Intense Will Power Needed

Sarah Coakley

During the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the fasting of Ramadan occurs.

It is believed that during the month of Ramadan, the Holy Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Muhammad, and it is the holiest month of the year.

The main part of Ramadan is fasting. From sunrise to sunset, eating is not allowed during daylight hours. Sawm, the Arabic word for fasting, technically means, “to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse.” One must also try to refrain from cursing, thinking evil thoughts, arguing and controlling your desires during daytime fasting.

“You’re also supposed to give up vices like smoking,” explained Alexandra Warbasse, who practices fasting during Ramadan. “You can't eat, drink literally anything, not even water, or take medicine. You can't chew gum, kiss others, swear, backstab, pretty much anything ‘bad’.”

Fasting all day can be quite challenging and also creates a strain on one’s body. It poses certain health risks on the body but mainly creates excess fatigue and extreme tiredness.

“Fasting all day definitely makes you tired, drained and want to sleep all day,” Warbasse said. “It is a physical challenge but also a spiritual challenge and a test of willpower, which makes you spiritually aware.”

Fasting is a choice, which requires much dedication and sacrifice.

“It [fasting] is not bad at the start, but when it is nearing the end of the month both the physical and mental fatigue is overwhelming,” she explained. “But that is kind of the point, to build will power as I don't necessarily "have to” fast. I choose to.”

She explained that you are exempt from fasting if you are too old, too young, sick, menstruating or if fasting could physically harm you. Athletes are not exempt from fasting, which makes it difficult to endure in physical activity while fasting.

Warbasse’s brother Larry, is a cyclist and explained that fasting during Ramadan causes major fatigue and makes physical activity challenging.

“I ride my bike during Ramadan and continue my training, although it is really hard because I cannot drink water or eat food for fuel,” he said.

He explained that he scales back his training during Ramadan and tries to coordinate his biking so when he is finished he can eat his meal at sundown directly after.

“Pretty much exercising is like you are on empty, and I probably wouldn't keep training if I wasn't such a devoted cyclist,” he said. “It is super mentally straining, and I find myself falling asleep when I get home from school half of the time because I am so tired.”

He said that at this moment Ramadan is getting harder because it is moving closer to summer where the days become longer.

“When I started it was much easier because it fell during the winter,” he said. “The reason it rotates is because Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar.”

He explained that you are allowed to eat before the sun rises and after the sun sets.
Suhoor, which is the pre-dawn meal, must be finished before Salat-ul-Fajr, the pre-dawn prayer. The meal that ends the fast is called al-Iftar.

He said you are supposed to break your fast by eating a date and drinking water, which are the first things you consume before the prayer Salat-ul-Maghrib, the fourth out of the five daily prayers. The last prayer, Isha'a, or the Night Prayer, lasts about two to three times longer than the other daily prayers.

“Fasting is supposed to help you feel what the poor or needy feel, and it makes you more aware of their everyday struggles,” Alexandra explained. “Originally, you were supposed to donate the food you saved from fasting to the needy, but nowadays we just donate money instead.”

Questions? Comments? Contact Sarah Coakley at coakley2@msu.edu

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