Ramadan in a nutshell

24 Aug, 2009  Help & Guide

nutshellIt’s Ramadan and you thought that you’d try fasting! (if you’ve never done it before). Perhaps you wanted to just learn a bit. Today’s lesson is all about the correct way to fast. OOoooooh, you say?

Fasting begins from sunrise and it’s time to eat during sundown. (You can find out times at the Ministry of Interiors website, Islamweb, or even receive free daily texts from Vodafone to find out.)

It’s purpose is to purify and to teach appreciation.
No bad words, no food, no water, no sexual thoughts (or actions), and no rudeness.

You’re supposed to be kind, gentle, pure, and appreciate the fact that you are lucky in life to have food and to think more about those who have less in life in order to be giving.

Once you’ve gone through that for the day, it’s time to eat! The cannon blasts into the sea (the boom sound signifies it is time to eat), don’t go gorging your face! You’re supposed to eat three dates. Wait 30-60 minutes and then start eating.

Why three dates? Because that’s what the prophet ate. A more scientific answer is that it is just enough in quantity to kick start your metabolism, has enough sugar to keep you going for a bit longer and out of that hunger phase, and just like pringles, one is not enough.

  • salax

    by the pic of this walnut i would like to share a simple desert…

    Mix Walnuts with Honey and leave it for 5 minutes.

    a healthy Iftar desert i say.

  • http://eye-kare.blogspot.com Ahmad

    Just a little correction. It’s not two dates. Well, you can eat as many as you want but the propher used to eat 3 (or any odd number). I don’t know exactly why he liked odd numbers. I’ll try to find out the point of it.

    Nowadays, Ramadan is the month of laziness, tardiness, crazy driving, wasting food..etc << :(

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  • Ambush

    I just wanted to ask… There is this evening in the middle of Ramadan, when all the Qatari children ring the door bell and ask for sweets… Which night is this again??? I need to be prepared, because there are lots of kids in my neightborhood!!!

    If anyone can help me out, I would be forever thankful!

  • Kei

    I’m sorry, I didn’t notice this comment. It’s the 14th of Ramadan (yesterday).

    I’m very sorry again :(

  • Ambush

    Hey, no problem at all! I know I actually should have asked in the forum…

    I am lucky then, because nobody ringed my door bell! Normally it is very busy…

    Thanks for answering my question!

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