do it for 365 days and more ... it's a shaky hypothesis, but hey it could work for some!
What happens at the End?
Well there's a lot more that happens in between the thirty blessed days but it's a bit hard to explain everything, I'm a flurry writer so I shall end it with telling you it's all a fat happy ending; we have our own version of Christmas but this is part 1; Eid-Ul-Fitr!
Samosas, pakoras, lamb bhuna, chicken biryani - you name every South Asian dish, it's probably on the table in front you on the morning of Eid. I've mentioned Eid in an earlier post about a certain tight-pocketed Uncle, *gleurgh* but as one of the rules to becoming a lean and peaceful Muslim (yes I have placed the adjective 'lean' in the point that you do lose some weight during Ramadan if you have moderate portions), it's best you go through the previous blogs and read the unprohibited rant about my tight Uncle.
Anyways, there's now three hours left so in that time, I gotta cook a feast fit for a beast. Adios until next time, chamoolehs!
