Non muslims: Why not fast for a day this Ramadan?

Question

To all non muslims, why not consider fasting for a day?

CHRISTIANS: Of course you know that the both Jesus (pbuh) and Moses (pbuh) fasted for 40 days, and fasting is recommended many times in the Bible e.g. Psalms 35:13 and Acts 13:1-3. Why not follow their example by fasting for a day and honouring God, and you might gain a little understanding of Islam in the process. And mutual understanding is what the world needs right now.

NON-RELIGIOUS / ATHEISTS: Even though you don't believe in a spiritual aspect, fasting will bring it's own rewards - a sense of achievement and satisfaction when you complete the fast and are successful in mastering your bodily desires, and also perhaps an understanding of why muslims fast. If you live in a rich country, maybe you have never been genuinely hungry at all in your whole life. Unfortunately for many people hunger is an everyday experience. By fasting you might get a sense of sympathy for others, and better yourself in the process.

HOW TO FAST: In simple terms, you fast from sunrise to sunset, neither eating, drinking, smoking nor having s*x during that time. In practise muslims tend to fast from the morning prayer (from when the first light from the sun is seen on the horizon - this can be up to two hours before actual sunrise).

Look up the sunrise and sunset times at your location, wake up and have a hearty meal before sunrise, and at sunset open your fast with any food or drink you like, but most traditional is dates and water, and congratulate yourself on completing a successful challenge!

Answer 1

Sorry, I don't understand how starving ones self and dehydrating ones self can help in the easing of the world's suffering. Surely rather than try to understand need and hunger of those less fortunate than ourselves it would be more beneficial to actually go out and help these people in whatever way. Or would that involve actually doing something about it rather than thinking about it?

But as a Muslim I would invite you to join me, an atheist, to a bacon sandwich and a glass of wine to help further understand the gluttony that abounds these days.

Sorry, couldn't help that last bit. You seem to be a decent person and I don't mean to offend, but this is one of the things that I don't get about any religion. Preying for people and denying yourself basic needs does absolutely nothing to ease the suffering of the world's needy - it just make the person doing the preying and the fasting feel better. The people who really care are the ones that give up their comfortable lifestyle and go out and actually do something like the folks at Christian Aid, the Red Crescent and Red Cross, Medecines Sans Frontiers etc.

A friend of mine became a "born again" Christian when he turned 21. I didn't think too much about it until I heard that years later he and his family had moved to Cambodia to help orphans. A good man, I can tell you.

Answer 2

I'm an atheist.

I enjoy eating. My body tells me to eat. I should mention, if I cannot keep my blood sugar stable and I fast for more than eight hours (except at night) then I can assure you I will probably binge the next day and have no control over my eating.

I hope you realize that days where I eat only 1,000 calories a day (much higher than "true" fasting) are followed by days when I chow down 2,800 calories!

I am very hungry, sometimes. Have you ever been on a diet? Fasting kills my metabolism and gives me less control over my hunger. It is not "defeating" my body to starve myself. I don't need to starve in order to feel sympathy for someone who is starving.

P.S. I've sexually "fasted" for nearly five years. And my libido is not at all satiated. Really, what makes restriction a good thing? The body has certain needs and to ignore them is sometimes unhealthy.  

Answer 3

As a Christian, I actually fast fairly often.   I have to Ramadan  further before committing to a fast in honor of the day.  God be with you.  

Answer 4

I have rejected religion I'm afraid, this does not only include the Christianity I was indoctured into as a child but any and all organised religion and its practises. I must therefore decline your offer, I do so graciously and appreciate the sentiment of you opening this up as an inclusive part of your religion.

Please do not think me ignorant or ill informed, I have starved both by choice and circumstance, I know that pain. I sympathise with those that cannot escape it whether that be because of the world around them or their own psychology. I believe that I already have control over myself and can see no benefit or understanding for your practises by following your path.

I do however wish you a happy Ramadan (or the equivalent correct term).

Answer 5

I do regularly fast.

But I have met many Muslims who eat more during Ramadan (Puasa) than other periods,,,just before and after sunset!!

