Leeds Muslims have spoken out about the struggles of fasting during Ramadan. One man even said it was like “playing football” where each year of practicing, you gradually get better at it.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims won’t eat or drink during the hours of daylight. This year the Islamic celebration begins on Saturday, April 2, and ends on May 1. Practicing Muslims fast from puberty, around 13 or 14 years old.
It is celebrated to remember the month of Qur’an (the Islamic holy book) was first shown to the Prophet Muhammad. LeedsLive spoke to Muslims about how they feel in the days leading upto the holy month.
Read more: Tragic final hours of young man whose Instagram post led to tragedy
Shopkeeper Bacha Khan, 49, has seven children, five of them will be fasting with him during Ramadan. He said: “Just the first couple days are hard and after that, it’s very easy. It’s easy! It’s practice. When you play football, you practice, and it gets easier.”
Even though it’s challenging to begin with, Bacha described it as a “happy month” and said his whole family was looking forward to it.
Another shopkeeper Khan Ali, 36, who will be fasting with his wife, also described it as a happy month. He is looking forward to the great deals at supermarkets, as he says practicing Muslims get special deals for food items. He said it takes a whole week for him to get used to the fasting, however.
Khan said: “I am very happy, especially because at the supermarkets the prices go down. I am very happy. They give you special prices for Ramadan package. They are good deals.
But speaking of the challenges of fasting, he added: “The first week is very hard. I am used to having my breakfast, eating and drink something. At Ramadan first week after one year, we stop eating and drinking at about 3am. So for about 16 hours, we eat nothing, it’s very hard for us.”
Khan went on to say his wife was a great support as “a woman make all the food for a guy,” so she’s a real help during the month.
Fruit seller Ahmed Ali, 42, who has three children, 13, 12 and five, says his family are looking forward to it. Even his five-year-old son wants to get involved in the fasting, even though he thinks this is sweet – he won’t allow it.
Ahmed said: “My children are okay, they look to us for an example. The first couple days are tough but after that it’s okay.
“My five-year-old knows everything about Ramadan, he still eats all his food in the morning and we want to teach him about it. He sometimes said to us that he wants to join in but I told him he was still a child and when he grows, then he is allowed to do it.”
To get the latest email updates from LeedsLive, click here.
