It's also about abstaining from other stuff, for instance, it's common to hear, "I'd get angry and yell, but I'm fasting."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an extended family member who's a practicing Muslim though she doesn't wear the hijab (headscarf). Anyone who is in good health (and not pregnant) fasts from sun up to sun down-only water I believe. After sunset you eat a big meal and she says it would often (in her home country) be sort if fun...they'd all get together, conquered the days fasting requirement, and eat delicious food. During Ramadan she prays and she thinks about God/life/how to be the best person. At the end of Ramadan is Eid. It's normally a huge meal/celebration and the children receive gifts.

No food, no water. Anything swallowed, including medicine, invalidates the fast and you have to make up that day.

This is not true. While I'm no longer practicing, Islamic restrictions are very accommodating to health issues - if you need to take a medicine during the day, you are allowed to take it, and your fast is still valid. Or if you can't fast due to health concerns. If you need to use alcohol or pig-products (a gelatin coated pill, for example) those are also allowed.

Ramadan isn't about not swallowing stuff - it's meant mainly to keep you humble, but having empathy for those that go without or struggle with certain needs and luxuries and life, and to help direct your mind focused towards god/faith, instead of being distracted by life's little pleasures during the day. It's not meant to make you suffer, and it's really not about "don't swallow stuff."

I think it depends on the scholar you prefer to follow. In my Gulfie circle, people who have to take daily medication (such as insulin) do not fast. My husband will not fast if he has to take medication. You can use alcohol or pig products for medical purposes year-round, it has nothing to do with Ramadan.

I agree that Ramadan isn't about swallowing but let's not pretend that Islam does not have a definition of fast. After all, if you keep yourself humble and full of empathy for those less fortunate with three squares a day, you can't really say you're fasting, can you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read your "full fasting" as no food -- of course they don't go a full month with no water! And the Muslims I know do eat food as well before sunrise and after sunset.

From sunrise to sunset, no food or liquids. I always thought the no liquids would be the hardest.

Me too! I could easily go without food, but couldn't deal with no water.

That's why that predominantly Muslim high school in Deerborn, Michigan move football practice to 11pm until 4am - so the Muslim players can drink water during practice. Of course, that totally sucks for the non-Muslim players...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an extended family member who's a practicing Muslim though she doesn't wear the hijab (headscarf). Anyone who is in good health (and not pregnant) fasts from sun up to sun down-only water I believe. After sunset you eat a big meal and she says it would often (in her home country) be sort if fun...they'd all get together, conquered the days fasting requirement, and eat delicious food. During Ramadan she prays and she thinks about God/life/how to be the best person. At the end of Ramadan is Eid. It's normally a huge meal/celebration and the children receive gifts.

No food, no water. Anything swallowed, including medicine, invalidates the fast and you have to make up that day.

This is not true. While I'm no longer practicing, Islamic restrictions are very accommodating to health issues - if you need to take a medicine during the day, you are allowed to take it, and your fast is still valid. Or if you can't fast due to health concerns. If you need to use alcohol or pig-products (a gelatin coated pill, for example) those are also allowed.

Ramadan isn't about not swallowing stuff - it's meant mainly to keep you humble, but having empathy for those that go without or struggle with certain needs and luxuries and life, and to help direct your mind focused towards god/faith, instead of being distracted by life's little pleasures during the day. It's not meant to make you suffer, and it's really not about "don't swallow stuff."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read your "full fasting" as no food -- of course they don't go a full month with no water! And the Muslims I know do eat food as well before sunrise and after sunset.

From sunrise to sunset, no food or liquids. I always thought the no liquids would be the hardest.

I'm pretty impressed with some of the young muslims I know. Of course, you still want to participate in life with your friends, but no liquids in the summer, even with sports practice... Wow.

Plus, getting up before dawn for breakfast makes for a very long day.

(my own yom kippur experience suggests to me that I would find the liquid part the hardest, too.)

There's even a film about that: http://www.fordsonthemovie.com/

Ramadan is not a holiday of atonement. You're suppose to reflect on your blessings and feel closer to God but there is no guilt or "making up" of old hurts involved.

The appropriate greeting is "Ramadan Karim."

Anonymous wrote:I have an extended family member who's a practicing Muslim though she doesn't wear the hijab (headscarf). Anyone who is in good health (and not pregnant) fasts from sun up to sun down-only water I believe. After sunset you eat a big meal and she says it would often (in her home country) be sort if fun...they'd all get together, conquered the days fasting requirement, and eat delicious food. During Ramadan she prays and she thinks about God/life/how to be the best person. At the end of Ramadan is Eid. It's normally a huge meal/celebration and the children receive gifts.

No food, no water. Anything swallowed, including medicine, invalidates the fast and you have to make up that day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read your "full fasting" as no food -- of course they don't go a full month with no water! And the Muslims I know do eat food as well before sunrise and after sunset.

From sunrise to sunset, no food or liquids. I always thought the no liquids would be the hardest.

I'm pretty impressed with some of the young muslims I know. Of course, you still want to participate in life with your friends, but no liquids in the summer, even with sports practice... Wow.

