AskDoctorKT

“Eyah! You’re fasting abi?”

This is the typical comment we hear from our non-muslim friends when we fast during the month of Ramadan. Many people don’t know how Allaah has made fasting easy for us and exempted some set of muslims from fasting; because HE knows it won’t be easy for them. Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) is a Prophetic tradition that we observe because it provides some energy to carry out our normal daily activities while fasting. Besides, the thought of the reward alone is enough to make the fasting person feel more at ease… SubhaanaLlaah!

Let me share my personal experience in the last two years…

In 1435H, I had a baby on the 4th day of Ramadan. So I missed the whole 29/30 days. It wasn’t a “miss” anyway. It was an exemption. It was ease. I repaid the missed fasts in the next 11 months, at my convenience. I fasted more during winter because of the cooler and shorter days. What an ease!

In 1436H, it was during the hottest days of summer; 15-16 hours of daytime. The stress of work and home management weighed on me heavily… But guess what? fasting was much easier than I expected!

There are muslims in the northern part of the globe who fast for 20+ hours, yet, they’re alive and well. This is not just a coincidence. This is the promise of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ãla):

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then [should repay] an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that which He has guided you to; and perhaps you will be grateful.” (Quran chapter 2 verse 185)

Here’s a special prayer for those who are planning to start fasting this year,  “yassarahuLlaah” – may Allaah make it easy! Aameen.