Introduction

Every year, thousands of millions of Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan.

We give up food, water, relations with our spouse if we’re married – basically everything that God permitted for us. These are things that we take for granted every month of the year, and in these allotted thirty days we give it all up to feel exactly what those who can’t have it feel all year ‘round.

My friend described it very accurately as a sort of ‘divine boot camp’.

Discipline is key.

The basic restrictions are:

No food, or drink, from the pre-dawn meal (Suhur) to Iftar (breaking fast/dinner) in the early evening after the sun has set. This also includes putting anything in your mouth, including chewing gum and dental surgery. If you want to brush your teeth, you do that after you eat.

If you’re married, you aren’t allowed to have relations with your spouse during this time period. It’s allowed during the evening after the fast, until the morning before dawn.

Keep a basic handle on your temper. Tis the season to be understanding and generous. Having a serious episode of road rage isn’t going to help that.

So yes, that’s pretty much the basics – but most important of all is intention. If you don’t start your day with the intention that you’re fasting for Ramadan, you might as well have starved yourself all day.

I chose to keep this journal to record what Ramadan truly means – the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s not meant to be taken as a cut-and-dried account, and as a human I am apt to make mistakes.

So yes. Here I go.