Plus, getting up before dawn for breakfast makes for a very long day.

(my own yom kippur experience suggests to me that I would find the liquid part the hardest, too.)

Yes, I suppose there are benefits to having it in the summer - no school so more relaxing, but the days are SO long. My husband has to go to Kuwait for work and the guy he needs to meet with said don't come during Ramadan. Things just shut down and it is just not a good time to do business.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read your "full fasting" as no food -- of course they don't go a full month with no water! And the Muslims I know do eat food as well before sunrise and after sunset.

From sunrise to sunset, no food or liquids. I always thought the no liquids would be the hardest.

I'm pretty impressed with some of the young muslims I know. Of course, you still want to participate in life with your friends, but no liquids in the summer, even with sports practice... Wow.

Plus, getting up before dawn for breakfast makes for a very long day.

(my own yom kippur experience suggests to me that I would find the liquid part the hardest, too.)

Anonymous wrote:I just read your "full fasting" as no food -- of course they don't go a full month with no water! And the Muslims I know do eat food as well before sunrise and after sunset.

From sunrise to sunset, no food or liquids. I always thought the no liquids would be the hardest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:June 28 or 29. Very happy month of fasting during the day, and breaking the fast together with family and friends after sunset. Happy Ramadan is perfect. At the end, you can say Happy Eid.

Ok.

Take this as a non-snark post.

If Ramadan is in the summer, and its purpose is atonement, and Eid is the celebration at the end of the fast, also in the summer, then why was the media and the PC folks so strongly pushing "Happy Ramadan" during the Hannukah and Christmas holiday season?

Isn't wishing Happy Ramadan the equivalent to wishing someone Happy Lent? Makes no sense as the religious part of the holiday is of a serious, introspective nature and not at all celebratory.

Wouldn't the better greeting be "Happy Eid" and reserved for after Ramadan? At least that is what my Pakistani neighbor told me...that Eid is the "happy" part NOT Ramadan.

And don't muslims feel like it is weird and disengnuous for the whole lumping Ramadan, Hannukah and Christmas altogether as one big happy winter holiday, especially since it occurs during the summer months?

Other people have answered with a lot of good information. I just wanted to address the comparison to Lent. I'm Christian married to a Muslim, so I've been involved in both. Lent has a much more solemn feel to it than Ramadan. Ramadan does have an aspect of atonement to it, but it's so much more than that. So while many aspects are similar, it's still appropriate to wish someone a Happy Ramadan.

Ramadan is about being closer to God in all ways, and closer to fellow Muslims, which is something that makes Muslims very happy. The nature of breaking the fast daily brings family and friends together in a happy way as well.

(This doesn't mean everyone is happy during a Ramadan. I've been in Egypt during Ramadan and some people get grumpy and fussy, maybe from low blood sugar? But I liken the attitude to the nasties here, out doing last minute Christmas shopping, beeping their horns and fussing to get the last parking spot at the mall. It's not the norm, and all the more noticeable when everyone should be feeling spiritual, connected, and happy.

I just read your "full fasting" as no food -- of course they don't go a full month with no water! And the Muslims I know do eat food as well before sunrise and after sunset.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an extended family member who's a practicing Muslim though she doesn't wear the hijab (headscarf). Anyone who is in good health (and not pregnant) fasts from sun up to sun down-only water I believe. After sunset you eat a big meal and she says it would often (in her home country) be sort if fun...they'd all get together, conquered the days fasting requirement, and eat delicious food. During Ramadan she prays and she thinks about God/life/how to be the best person. At the end of Ramadan is Eid. It's normally a huge meal/celebration and the children receive gifts.

It's full fasting - no water or food. You're accurate on the rest.

Are you sure? This is from Wikipedia:

While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations; in some interpretations they also refrain from swearing.[citation needed] Food and drink is served daily, before sunrise and after sunset.[11][12] According to Islam, the thawab (rewards) of fasting are many, but in this month they are believed to be multiplied.[13] Fasting for Muslims during Ramadan typically includes the increased offering of salat (prayers) and recitation of the Quran.[14][15]

Anonymous wrote:I have an extended family member who's a practicing Muslim though she doesn't wear the hijab (headscarf). Anyone who is in good health (and not pregnant) fasts from sun up to sun down-only water I believe. After sunset you eat a big meal and she says it would often (in her home country) be sort if fun...they'd all get together, conquered the days fasting requirement, and eat delicious food. During Ramadan she prays and she thinks about God/life/how to be the best person. At the end of Ramadan is Eid. It's normally a huge meal/celebration and the children receive gifts.

It's full fasting - no water or food. You're accurate on the rest.

I have an extended family member who's a practicing Muslim though she doesn't wear the hijab (headscarf). Anyone who is in good health (and not pregnant) fasts from sun up to sun down-only water I believe. After sunset you eat a big meal and she says it would often (in her home country) be sort if fun...they'd all get together, conquered the days fasting requirement, and eat delicious food. During Ramadan she prays and she thinks about God/life/how to be the best person. At the end of Ramadan is Eid. It's normally a huge meal/celebration and the children receive gifts.