Answer 6

I don't want to.  Why should I?  Just because some people think the sensation they get when they have gone without food is spiritual does not mean that it is.  It's just sugar deficiency.

I have more than enough spirituality of the true kind in my life without any imaginary god coming into it.

I cry when I see the birds not because some non-existant god made them but because I can see them and they are beautiful and during my brief existance on earth I can see them and love them for their beauty.

Answer 7

I will, if you have a bacon sarnie the day after ramadan finishes, I guarantee that will open your eyes more than fasting will open mine.

Answer 8

I do fast about once a year. For 3 consecutive days and nights.  

Answer 9

cause Islam means submission and we won't submit.

Have you ever wondered why so many muslims are flocking to leave muslims countries to live in non-muslims countries if islam really works?

Answer 10

No way jose. I love my sausage in a pancke on a stick to much :)  

Answer 11

I may try it at some point, but not at Ramadan specifically.

Answer 12

s***w that, I get headaches when I'm hungry.

Answer 13

I'm not starving! get out of my way!

Answer 14

No, this fasting is something that is further separating the muslim community from British culture. Due to the serious of bad events over the last few years, the muslim community will need to work hard to prove that they can be part of the decent British community.

Answer 15

Yeah I might try it. A lot of non-Muslims fast anyway, as it has a lot of cleansing and health benefits.

Answer 16

I will be.  For Yom Kippur.  We do it for 24-25 hours with no food or water.  It's do-able, although it does get a bit cranky for the last couple hours.

It does lend itself to more appreciation of what's in our lives.

People have some strange ideas of what fasting is.  They see it as "spiritual" rather than as a change to alter the way you interact with the world (for a whole day, or the days of a month).  This stepping outside yourself can lead to spirituality, or just to a different sense of yourself that has nothing to do with God or spirituality.  It leads to appreciation, And that's a good thing to have in life.  And for some a sense of power (that you did this).  It's not harmful (if it will be than you are instructed -not- to fast.)

Answer 17

no way sorry to say but no

no no no fasting is a load of c**p anyway

Answer 18

No thanks.

Answer 19

For Catholics the tradition surrounding Good Friday (which includes fasting) and indeed the season of Lent (which is 40 days of prayer, penance, fasting, almsgiving and abstinence) has been in place at least since the 4th century (300 years before Ramadan, and the other four pillars).  I would say we have a lot of common ground in this area with our Muslim brethren.

Some might say its not the same kind of fasting, which may be true, but the spirit and motive behind the "challenge" is the same.

I'd recommend the following article for a very basic introduction to this incredible topic from the Catholic perspective.

http://www.catholiceducation.org/article...

Answer 20

I know enough about islam, perhaps you should spend a day reading about the real islam here:

http://www.faithfreedom.org

Now that you are a muslim do you support the death/punishment  for apostasy required by the sharia and implemented in many islamic countries ?

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The countries implementing the the death penalty for islam are advised the the most renowned scholars of islam, they also run some of the most popular madarassas and other islamic institutions.

So why do you believe they are bad examples of islam ?

Are you saying you understand islam better than the guys who implement these sharia laws ?

The penalty for apostasy and blasphemy were enforced by the prophet.

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Is there no room forgiveness for murder or spreading mischief ? the latter can be used to justify the death penalty for for almost any petty crime.

I recommended you read the debates section in

http://www.faithfreedom.org

and join their mostly Atheist Vs Islam forum

http://www.faithfreedom.org/forum

Answer 21

I will not be joining you. For a start off, why, when we have been "given the gift" of food, water and desire, are we supposed to be a greater being when we deny ourselves these things?

Denying myself food and water does not bring back the thousands of people that die from starvation, nor does it make me appreciate life. It will simply highlight to me why religion is so out-dated and nonsensical.

Answer 22

i like drinking smoking s*x and eating not necessarily in that order the only sense of achievement i would have would be losing weight that would be if i had to lose weight and i dont so sorry fasting does not appeal to me

Answer 23

No chance. I love my food too much.