Muslim One Month Fast

Muslims Fast One Month for Faith

Gaza - Today I had a spontaneous short interview with someone (who wants to me anonymous) from Gaza about them fasting. When he/she told me that they were fasting for a month, my curiosity was peaked. I wanted to know why, and how could, someone fast for a month.

Me: "Why are you fasting?"

He/She: "It's Ramadan."

Me: "How long are you fasting?"

He/She: "We fast for month." "Now we fast 10 days, 20 remain."

Me: "What faith do you fast for?"

He/She: "Ordinans to close to God."

Me: "Is it just your family that is fasting, or people everywhere of your religion?"

He/She: "All our country."

Me: "Are you Muslim?"

He/She: "Yes."

Me: "Are you fasting because of troubles in your country with politics or government?" Or do you fast for forgiveness of what you have done in your past?"

He/She: "We must fast from all bad things." "We are simple and love Palestine." 

We continued chatting about Ramadan, the weather and other miscellaneous things. I learned a lot from him/her. I learned that Ramadan is the month in their calendar that they take very seriously, when it comes to their religion. They believe that during this time, while they fast, they envelop themselves in their faith. The higher the sacrifice, the greater the reward.

They do not eat or drink from sun-up to sun-down. They do not engage in any sexual activity. They do not practice any acts that are "bad". All of their bodily senses are not allowed to experience the negative or "bad" things. 

They sacrifice these gifts for God. They cleanse the impurities from the body and spirit to focus more on faith. They are especially, while fasting for faith, humble. Prayer and reading of the Quran, becomes more frequent during Ramadan. They are to forgive those who have wronged them in the past and give more to those that need it. 

At the end of the fasting period they feast in celebration. They now can resume their regular activities in the day. 

Personal Note: I admire their strength in the faith they practice in the Muslim religion. They practice such restraint and attention with things that many of us take for granite. I have always had a fascination with culture and religion and after speaking to him/her, I have grown a greater appreciation for the Muslim faith.

 

Interviewed by: Dolly Townsend

Interviewed: Gaza, Anonymous

Questions Posed:

What significantly, has been a test of your strength, with your faith?

Without all of the details in this interview, what can you contribute regarding your knowledge of the Muslim religion?