By Narmin Anwar
…during Ramadan
Fasting in Islam is not mandatory for children. However, many families encourage their young ones to practice so it may be easy for them as they grow older. Before you know it, these kids have become adults who choose on their own whether they want to fast or not.
Iraj, 8
“Iraj, do you fast?”
“No but I’m gonna do it tomorrow. Oh wait!”
“What?”
“I can’t. I’m taking medicine; I can’t do it this year,” he goes back to playing with his video games.
“Are you going to try next year?”
“Yea maybe.”
Yusra, 8
“Yusra, I heard you fast every day! Why do you fast?”
“Because it is good to. I like getting good deeds and giving money to the poor at the end. I want to get as many good deeds as I can for Ramadan,” she grins.
“And what do you do when you get hungry?”
“I eat food sometimes…but not when I’m fasting,” she giggles, “but when I’m fasting, I try not to think about food. Instead I go draw, think of funny stuff, or go bother people.”
Mili, 9
“Mili, when did you start fasting?”
“Last year, but I didn’t do every day. But I’m going to try this year; I only skipped one day so far.”
“And why do you fast?”
“To get the rewards.”
“Aww, ok good.” She waited, looking up at me as I typed into my phone.
“Are you done interviewing me? Can I go now?”
Nabil, 10
“Nabil! I heard you’re fasting, why do you fast?”
He looked confused, “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Your parents didn’t tell you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ok, well what do you do when you feel hungry?”
“I bite my fingernails sometimes.”
“Ok…you know you don’t have to do it if it’s too hard for you.”
“Yea I know. I just try to do it once a week,” he tells me matter-of-factly.
Mahum, 11
“Hi Mahum, can you tell me why you fast?”
She hesitates, but then she states, “I fast because in our religion, Islam, once a year we fast in Ramadan, the fasting month. We fast from dawn to sunset and in between that time we are forbidden to eat or drink anything.”
“Wow, thanks! Do you fast every day?”
“No, I don’t fast every day,” she looks down at her toes, “I usually get hungry three to four hours before the end of the fast, so every once in a while I’ll break my fast.”
Priti, 12
“Hey Priti, let me interview you, why do you fast?”
She swings her feet after we’ve finished eating dinner, “Because it’s a part of our religion.”
“And when did you start fasting?”
“I started doing a couple of days last year.”
“Is it harder this year?”
“Yea because it’s hotter and the days are longer but it’s also kinda easier because there’s no school.”
Sakib, 13
I found Sakib online so I chatted with him, “Hey Sakib, so why do you fast?”
“I fast to earn Allah’s blessings and to grow my sacrificing attitude.”
“And why do you do it every day?”
“Because I made a commitment to do so.”
“Did you not do every day last year?”
“No, I only did a couple of them last year, and the days were a bit shorter, so it’s harder this year.”
Evana, 14
“Evana, when and why did you start fasting?”
“I started last year because my mommy told me to.” She stopped and then added, “and also because it makes me feel good.”
“OK, and do you think it’s hard?”
“No, not really, it gets better after the first few days.”
“And what do your non-Muslim friends think about it?”
“They think it’s cool.”
Farhan, 14
“Farhan, why do you fast?”
“To burn my bad habits.”
“Do you think it’s hard to do? Or harder this year?”
He nods, “Yes, it is hard and it is harder than last year.”
“What do your non-Muslim friends think about fasting?”
“Oh, they think it is unnatural.”
I look up at him concerned, “Do you explain why you’re doing it?”
“No, I don’t bother.”
Anhar, 15
“Anhar, why do you fast?”
He takes his time to think about it and then answers, “I fast to gain taqwa, to feel how people without food feel and to obey Allah.”
“Do you think it’s hard to fast?”
“Sometimes it is but it’s OK because I’m doing it for Allah. Plus, it’s actually easier this year because I practiced before Ramadan started and I also learned a lot more about Islam so I’m more happy to be doing it.”
Aniqa, 16
I had sent Aniqa a facebook message, “Hey Aniqa, do you fast every day?”
“No, I don’t fast on days I have class because I can’t focus on an empty stomach.”
“What’s the hardest part about fasting?”
“Definitely waking up early”
“And do you think it’s harder to fast this year?”
“Yes, I think fajr prayer is earlier this year.”
Elmer, 17
“So, why do you fast?”
He grins and thinks of something clever, “To find my mind’s patience.”
“And do you fast every day?”
Still smiling, he shakes his head, “No, I want to get bigger and eat healthy.”
“So, you think it’s hard?”
“It’s very hard, especially because it’s in August this time.”
“What do your non-Muslim friends think about fasting?”
“Some of them respect it and some of them think it’s dumb.”
Noshin, 17
“Noshin, do you fast every day?”
She blinked her big mascaraed lashes, “Yea, because I feel like it’s the right thing to do. I actually do look forward to it but sometimes you can’t because it’s called being a girl.”
“Does it change your social life? Do most of your friends fast?”
“Yes and no. It sucks that I’m not going to parties this month but I’m trying to stay on the safe side so that my fast is pure. I have friends who seem pretty devoted to Islam and I know they fast. I also have friends that choose not to fast. And I have a friend that wants to fast but her parents won’t let her because they worry that she’s too thin.”
Nabhan, 17
I emailed Nabhan for his answers, “Why do you choose to fast Nabhan?”
“I feel good when I fast. It helps me concentrate and stay on task.”
“Do you think fasting during these summer days is hard?”
“I do not find fasting to be difficult. I am constantly engaged in activities right up to sunset so I have no time to actually sit around and just wonder how long until I can eat.”
“Do you tell people you are fasting?”
“I generally try to avoid the subject that I am fasting and try not to state it unless I am directly asked why I am not eating.”
Fawwaz, 18
“Hey Fawwaz, why do you fast?” He looks around, as if searching for an answer.
“I guess I fast to feel what many people feel every day- those who don’t have food.”
“Do you think it’s hard?”
“No, not really, and it isn’t harder than last year. It actually seems more simple.”
“Do you have Muslim friends that don’t fast? And how do you feel about that?”
“I feel bad for them because they aren’t getting the full effect of Ramadan. I do hope they learn from myself and others. I have tried to talk to them in the past but it doesn’t work.”
Farah, 18
I also caught Farah online, “Hey Farah, why do you choose to fast?”
“I fast because it’s a great way to practice self discipline and limit dependence on material things- which is something I think we’ve forgotten in our fast paced society.”
“Do you think it’s hard to eat healthy while you’re fasting?”
“Yes, it is hard to eat healthy because of all the oily/unhealthy food at iftar but I try to get my proteins and veggies in there somewhere.”
“Do you have Muslim friends that don’t fast?”
“I do have Muslim friends that don’t fast, but honestly it’s their choice to make at the end of the day and that’s alright with me.”
We all fast for a plethora of different reasons. Some of us adults wouldn’t even be able to answer the fasting question as easily and confidently as these interviewees did. It’s surprising to see how much the kids know. And how humbling it is to know we can learn so much from them!
