BLOG - A fast? No, it’s a feast of good things and action
Upturn's Muzahid Khan explains how Ramadan is a feast for the mind - and the body
“The outside perception of the experience of Ramadan is that it is all about feeling hungry! But actually, the Holy Month is not about food or fasting at all, its about focusing on the good things. And abstaining from eating for a few hours a day needn’t get in the way or mean you can’t achieve” – says Muzahid Khan.
“Far from stifling my activity, I feel the Holy Month makes my mind sharper than at any other time. Maybe it’s because I have a stronger focus on what and when I eat, and when I should conserve energy.
I think the importance of physical and spiritual good health is one of so many things that Ramadan teaches us. Fasting, prayer and reflection are good for the soul. The whole month in fact, challenges us to examine where we are, what we should be grateful for, and crucially what we do for our community. Zakat, or giving to those in need, prevails all year round but comes more into focus at Ramadan, and I noticed one scholar was quoted as saying, “it is like a welfare state. Only we’ve had it for centuries!”
The pros of the Holy Month
As with everything in life, the month’s success depends on your attitude towards it. Stories in the press tend to focus on the dangers of fasting, instead of the benefits of Ramadan.
Unquestionably, there are people for whom the deprivation of food is problematic. But word of the sick and needy gets around the community every year and we remind ourselves that God said if you are not well, do not fast.
You are not alone
Well-meaning articles also remind us of the effect abstinence may have on our concentration levels and tiredness. For some, this could, if permitted, stymie their learning or their work, particularly if that labour is manual.
Again, there is advice available – see https://utsc.utoronto.ca/news-events/undergraduate-experience/10-tips-studying-while-fasting – but more importantly, there is a strident community around to support you. For those committing to their first fast, it is encouraging to hear from elders whom for years have observed Ramadan.
And there we have it again, another lesson from the Holy Month! That we are better together and enriched by centuries of culture and tradition.
Fasting? Yes. But Ramadan is also a feast of goodness. And may it bring you spiritual growth and peace.”
