Ramadan

[[File:Ramadan.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Don't forget to have fun!]]{{Islam}}[[File:Ramadan at Al Hussein Mosque.jpg|thumb|right|{{wpl|Al-Hussein Mosque}} during Ramadan.]]
'''Ramadan''' is the ninth month of the [[Islam]]ic lunar calendar.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0105/p12s3.html Understanding the Islamic calendar's ninth month: Ramadan], ''The Christian Science Monitor'', January 5, 1999</ref> [[Fasting]] during Ramadan (or '''sawm''') is one of the [[Fun:Five|five]] [[Islam#The Five Pillars of Islam|Pillars of Islam]]. <ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ramadan-fasting-one-five-pillars-islam-wesam-albassuny Ramadan , Fasting as one of the five pillars of Islam], ''LinkedIn'', May 27, 2017</ref> During Ramadan, devout Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink, smoke, [[fuck]], or [[Thoughtcrime|have impure thoughts]] from the earliest daylight (not sunrise) to sunset for a period of one lunar month.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/2017/5/25/11851766/what-is-ramadan-2021-start-date-muslim-islam-about Ramadan 2021: 9 questions about the Muslim holy month you were too embarrassed to ask], ''Vox'', April 8, 2021</ref> Some adherents go so far as not swallowing their own saliva (though this is permitted),<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44107850 Ramadan: Six common misconceptions debunked], ''BBC'', May 15, 2018</ref> though others dine on special comestibles all night long.

After Ramadan comes '''Eid al-Fitr''' (Festival of Breaking Fast) when Muslims have a blow-out feast, wear their best clothes, and fire guns into the air (mileage may vary from country to country). During Eid, there is a palpable relief that Ramadan is over, among both believers and non-believers.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/44465956 Eid al-Adha 2021: Why are there two Eids?], ''BBC'', October 12, 2021</ref>

Owing to a difference of 11-12 days between the lunar and solar years, the month of Ramadan advances through the seasons.<ref>[https://time.com/4355437/ramadan-2016-starts/ Why Ramadan Starts on a Different Day Every Year], ''Time'', June 3, 2016</ref> In the Arabian peninsula, it passes through both the relatively mild days of January and the blistering heat of August.

==Qur'anic source==
{{qur'an|2|183}} writes:

{{quotebox|O those who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before so that you be God-fearing.}}

Usually, "fasting" means fasting from food and water. However, there are several types of fasting laid out in the Quran:

*1. Food fasting (Sawm ut Taam).2:187
*2. Money fasting (Sawm ul Maal).
*3. Word fasting (Sawm ul Kalam).

===Exceptions===
It is specifically stated that fasting is not required for those who would suffer a special hardship from the fast, such as pregnant women, travelers, and the ill — although they are expected to make up for it a later date. The sick and elderly are also excused.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/sawm.shtml Sawm: fasting], ''BBC'', September 8, 2009</ref> Pakistani cleric Tahir Ashrafi said:<ref name=Ind />

{{quotebox|Islam has drawn conditions for fasting, it is even mentioned in the holy Koran that patients and travellers who are not able to bear fasting can delay it and people who are weak or old and are at risk of falling sick or even dying because of fasting should abstain.}}

==Fasting at the Earth's poles==
The obligation to fast from the first daylight to sunset might seem problematic for Muslims living in the polar regions where daylight lasts for several months during the summer months, or nighttime lasts for several months during the winter months &ndash; such as northern [[Canada]], [[Russia]], or [[Scandinavia]].

Under such circumstances, Muslims usually follow the timetable of either the nearest major city with a normal day-night cycle, or that of Mecca.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/07/how-to-fast-for-ramadan-in-the-arctic-where-the-sun-doesnt-set/277834/ How to Fast for Ramadan in the Arctic, Where the Sun Doesn't Set], ''The Atlantic'', July 16, 2013</ref> However, when the sun is up for most but not all of the day, it is tradition to use local times, as people cite doing so in the cool weather for longer is still easier than doing so for a shorter time in the blazing heat.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/22/how-muslims-observe-ramadan-in-the-land-of-the-midnight-sun.html How Muslims observe Ramadan in the land of the midnight sun], ''CNBC'', May 22, 2018</ref> Allah, in all his wisdom, failed to mention this solution in the Qur'an or any Hadith.<ref>[https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/how-to-observe-fasting-in-arctic-north/amp How to observe fasting in Arctic North], ''Daily Sabah'', May 6, 2020</ref>

==Ramadan for non-Muslims==
During this period in the hours of daylight, non-Muslims in Islamic countries are expected to hide themselves away in curtained rooms whenever they want to drink a cup of coffee, eat a doughnut, have a [[Tobacco smoking|smoke]], or fancy a quick [[Sexual intercourse|shag]].{{cn}} Sex on the beach is a definite no-no. In countries where [[alcohol]] is licensed for debauched foreigners, then they had better have stockpiled enough to see them through until the Eid.

