Religion & Spirituality

10 Questions I've Been Asked About Ramadan By Non-Muslims (Part 2)

You know the drill, I said I'd make a part two here it is.

If you haven't already read part 1 here you go: 10 Questions I've Been Asked About Ramadan By Non-Muslims (Part 1)

Now let's get straight into this, no playing around haha.

10 Questions Ive Been Asked About Ramadan By Non-Muslims (Part 2)

#1 - "Don't Your Parents Worry About You Fasting Because You're So Skinny?"

Yes my parents worry about me every single Ramadan mainly because I'm skinny. Not so much this time round because I'm staying at home and I'm older now, but certainly when I was younger like 12-years-old.

They always remind me if I start feeling ill or faint it's perfectly okay for me to break it, and I remember whilst I was at secondary school, I only broke it for that reason once when I was 13 or 14 because I felt quite light-headed and dizzy- I think that was my hay-fever playing up that day, and I needed water, but other than that I've never really felt ill or light-headed.

But now I'm a little older they know I'm strong enough to handle it given I've been proving myself to them for all these years, haha.

#2 - "How Old Were You When You First Started Fasting?"

I was about 8 or 9 when I tried to fast for the first time. I didn't manage, because like a genius I didn't get up before sunrise to eat- and when I got home from school I felt sick so I broke my fast.

I started fasting properly when I was 12, I'll never forget those fasts- they were the longest and it was really hot weather too. My parents didn't think I'd be able to manage and thought I'd crack by the second or third day but I surprised them, and managed to keep them all.

#3 - "Is It Harder To Not Eat, Or Not Drink?"

It depends on the person but for me personally, it's harder to not drink anything.

Especially because I love tea (well that goes without saying I'm British Pakistani lol) and I always have cups of tea throughout the day- one of the most said sentences in my house is probably:

"I'm making tea, who wants some?"

So it goes without saying that not being able to drink tea throughout the day is the hardest thing for me.

And the "hunger" never really gets me, it's always the thirst which I feel more than the hunger.

#4 - "What's Your Favourite Thing When You Break Your Fast?"

Easy, a cup of tea.

After we've had our Iftar meal, we sit and watch the news for a few minutes, and then someone asks the old question in my house:

"I'm making tea, who wants some?"

And then we have tea usually with a biscuit or something. But it always feels so rewarding to have the cup of tea and I always feel that bit more grateful for it given I haven't been able to drink it through the day like I usually do. It feels amazing.

#5 - "Do Your Parents Ever Pressure You To Fast?"

Nope, my parents don't pressure me at all. I was the one that said to my parents that I want to fast so when I was 12, my parents gave me the old fasting "talk":

"If you feel sick or ill break it"

"Stay calm and collected whilst you fast"

"Make sure you eat enough before sunrise"

And they supported me, and here we are.

#6 - "Do You Ever Feel Tempted To Eat When You See Someone Else Eat?"

Sometimes I do.

But you just have to resist that temptation, that's one of the things Ramadan is about self-discipline and learning to not give into temptation and being strong-willed and remembering why you're fasting.

- To make yourself a better person

- To bring yourself closer to Allah

- To make yourself a stronger person

- To remember the poor and feel what the less fortunate who aren't as privileged as you go through

So I never give into temptation, I'd only ever break my fast because I feel poorly not because I'm too tempted because I see someone else eat.

#7 - "Do You Lose Weight In Ramadan?"

My weight has always stayed the same from the start of Ramadan to the end.

Because even though we fast through the day, we do have big meals at iftar time and often snack through the night and then have a meal before sunrise.

#8 - "Is It Awkward When You're On Your Period And People Ask Why Aren't You Fasting?"

A little, when it's my time of the month, I like to keep it private, but when my family members ask- it is kinda awkward but nothing I lose sleep over haha.

I remember once at school one of my dude friends asked me why I'm not fasting and my friend had my back and told him I was feeling ill which wasn't exactly a lie because I did have cramps, but then my friend just decided to shout out:

"I don't see why people can't just say 'I'm on my period' it's not that hard!"

And then he was like: "Well I didn't need to know that much!"

It was kinda awkward given she just shouted it out to everyone, but oh well.

Then two weeks later, it came back and all my friends were like:

"Oh My GoD iT's BaCkKk? It'S oNlY bEeN tWo WeEkS tHaT's So ShOrT!!!"

And I was just like: "Guys, shut up."😂😂

#9 - "Is It All Worth It In The End?"

Totally. It is 110% worth it, and once you break your fast it just feels so rewarding and you feel so lucky when you've broken your fast and you're eating your meal and drinking your drink.

My parents always tell me and my brother: "We're very lucky to be breaking our fasts with all this food to eat, so just remember that there are some people in this world who's hunger never ends. Remember them and remember how lucky we are."

It really does you time to remember how lucky you are, and feel for those who are less fortunate than you as well.

It's all rewarding in the end, especially because it feels like you've really earned what you're eating. Or it does feel that way for me anyway.

#10 - "If I Held You Down And Force Fed You A Burger Would It Break Your Fast?😂"

Believe it or not but once I was sat in my French class and the kids sat behind me and the girl sat next to me were asking me questions about Ramadan, and I was happily answering.

And then the tall boy sat behind me asked that question above😂😂

And the answer is no, it wouldn't break my fast because I'm not willingly eating the burger to break my fast I'm being forced to eat. So my fast still counts.

So then the dude offered to hold me down and force feed me a burger because I think it was burger day at school that day and he was stronger than me😂😂

I politely declined and told him he didn't need to do that and that I was happy not eating or drinking anything because yes it was a struggle but that struggle made me a stronger person.

So then he understood and said he wasn't going to do it, and he didn't😂

Any Last Words?

So number 10 was the funny question I talked about last MyTake, I figured I'd save the funny one until last😂😂

Once again please may all my Muslim sisters and brothers have a safe Ramadan and remember if you are feeling ill and definitely if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, remember you don't have to fast. Only fast if you are fit and healthy enough to.

To everyone (Muslim and non-Muslim) please stay safe during Ramadan and the lockdown and please remember to keep social distancing, keep washing your hands, stay healthy and stay at home until lockdown is over to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to protect your healthcare services and your workers.

With that said, I'm going to make myself some more tea and study for a while so I hope you enjoyed this MyTake and...

Thank you for reading :) <3

10 Questions I've Been Asked About Ramadan By Non-Muslims (Part 2)
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