St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Ramadan - positive or not?

The Muslim fast of Ramadan begins (we expect) on 16th October this year. Here's a short piece to help us understand it.

What is Ramadan?
It's the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Muslims believe this is when the Qur'an was sent down from heaven.

What do Muslims do in it?
They keep a fast: they are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, or have sexual relations during daylight hours. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the 'Iftar'.

What is the fast's purpose?
It's obligatory - the Qur'an says they must, and that's that! In their faith it is necessary for salvation. It is supposed to be for getting close to God. A time to concentrate on faith and spend less time on everyday concerns. Many think God locks up Satan that month, so it is a time of peace.

And do they get close to God?
That's not for me to say!

Does everyone have to fast?
Yes, except for the very old, the very young, and women having their period (but they must make up the days later). However, there is some exemption for illness.

How does it affect life?
In Muslim countries cafes and restaurants are closed during the day so as not to tempt people, and they open in the evening. Many people don't work but sleep during the day, and eat and watch TV in the evening. The evening has a community and family feel - people phone relatives and friends. And they look forward to Eid.

What is Eid?
A feast when Ramadan ends.

Should Christians fast?
The bible doesn't command Christians to fast. And Christians don't believe fasting will get you to heaven - only Jesus will do that. However, Jesus did expect that his followers would fast (Mt 6:16 says "when you fast"), and many Christians have found fasting to be helpful personally. Perhaps Ramadan is a good time for us to pray that Muslims would see that their religion is not capable of cleansing them to make them fit for God?

Adapted from “AWM Link”, Sept 04 - more information at: www.awm.org

Q. I thought the Link was a Christian publication. Why do you put bits about Islam in it?

A. For two reasons. First, it helps us to know our own faith better when we compare Christianity with other faiths and see how it answers questions better than they do. And second, we Christians will never manage to persuade others to follow Jesus unless we try to understand where they are coming from.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. October 2004, Page 6.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (October 2004) Staffing, Song, Ramadan, HC bread, Define God. Other articles on race and faith.	Ramadan - positive or not? The Muslim fast of Ramadan begins (we expect) on 16th October this year. Here's a short piece to help us understand it. What is Ramadan? It's the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Muslims believe this is when the Qur'an was sent down from heaven. What do Muslims do in it? They keep a fast: they are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, or have sexual relations during daylight hours. At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the 'Iftar'. What is the fast's purpose? It's obligatory - the Qur'an says they must, and that's that! In their faith it is necessary for salvation. It is supposed to be for getting close to God. A time to concentrate on faith and spend less time on everyday concerns. Many think God locks up Satan that month, so it is a time of peace. And do they get close to God? That's not for me to say! Does everyone have to fast? Yes, except for the very old, the very young, and women having their period (but they must make up the days later). However, there is some exemption for illness. How does it affect life? In Muslim countries cafes and restaurants are closed during the day so as not to tempt people, and they open in the evening. Many people don't work but sleep during the day, and eat and watch TV in the evening. The evening has a community and family feel - people phone relatives and friends. And they look forward to Eid. What is Eid? A feast when Ramadan ends. Should Christians fast? The bible doesn't command Christians to fast. And Christians don't believe fasting will get you to heaven - only Jesus will do that. However, Jesus did expect that his followers would fast (Mt 6:16 says "when you fast"), and many Christians have found fasting to be helpful personally. Perhaps Ramadan is a good time for us to pray that Muslims would see that their religion is not capable of cleansing them to make them fit for God? Adapted from “AWM Link”, Sept 04 - more information at: www.awm.org *Q. I thought the Link* was a Christian publication. Why do you put bits about Islam in it?** A. For two reasons. First, it helps us to know our own faith better when we compare Christianity with other faiths and see how it answers questions better than they do. And second, we Christians will never manage to persuade others to follow Jesus unless we try to understand where they are coming from. John Hartley
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