WHAT IS RAMADAN?
Shaddi Mahshid
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

If you do not already know, we are in the month of Ramadan, which goes from October 16th to November 14th (21st of Ramadan). Since starting my IMBA program, I have been approached by many classmates asking me about this month and the purpose of fasting. I believe part of this curiosity is due to the nature of our class. We all try to learn from each other’s cultures in order to broaden our own perspectives and to develop new dimensions to our identities. That is why I wanted to write about this very special tradition and here follows my way of looking at Ramadan and the point of fasting.

It is 5 a.m., Saturday October 16th and I am still trying to recuperate from a very hectic week of class - remember the accounting presentation and project report. The sky is very dark and the stars are so close as if they are falling down to the earth. The excitement of Ramadan forces me to get out of the bed and to initiate the first day of the month of my spiritual journey.

Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a time where Muslims from all over the world start fasting from dawn to dusk. Each day, just before the fasting starts, we are allowed an early breakfast called Sahari, which is taken about ten minutes before twilight. After this, strict observance to the fast continues throughout the entire day until dusk. During this fasting period, we are asked to avoid food, drink, tobacco, chewing gum, sexual relations, vulgar talk, lying, gossiping and physical fighting.  At dusk we are supposed to break the fast with a meal called Iftar, which is usually recommended with hot water and dates, before anything else is eaten. There are no specific dietary requirements during Ramadan other than consuming in small quantities.

Now you might ask yourself, why do we need to fast? People fast for various reasons, although they are mainly for physical and spiritual benefits. According to medical journals, fasting can improve vascular circulation, stamina, and strength. It allows your body time to rehabilitate and rejuvenate itself. It also flushes out toxins that have accumulated during the year. It is important to note that abstinence from water for approximately 10 hours is not necessarily bad for your health. The action of gathering the existing fluid in the body, causing the slight dehydration, has been shown to improve plant life longevity.  However, the physical benefits of fasting are not the main focus in Islam and should only be considered secondary in nature.

In Islam, the fasted growing religion in the world, the main focus of fasting is on the spiritual benefit. Unfortunately, there are still many Muslims in the world who fast blindly, without realizing the true reason or benefit behind it. Fasting does not just occur in Islam but also in many other religions as well. In the bible, fasting was a regular part of Judaism, and continues to be part of Christian Catholics practice today. Buddhists and Hindus believe that fasting activates “chakras” which is essential for reaching spiritual enlightenment. The Koran, the sacred Islamic book, clearly stresses the fact that fasting does not only belong to Muslims.

In other words, fasting is a way of showing your willingness to improve the spiritual bond and closeness with God. This is a month of self-reflection; a way to think about our true selves and not the set of identities imposed by social norms and expectations. This is a time to reflect and contemplate our thoughts, deeds, and manners in order to reach a peaceful and tranquil state. It is a time to be loving and caring towards everyone, regardless of their belief, race, or ethnicity.

Ramadan, is also a month of self-training. By abstaining from eating, drinking, and all other habits, one learns patience and discipline. This provides us the opportunity to experience a small fraction of what the needy go through and to help us develop a sense of social responsibility. Hopefully, this should invoke in us a sense of duty to those who are in need to survive. This is such an important part of the fasting during Ramadan, that on the last day, everyone gives a donation to help the poor. The collected money, which is also called Zakat, is to equal the sum of the cost of a meal for each and every member of the family. In the time of Prophet Mohammad, the zakat was used to free slaves, whom would in turn free other slaves.

Finally, the Ramadan ends with a festival called Eid-e-Fetr (Eid-al-Fitr). On this day, people celebrate their successful spiritual and self-controlled journey.

In my opinion, the spiritual benefits of fasting will only be achieved if there is a true willingness to go through this experience. It is important to realize that this is a spiritual cleansing venture, between man and God, therefore, it is absolutely crucial to go through this with an open heart and not with a sense of obligation.

Editor's Note:  Shaddi Mahshid is a first-year IMBA student at the Schulich School of Business.  She is originally from Iran and completed her undergraduate degree in Engineering at the University of Toronto.  She has lived in Canada for seven years.

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