Ramadan Question

[Anonymous]

Just a question from a Jew. All of our fasts are 24 hours (just for one day at a time!) Is the Ramadan fast sunup to sundown? I remember hearing that and that the season when Ramadan occurs also shifts. Are those things true? Does that make this year particularly hard? It seems like the fast would range from 8 hours to 16 hours - a huge difference! Plus, there are a ton of questions this year about small kids and how late the evening meal is. Is that a particularly bad concern in June?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a question from a Jew. All of our fasts are 24 hours (just for one day at a time!) Is the Ramadan fast sunup to sundown? I remember hearing that and that the season when Ramadan occurs also shifts. Are those things true? Does that make this year particularly hard? It seems like the fast would range from 8 hours to 16 hours - a huge difference! Plus, there are a ton of questions this year about small kids and how late the evening meal is. Is that a particularly bad concern in June?

It's especially tough for Muslims at the North or South Poles.

[Anonymous]

Unlike the Jewish lunar calendar, our calendar does not have an Adar II every few years, so, because the lunar year is about 10-11 days shorter than the solar year, our calendar moves up about 10-11 days each year. So yes, these summer fasts are the hardest. As PP mentioned, people near the poles have it the worst, but there are decrees that they can shorten their times to follow other Muslim populations.

We fast from the BEGINNING of sunrise (around 4am in the DMV) to sunset (around 8:30). This lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on the moonsightings/calculations. People who are fasting cannot eat, drink, smoke, have sex, etc. During the entire month we're supposed to work harder to be more patient, kind, considerate, generous, etc.

[Anonymous]

Yes fasts are sun up to sun down. Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so the dates move back 10 days each year. About 15 years ago, Ramadan was in the winter (easiest fasts ever!).

Little kids would presumably get fed prior to breaking fast, but they're bed times probably get pushed back so they can shit with the family during the meal and pray together afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a question from a Jew. All of our fasts are 24 hours (just for one day at a time!) Is the Ramadan fast sunup to sundown? I remember hearing that and that the season when Ramadan occurs also shifts. Are those things true? Does that make this year particularly hard? It seems like the fast would range from 8 hours to 16 hours - a huge difference! Plus, there are a ton of questions this year about small kids and how late the evening meal is. Is that a particularly bad concern in June?

The range is actually much more in the DC area. The official times are from before Fajr prayer until Maghreb prayer, which right now for DC is 4:05 to 8:35. Thus, right now the fast is about 18 hours and 30 minutes in the DC area!

Actually, Judaism has fasts that are dawn to dusk and not 24 hours, such as Asara B'Tevet.

[Anonymous]

^16.5 hours

[Anonymous]

in Uk its 19 hrs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes fasts are sun up to sun down. Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so the dates move back 10 days each year. About 15 years ago, Ramadan was in the winter (easiest fasts ever!).

Little kids would presumably get fed prior to breaking fast, but they're bed times probably get pushed back so they can shit with the family during the meal and pray together afterwards.

Do children fast? In Judaism children are not required to fast until they are bar/bat mitzvah age -- usually 12 for girls and 13 for boys, or thereabouts.

[Anonymous]

For those who fast, do you wake up before 4am so you can eat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes fasts are sun up to sun down. Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so the dates move back 10 days each year. About 15 years ago, Ramadan was in the winter (easiest fasts ever!).

Little kids would presumably get fed prior to breaking fast, but they're bed times probably get pushed back so they can shit with the family during the meal and pray together afterwards.

Seems like this would require a lot of discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes fasts are sun up to sun down. Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so the dates move back 10 days each year. About 15 years ago, Ramadan was in the winter (easiest fasts ever!).

Little kids would presumably get fed prior to breaking fast, but they're bed times probably get pushed back so they can shit with the family during the meal and pray together afterwards.

Do children fast? In Judaism children are not required to fast until they are bar/bat mitzvah age -- usually 12 for girls and 13 for boys, or thereabouts.

No children don't fast. They start around adolescence, most 13ish, but I know of 9yos who give it a try, usually not for the whole month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who fast, do you wake up before 4am so you can eat?

Yes. 3:40

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who fast, do you wake up before 4am so you can eat?

Most do. It's called "suhoor". I do not. I find that I'm then wired and can't get back to sleep, and then being exhausted all day compounds the hunger/thirst. But my kids are not old enough to fast, so I can get away with doing what's easiest for me (i.e., one meal, one bedtime snack) each day.

[Anonymous]

^ That's how my husband feels.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for the answers. The last time I really thought about the Ramadan fast was about a decade ago. I lived in the northeast and worked with a lot of practicing Muslims at that point. In the northeast, in winter, it was a relatively short fast. I have a new appreciation for the discipline it takes to keep this tradition!

I was wondering about the north and south pole thing, but thought that might come across as a bit flip. But I do find it fascinating how religious observances adapt thoughtfully to changing times, as it usually involves a real exploration to the meaning behind the tradition.