Ramadan 2020

RAMADAN

Disclaimer: Some facts mentioned below, may not be accurate. However, I will put references after each fact/article so if interested, do check them out.

4 Days before Ramadan [04/19/2020]

Note: No, I am Not changing my religion. Do I know the meaning of Ramadan? Yes, I do. I will brief you guys shortly. Am I doing this for religious purposes? Not really, because it is not my religion. It is purely a challenge that I accepted. There's nothing more you can expect from me when you throw a challenge my way. 

If you are wondering how the hell. I accepted such a challenge? Well, one time I was hanging out my friend who is a Muslim and the approaching Ramadan holiday came up as a topic. Muslim people in general don't really think that us, Non-Muslims, can make it through Ramadan. It is hard for them as well and I never said that it is easy. Not many can survive an entire day, until the sundown, without a drop of water/beverage or food...

I purely accepted this challenge because I am a competitive person by nature. I like proving people wrong and I will do everything to succeed. I most probably will need to skip a few days since I am a woman and due to the fact that we have a thing called Period. I also know that for some Muslim woman it is a shameful topic, and some daughters/wives keep it from their husbands and do consume water/food during their period behind their backs. If interested, please read the BBC "Ramadan: Women's shame' of eating during menstruation" article. Therefore, I will see how this one will hit me this time.

It was not a bet. It isn't something anyone should bet about to begin with. Do know that I will quite if I will see that my health is going down the drain. Not going to risk my life over something like this.

Truth is, I didn't accept this challenge just to prove something to someone else. I accepted this challenge to prove to myself that I can do it. I accomplish everything as long as I set my mind to it. However, this time it's a bit different...  I don't even know how to explain it, but not sure I even want to explain. It's purely all up to me now. I want to once again prove myself that I can do it. It's been a while since I faced myself after all.

What's the purpose of this blog, you ask? I thought it will be interesting to record a weekly progress/experience. If you didn't understand yet, it's not going to last for just a week.

RAMADAN 2020 will take place between 24th of April until the 23rd of May. Based on the website 'When-is' on the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so all the observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Thursday, the 23rd of April. Interesting fact is that one the Islamic calendar (Lunar calendar) Ramadan is always on the same day. However, the day on the Gregorian calendar (Solar calendar) varies from year to year. Meaning that Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. That also can be different from country to country. It's all depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not (astronomical calculations).

So, what is Ramadan? History.com editors noted down that, "Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam. It is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, the holly book for Muslims.". Muhammad was Arab political, social and religious leader and the founder of Islam. During each day of the Ramadan month. Muslims do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. Therefore, you can eat and drink all you want from before dawn and after sunset. However, during daytime you are expected not only not to eat or drink but to also restrain yourself from chewing gum, smoking, backbiting, lying, gossiping and engaging in sex. Thus, restraining yourself from all sinful behavior. 

The main purpose of Ramadan is, as Calendarlabs.com unidentified author of article about Ramadan said, "Ramadan purifies one from impure thoughts, deeds and material desires. This allows Muslims to fully concentrate on their faith through prayers, seeking forgiveness and being there for the needy". Authors also noted that, "Beside fasting, Ramadan is a time to recharge your faith to Allah".

If you are wondering if it's a sin, to participate in Ramadan being a Non-Muslim. No, it is not a sin as Ramadan is fasting and I don't think fasting is in any form a sin. So chill, no harm's done. How about we just portray it as a support to your Muslim friends. Fasting may seem easy but it is most definitely not.

Another thing, if you think that all Muslims are fasting during Ramadan, you are mistaking. Originally everyone who passed puberty should take part in Ramadan. However, exceptions are made to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, diabetic patients, elderly, people with disabilities or people with special medical conditions. Exception is also made to people who live near North Pole, because sun never sets down there. I almost forgot one case. An exception is also made/can be made to women during their menstruation. Please notice that they are not forbidden to fast during their period but they need to be extremely attentive to their health during those days and should never force themselves because that could leave them with a serious health issue. If you are interested to see regulations for women during menstruation and fasting please read "Menstruation and Fasting" article on My Religion ISLAM website.

Without further ado, let's start and see how those 4 weeks will be like.

1 ST WEEK [From 24th of April to 1st of May]

If I'm being completely honest here. I thought it will be much harder. Perhaps it's because I was mentally prepared as I did think about it once in a while since March. Don't get me wrong, it isn't easy and each day will be more difficult because sun in Lithuania sets down later each day, and what I have noticed, the timing differs city to city (in Vilnius sun sets approximately 10 minutes earlier than in Kaunas). So, by the end of Ramadan I will be eating my meal at 9:42 PM.

What I don't do, I don't eat in the middle of the night. All because, if you know me, I value sleep more than food. So, by no means I will be waking up at 2 AM to eat and go back to sleep. Nop nop. 

Work helps to pass time and if you are a tiny bit workaholic, you will know that such thing as food isn't on your agenda at times.

Right, I almost slipped on the 1st of May as all because that time of the month has knocked up on my door. Truthfully, it was the most difficult day of all. Apart from that, I'm doing fairly good. I don't really think I feel much difference in my body... I thought I will feel emptier, lighter but don't know.. Don't feel much.. Or I just don't pay much attention to it.  

2 ND WEEK 

Not much to say about this week, the only changes that I felt happening were that I cannot handle as much food as I did last week. I did crave for more water and during lunchtime my stomach was shouting but I wasn’t feeling hungry. 

To cut right to the chase, I don’t find it too difficult and this week I ended up eating my meal at 9:16 PM.

3 RD WEEK

This week I felt hungrier, that’s for sure, and I think it’s due to the fact that the eating time moved up by 50 minutes. I don’t find it intolerable though, in fact I enjoy it, I finally feel that hunger feeling that I’ve more or less missed. The feeling of hunger makes me appreciate food more.

Another thing, since I eat only once, I noticed that my mind drifts to all the dished that I’m planning to make. Making me realized that I buy too many ingredients that might expire sooner than I intended to, before buying them...

4 TH WEEK 

23rd of May, Today. It's the last day of Ramadan. Eating time: 9:42 PM.

This week was fine, just like the previous ones. The only thing that I really disliked is eating so late... Because if I eat late, I felt bloated in the morning. As a person with a slow metabolism and a working person who has to wake up early every day, eating late isn't so nice. I once thought of skipping one day for good... Other than that, it was all pretty great and I will actually miss it, up to the point that I'm thinking of eating only once a day but not later than 8 PM. Because eating your first meal before 10 PM believe me, it is not the best thing.

Water, oh gosh that is the only thing that I miss drinking throughout the day!!! 

Will I be practicing this every year? Perhaps yes, I quite enjoyed it.

How people reacted once they heard? Most of them immediately thought that I'm converting into Islam... Some cold me crazy. and some actually supported me. Some of them actually saw it as a way of learning about different culture and its customs. Some of them saw it as a way of testing your willpower. 

My mum was the one actually who always teased me yet by the end of it said how about today, on the very last day, said make an exception as we will have BBQ after doing planting, I told her that no way in hell I am doing that on the last day. Mum being mum, she expressed how proud she of me.

Kaunas City Ramadan Calendar!

Reference:

http://www.myreligionislam.com/detail.asp?Aid=5899

https://www.calendarlabs.com/holidays/islam/ramadan.php

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/ramadan

http://www.when-is.com/ramadan-2020.asp

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-44304012