Great feeling’ of fasting
Published: 05:04 PM,Apr 27,2022 | EDITED : 12:04 PM,Apr 28,2022
Perlita P Aplca and El Malyn
People have different reasons to fast. Some fast for spiritual reasons, some for health benefits, while there are some others who fast just for the feel of it and in solidarity with their fasting friends and colleagues.
For those who have embraced Islam, the first experience of Ramadhan with prayers, Suhoor, Iftar and charity are something which they cherish till their last breath.
Some of those who embraced Islam and some non-Muslims who fast during Ramadhan have shared their experience with the Observer.
Sister Hanan, aka Nur al Khamar, an Italian, responded to her inner calling. In search of truth, she became a Muslim after she studied the holy Quran and followed the lifestyle of Prophet Mohammed (May Peace be Upon Him).
“There are some things and experiences that we fail to express in words. My first Ramadhan gave me a great feeling that I belonged to a large community that cares for each other and beyond,” quipped Hanan.
“The moment my first Ramadhan began, I felt cleaner every passing day, I felt the connection with Allah, I could speak to Him freely about anything bothering me and also about my new happiness because of Him in my new life. My sense of loneliness eased, because I knew I had sisters and brothers I could count on and vice versa,” Hanan added.
Sudha Reghunath, a banker who has been living in the country for nearly three decades, began to fast 24 years ago when she was working with Bank Muscat.
“All my colleagues were in their fasting, and I used to have my food as usual. But during mid-Ramadhan, I felt what I was doing was not good. Why can’t I fast during office hours, at least in front of my colleagues?,” this thought really bothered me.
Soon she followed fasting in the proper manner. Woke up at 4.30 am and had Suhoor and began to fast till evening 6.45.
“I felt fresh, although I was a bit tired the first week and soon I got used to the ritual. My colleagues encouraged me like anything.”
She completed the whole month and continued her one-month fasting all these years.
“For me, fasting earned a lot of love and respect from different corners. Whenever people know that I am fasting, they treat me with much love and respect. I am so happy that I can do this much during this Ramadhan time.”
Vinitha Saraswathi, who visited Oman to join her family, is also fasting. She feels peace and happiness after fasting.
“A simple, common yet the biggest issue that our society faces today is finding inner peace and happiness. It is all about doing what your heart says, chasing your dreams and seeking happiness within you. I feel Ramadhan fasting is all about finding inner peace,” says Vinitha.
According to her, there are some steps which one can follow to keep peace of mind. The first step is to eliminate the wrong belief system of negativities that you have kept in mind for a long time. Once you try this step, you can gradually see all those negativities fading away from your life.
“Here comes the necessity of the Islamic way of meditation. Construct a belief system that I am the hero of my life and I’m a beautiful soul. I’m kind and true to myself.”
Perlita P Aplca and El Malyn, the two expatriates from the Philippines, came to Oman some years ago. They were fascinated by the lifestyle of their Omani bosses and wanted to know how they treated their fellow beings.
They were taken around, and it was something new for them how their bosses were supplying food and other provisions to the needy, which, according to them, was ‘something new’.
“This is our first Ramadhan, and we fasted as much as possible and, thanks to God Almighty, we are successful in achieving the results. We are undergoing spiritual refinement and physical and intellectual refurbishment as well,” the two young women shared their experience at the Ta’aruf introduction programme by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.
Prasad Kannamali, Jr Supervisor at BEC MEP division, had never expected to fast for a whole day in his wildest thoughts.
He felt kind of ‘ashamed’, in his own words, to be eating stomach-full while his colleagues were fasting.
With a great sense of guilt, he began to fast with them in 2021 and was able to give not a shock but double shock to his colleagues by fasting not just the mandatory 30 days but the optional six days succeeding the holy month as well.
“While fasting, I feel comfortable with the surroundings and feel it as a good practice to have better health physically and mentally.”
For those who have embraced Islam, the first experience of Ramadhan with prayers, Suhoor, Iftar and charity are something which they cherish till their last breath.
Some of those who embraced Islam and some non-Muslims who fast during Ramadhan have shared their experience with the Observer.
Sister Hanan, aka Nur al Khamar, an Italian, responded to her inner calling. In search of truth, she became a Muslim after she studied the holy Quran and followed the lifestyle of Prophet Mohammed (May Peace be Upon Him).
“There are some things and experiences that we fail to express in words. My first Ramadhan gave me a great feeling that I belonged to a large community that cares for each other and beyond,” quipped Hanan.
“The moment my first Ramadhan began, I felt cleaner every passing day, I felt the connection with Allah, I could speak to Him freely about anything bothering me and also about my new happiness because of Him in my new life. My sense of loneliness eased, because I knew I had sisters and brothers I could count on and vice versa,” Hanan added.
Sudha Reghunath, a banker who has been living in the country for nearly three decades, began to fast 24 years ago when she was working with Bank Muscat.
“All my colleagues were in their fasting, and I used to have my food as usual. But during mid-Ramadhan, I felt what I was doing was not good. Why can’t I fast during office hours, at least in front of my colleagues?,” this thought really bothered me.
Soon she followed fasting in the proper manner. Woke up at 4.30 am and had Suhoor and began to fast till evening 6.45.
“I felt fresh, although I was a bit tired the first week and soon I got used to the ritual. My colleagues encouraged me like anything.”
She completed the whole month and continued her one-month fasting all these years.
“For me, fasting earned a lot of love and respect from different corners. Whenever people know that I am fasting, they treat me with much love and respect. I am so happy that I can do this much during this Ramadhan time.”
Vinitha Saraswathi, who visited Oman to join her family, is also fasting. She feels peace and happiness after fasting.
“A simple, common yet the biggest issue that our society faces today is finding inner peace and happiness. It is all about doing what your heart says, chasing your dreams and seeking happiness within you. I feel Ramadhan fasting is all about finding inner peace,” says Vinitha.
According to her, there are some steps which one can follow to keep peace of mind. The first step is to eliminate the wrong belief system of negativities that you have kept in mind for a long time. Once you try this step, you can gradually see all those negativities fading away from your life.
“Here comes the necessity of the Islamic way of meditation. Construct a belief system that I am the hero of my life and I’m a beautiful soul. I’m kind and true to myself.”
Perlita P Aplca and El Malyn, the two expatriates from the Philippines, came to Oman some years ago. They were fascinated by the lifestyle of their Omani bosses and wanted to know how they treated their fellow beings.
They were taken around, and it was something new for them how their bosses were supplying food and other provisions to the needy, which, according to them, was ‘something new’.
“This is our first Ramadhan, and we fasted as much as possible and, thanks to God Almighty, we are successful in achieving the results. We are undergoing spiritual refinement and physical and intellectual refurbishment as well,” the two young women shared their experience at the Ta’aruf introduction programme by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.
Prasad Kannamali, Jr Supervisor at BEC MEP division, had never expected to fast for a whole day in his wildest thoughts.
He felt kind of ‘ashamed’, in his own words, to be eating stomach-full while his colleagues were fasting.
With a great sense of guilt, he began to fast with them in 2021 and was able to give not a shock but double shock to his colleagues by fasting not just the mandatory 30 days but the optional six days succeeding the holy month as well.
“While fasting, I feel comfortable with the surroundings and feel it as a good practice to have better health physically and mentally.”