Why? Because the Muslims don't want to have to think about your damn impure heathen ways &ndash; at least until the end of the lunar month, at which point it's all jolly again.

==Fasting and health==
Depending on who you ask, fasting rejuvenates the body or leaves it dehydrated and lethargic. Science can answer which is more prevalent.

===Positive effects===
Many Muslims claim that Ramadan fasting is healthy, and in theory this could be the case. For example, it may help people lose weight and appreciate the importance of hydration.<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/20/ramadan-2020-the-health-benefits-of-fasting Ramadan 2020: The health benefits of fasting], ''Aljazeera'', April 20, 2020</ref>

While there are possible health benefits to fasting (see [[Fasting#Health]]), fasting will only be effective if done safely (eating and drinking ''enough'') and if people don't overeat/overdrink before and after the fast begins.<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-fast#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7 How to Fast Safely: 10 Helpful Tips], ''Healthline'', January 2, 2019</ref> Moreover, even normal Ramadan fasting can have serious ramifications. Not eating food or drinking water all day generally tends to make people less productive, more distracted, and potentially too exhausted to work the next day. So your body is in tip-top shape &ndash; you won't be doing ''anything'' with it.

And good luck burning off that Eid belly.

===''Not'' starvation===
It's sometimes believed that Ramadan fasting is equivalent to starvation. However, as the NHS notes, "you are unlikely to reach the starvation stage during Ramadan, because the fast is broken daily."<ref name=NHS>http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyramadan/Pages/fastingandhealth.aspx</ref> Of course, this requires that the fasting be done ''well''.

===Drug compliance===
Drug compliance also drops drastically during Ramadan:
*In a sample of 750 adults in Turkey, 187 had a health problem. Of the 187, 60.4% were taking prescribed drugs and 31.6% were on a prescribed diet. During Ramadan, 9.7% stopped taking prescribed drugs and 18.8% did not adhere to their diets.<ref name=Kar>Karaagaoglu N & Yucecan S (2000): Some behavioural changes observed among fasting subjects, their nutritional habits and energy expenditure in Ramadan. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 51, 125–134.</ref>
*In a sample of 81 Asian Muslim patients undergoing Ramadan fasting, 37 changed their drug dosage pattern, 35 missed doses, eight took doses at different times, and 4 took all their drugs as one daily dose.<ref>Aslam M & Healy M (1986): Compliance and drug therapy in fasting Moslem patients. J. Clin. Hosp. Pharm. 11, 1–5.</ref>

===Death===
And yes, Ramadan can kill. For example, a {{wpl|2015 Pakistan heat wave|heatwave}} in Pakistan coincided with Ramadan (and a power outage) and killed over 1000, many of whom failed to eat or drink and so were at higher risk.<ref name=Ind>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/uk-heatwave-pakistan-death-toll-rises-as-clerics-urge-followers-to-abstain-from-ramadan-fasting-10360322.html Pakistan heatwave death toll rises to 1250 as public urged to abstain from Ramadan fast], ''Independent'', July 2, 2015 </ref><ref>[https://news.vice.com/article/ramadan-and-power-outages-blamed-for-mass-deaths-during-pakistan-heatwave Ramadan and Power Outages Blamed for Mass Deaths During Pakistan Heatwave], ''Vice'', July 3, 2015</ref> Similarly, if Ramadan occurs during the heat of summer, it is advisable to refrain from venturing onto the Middle East's highways &ndash; as the incidence of traffic accidents caused by dehydrated drivers reaches a cyclic peak.<ref>[http://www.arabianbusiness.com/594856-uae-authorities-appeal-for-safe-driving-at-ramadan- UAE authorities appeal for safe driving at Ramadan]</ref>

===Other===
There are a litany of other health effects.<ref name=N>[http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n2s/full/1601899a.html Effects on health of fluid restriction during fasting in Ramadan], ''Nature.com'', December 18, 2003</ref> For example, 34.3% of that 750 above reported being tired or unwilling to work.<ref name=Kar />

==External links==
*[https://www.ramadancalendar.pk/ Ramadan Calendar]
*[https://wikiislam.net/wiki/Adverse_Effects_of_Islamic_Fasting Adverse Effects of Islamic Fasting], [[WikiIslam]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Holidays]]
[[Category:Islam]]

Categories: Holidays, Islam