Daily Times

YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO EAT FOR A WHOLE MONTH — Muslims do not fast for a whole month. The requirement is to fast every day from dawn to sunset for the duration of a month. But outside of daylight hours, food and drink can be enjoyed each day as normal. Families and friends break the fast together every day with a big meal known as ‘iftar’.

YOU MUST FAST, NO MATTER WHAT — fasting during Ramadan is only for those who are considered well and fit enough to do so. If you’re ill or have any health conditions which may suffer from fasting, you are not obliged to fast. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also exempt, as are those on their menstrual cycle. If you are travelling or on a long journey, you’re also permitted to eat and drink as normal. People in these groups are expected to make up the days missed at a later stage, if they are well enough to. Young children and the elderly are not expected to fast.

YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO SWALLOW YOUR OWN SALIVA — this is definitely not a rule and would be impossible. Ramadan is not supposed to be unrealistic, unattainable or unreasonable.

IT’S FINE TO DRINK WATER – unfortunately not! Fasting means that no food or drink can be consumed during daylight hours – and this includes water.

RAMADAN COMES AT A FIXED TIME EVERY YEAR – Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which is determined by the lunar cycle. When Ramadan begins is based on the sighting of the new moon, which marks the beginning of the month. If the new moon is ‘born,’ fasting begins the following day. Similarly when determining the last day of Ramadan , if the new moon is sighted the holy month is complete on that day. Sometimes local sightings of the moon can differ, which is why there can be discrepancies between the days different countries start and end their fast. It moves about 11 days each year in the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the solar year.

MUSLIMS ONLY HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM FOOD AND DRINK WHILE FASTING – Ramadan is not just about food and drink. It’s about cleansing the soul, focusing on religious duties, holy, kind and charitable deeds. During daylight hours, Muslims also abstain from smoking, fighting, swearing, negative gossiping and sexual intercourse. It’s about having self-restraint and having the mind-space to focus on the religion.

YOU MUST NOT EAT IN FRONT OF SOMEONE WHO IS FASTING – eating in front of someone who is fasting is fine and generally this will not bother Muslims, although of course this is subjective.