Ramadan kinda sucks (no offense to Muslim members) if you are in a country where it is observed, but you don't want to follow it. I mean, I don't want to offend anyone, but it is really strict now even in Dubai. They don't serve alcohol here in the hotel at all anymore, you cannot drink a water next to the pool in stifling heat, in the lounge, you only get food during the day behind a sort of Chinese wall they put up, etc. They did put up a tent outside where non-Muslims can get some food and drinks during the day, and the Muslims don't have to watch it, so they do try to accomodate people here. I'm fine with that as I like to observe the customs of the country I am in and not offend anyone. One guy was smoking a cigar next to the pool and someone came and told him to extinguish it...because of Ramadan also, I guess, because yesterday, it was not a problem, I saw the same guy smoking tons of cigars. However, I read that in Saudi-Arabia, if you are "caught" with food in public during the day, you will be deported immediately!!! It was in the Gulf News (newspaper here). Crazy.
Jackie: let's keep this thread out of the D&D I was in Morocco for the Ramadan one year....i know what you mean about finding food. Just wait until the end of Ramadan when people get really grumpy! Oveall though...i thought it was pretty cool. And impressed that even in 'westernized' cities like Casablanca, Ramadan was well observed. Any of our members observing Ramadam this year???
Ramadan Mubarak, all. Woke up at 5:30AM to eat the following: 2 - bowls of Golden Grahams 1 - banana 3 - glasses of water
I could do the food....no problem. But a day without drinking even water.....man--that would kill me.
Ramadan, I just don't get it. Why the heck would god care if you ate or drank during the day. Seems silly to me, but whatever. DD
I understand this and fully agree. But applying the same principal shouldn't the guy with the cigars be able to smoke? I mean different strokes for different folks and obviously he isn't a believer in this practice. Not very tollerant of others "strokes" or so it seems from my perspective.
Ramadan is more than abstaining from food. The principle behind it is controlling one's desires. Muslims are prohibited to eat or drink or engage in sexual activity during the daylight hours. More importantly, they are encouraged to do good works as it is believed that the blessing is greater in this holy month.
I know how you feel about organized religion in general, so I know you're not just singling out Islam, but Judaism has a Yom Kippur fast, the Cathloics have Lent ... well, here you go: http://www.beliefnet.com/features/fasting_chart.html Recall that many of the old religious 'laws' have quite valid benefits (e.g. many of the Jewish ones concerning food). Fasting may have many health benefits also. Oh, and Happy Ramadan to all.
Good Luck guys. Man....that means all the stores are closed till night time now, gets way too crowded.
Ramadan Mubarak ... wooohooo! Day 2 already! I too think it's a lil nuts to not allow food/drink to those who aren't following it. It never struck me as weird back in Kuwait, but it does now.
I think the greatest benefit to fasting is to learn some humility. It is a time to reflect that not everyone has a choice whether to have food or not and to look at the larger scheme of things. I don't think it was meant to be a God designed slim-fast month but more a lesson to people to be happy about things they usually take for granted. People are also encouraged to give back to the community, help families in need and try to be better people.
Does the Ramadam change every year? I remembered its usually around the same time as Lent (Ash Wednesday-Easter), but I guess its a bit later this year.
