The Chron speaks to Northamptonshire Muslims about the challenges of Ramadan
Saffron, Castilian Street. Ramadan feature on fast breaking food. L-R Somor Ahmed, Naz Islam, Masom Ahmed, Prince Chaudhury, Suyful Islam Ali, Boorul Islam and Fokor Ahmed.
SO many people in the Western world do not really know what true hunger is.
For those sitting at home with a fridge full of food – enough to eat and enough to waste – it is almost impossible to relate to the TV images of starving children struggling for survival in Africa.
It too often seems a world far away, meriting only a fleeting moment of sympathy and a pocketful of change tossed into a charity bucket.
But there are some hungry people living in Northamptonshire at the moment, namely the Muslim communities obeying the fasting rules of Ramadan.
For these people, hunger is not a matter of life and death as it is for those in Africa and is nothing in comparison to that level of bitter poverty, yet many believe this fasting period helps them empathise a little more with what the poor endure throughout the world.
This makes it easier for them to give some of their income to a charity of their choosing, to help those less fortunate.
Muslims fast for 30 days in Ramadan. They must fast between sunrise and sunset; during this time no food or water can be consumed.
Of course there are exceptions to these strict rules: vulnerable groups such as the sick and elderly, children and pregnant women, but for all others observing Ramadan at this time of year – the height of summer – up to 18 hours a day can be spent without food or water.
Ramadan, which is due to end on August 29 this year, goes way beyond fasting. Speak to Muslims and they will tell you about an extensive list of activities banned during Ramadan, including cigarettes, bad language, sex, drugs and immoral behaviour. It is a time to reflect on inner strength and outward generosity.
The month is seen by Muslims as the most holy of months, the time when the Koran was first revealed to prophet Muhammad.
In this feature, the Chron caught up with some Northamptonshire Muslims to find about how they face the challenge of Ramadan.
Following the rules and restrictions of Ramadan is an important part of faith for the Ahmadiyya Muslims, for whom one important priority is emphasising the peaceful message of Islam.
Dr Naveed Zafar is president of the Northamptonshire branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, an organisation which believes that the long-awaited Messiah has already come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
As an A & E doctor, Naveen works nights, which fits in well with Ramadan as he is able to eat for much of his waking time. As he explains, in his work he cannot afford to feel ill through lack of food.
“If it was compromising my role as a doctor I wouldn’t do it,” he said. “I have to be on the ball, feel on form and fit.” He continued: “We follow all the teachings of Islam and we observe Ramadan.
“I try to observe prayers and be kind to other humans. Being a doctor is a huge workload too but I always try to be calm, I try to be even more gentle with my children and treat my wife with respect.”
He explained that Ramadan is a key time when Muslims show charity and goodness to other people.
He continued: “To become a true practising Muslim, this is a person who is a good human being. You don’t do it for the creator alone, if you love the creator you must love his creation. We strongly believe that should be the basis. The whole purpose of Ramadan is to show the goodness of God. God is for everyone.”
He continued: “It is an exercise in showing good deeds and good work. Sometimes I think people don’t realise the purpose of fasting. It is not only about prohibiting food, it has a whole wider meaning of spiritual and moral improvement. I feel many people fail to understand this, they deprive themselves of food at this time and afterwards think they can do bad things.”
“Ramadan is a time when it is important to give to charity; people give 2.5 per cent of their earnings to charity,” said Prince Sadik Chaudhury, treasurer of the Northamptonshire Muslim Council.
He continued: “The most beautiful thing is that during Ramadan we feel closer to the poor and needy people in Third World countries. It is not just about closing your mouth, it is about not doing wrong. It gives you a one-month experience to restrain yourself and make yourself a good person.
“You have more than one billion people worldwide who are fasting for Ramadan and 12,000 Muslim people in Northampton alone.”
Prince Sadik’s routine during Ramadan involves going to bed at 5am, after prayers, and sleeping until 11am. He eats curry and rice at 3am and opts for milk, water, fruit and soft foods in the evening.
The father-of-four now uses iPhone apps to find out which time every day he needs to pray or break his fast. The technology also offers him daily passages from the Koran to read.
He said: “Sometimes I feel very hungry but I know I can’t break it, I have to do this and I feel I’m more proud and closer to God. It is a good practice for one month and I would love to do it for the whole 12 months.”
“I stay awake until I have to eat but others eat last thing at night,” said Rufia Ashraf, describing her Ramadan experience.
Rufia, a development officer with the Northampton Bangladeshi Association, said: “It is difficult for some people when they are working unless they have the facility for prayers and there are additional prayers during Ramadan.
“Because I work during the day it is a bit difficult. Once home I catch up with my prayers and see to the family and then in the evening I settle down to the rest of the prayers, I stay awake at night reading the Koran, then at 2am or 2.30am I wake the family and organise the food.
“I like to have my cereal but my family like to have rich food, a bit of meat and a bhaji. The food has to be rich as it has to fill you up.” She continued: “The first day or two is the hardest time when you are trying to get into it, but as you get into it it gets better. It is just one of those things you have to do, you can’t escape it.”
She continued: “You have to give a certain percentage of your wealth, which goes to the poor. It is about sharing your wealth with people in desperate need.”
“It is not really difficult to do, because you know you are fasting,” said Mohammad Rahman, reflecting on the restriction of food and drink during Ramadan.
The father-of-three from The Headlands said: “If you do eat by mistake it doesn’t break your fast, if it is something unintentional. You have been eating for the last 11 months so it is easy to forget. But really you can’t eat from dawn to sunset and I feel better for it.
“My oldest child is 15 and she is fasting, the other one is 11 and she is not keeping it all the time and the other one is only three so is not fasting. With the 11-year-old, it is up to her.”
Mohammad, who works at Saffron Restaurant in Northampton, prays and reads the Koran during the night and when dawn comes he sleeps until noon or 1pm.
He explained: “If you make it difficult it is difficult, if you make it easy, it is easy.”
AS a restaurant owner, Naz Islam, from Northampton, must find it a true test of will power to keep to the Ramadan fast.
He explained: “You do automatically want to put food into your mouth and it can be very hard when there are people eating and drinking in front of you. But it is just for one month and if you can’t sacrifice one month of your time for God; for us to give 30 days it is basically nothing.
“We are an example to the next generation and, if we don’t keep to the fast, how can we expect the kids to do it?”
Naz, who owns three restaurant businesses including Saffron in Northampton, continued: “My day will start at 8.30am or 9am. I have to look after the restaurants, prepare the meals and do the shopping. I work with food all the time so this makes it even harder. I do get up at 3.30am or 4am to get a quick bite, but it is so early in the morning that you don’t really feel like it. I have rice and curry which is very filling and makes you stronger.
“Then I go back to sleep, which can be very difficult, but after a couple of hours I manage it.”
“Eventually you will eat a big meal in the evening and you have your evening prayers.”
Naz breaks his fast at the end of the day with traditional dates and water followed by a soft rice and lentil dish.
He said: “When you have lots of food you can take food and water for granted. Recently we went to a restaurant and ordered so much it had to be taken back into the kitchen. It is a waste of food when other people are starving.”
As with the rest of the year, Muslims must pray five times a day during Ramadan, although prayer periods are longer. The final prayers of the evening can last for more than an hour.
Naz continued: “It is easy in our countries because the days are shorter and you get called to go to the mosque at prayer times. In this country you haven’t got that.”
He continued: “After the 30 days we look forward to the celebration of Eid, which is like Christmas Day for us.”
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