Muslim Question

[shortpitched713]

My little brother plays basketball while fasting. I don't have his endurance and stamina to do that while fasting myself. Hakeem Olajuwon, former NBA star of the Houston Rockets, use to fast while playing NBA games. I think that took some doing. NBA games are played at an intense, fast pace. I think he would've been better off not fasting during game days. He could've hurt himself.

Abdur-Rauf did the same for the Denver Nuggets. His scoring average actually went up when he was fasting though.

 

[archie mac]

Okay, this has been very interesting

But now I have some more questions

If you don't fast when you are suppose too, are there any negatives? eg such as doing penance.

If you start the fast but then break it, what happens?

Are their some Muslims who never fast?

 

[Craig]

If you start the fast but then break it, what happens?

I could be wrong but I believe they have to fast for another month.

The no eating bit when playing cricket or other sports I can understand but no drinking any fluid is potentially asking for trouble health wise, especially if it is a sorcher.

The thing I haven ever understood is why people go shopping during the day while they are fasting. WOuldn't that make you more hungrier or thirsty?

 

[pasag]

As a person who fasts about 10 or so times a year I would never play any sports whilst doing it. It is way too hard, not having any drinks and no energy from lack of eating, especially if there is heat. It is quite dangerous actually, although full respect for people who are able to be religious and still enjoy their cricket.

 

[nightprowler10]

As it has been mentioned before, your body gets used to it after a couple of days. I used to play competitive basketball while fasting and then worked out too. Although, it is your responsibilty to know your limits.

 

[nightprowler10]

If you don't fast when you are suppose too, are there any negatives? eg such as doing penance.

If you start the fast but then break it, what happens?

Are their some Muslims who never fast?

1) You can pay for a needy person's food for a month if you can't fast. My father is a diabetic so he can't fast, he does that.

2) If one who does not fit into one of the exempt categories breaks the fast out of forgetfulness, the fast is still valid. If, however, one intentionally breaks the fast, that individual must continue fasting for the remainder of the day in addition to a "penalty" (kaffara) which can be in one of two forms: fasting for 60 consecutive days, or feeding 60 people in need. If one breaks the fast through consensual ***ual intercourse, one must make up for the day lost while also choosing one of the above penalties. It should be noted that if a person is required to break their fast because their life is in danger or they require medicine that they have to take at that particular time (i.e., they have a perfectly valid reason for breaking the fast and cannot keep it no matter what), the penalties in the event of breaking their fast do not apply. However, they are obligated to make up for the missed days when possible.

3) Not that I know of. Every Muslim is supposed to fast, only exceptions would be people who are too ill to fast, women who are nursing, pregnant, menstruating, etc. Person who is travelling, in the middle of a battle (CW battles don't count), etc.

Hope that helps.

 

[SJS]

There was someone on our team who was also fasting, he took a pack of chips for after sunset though. He opened the batting and bowling as well and did quite well, so performance-wise, I don't think he suffered.

He says that it finishes next Monday, meaning it has been a month since he started fasting.

Well they can eat as much as they want between sunset and dawn the next day so its not that bad. You just need to pretend that you are at the other end of the globe and taking long naps in the dark afternoon in between lunch and dinner

PS : ...and playing for Pakistan in the sunlit night

 

[irfan]

Great topic, this - able to tell the western world the ideas behind fasting. Fasting occurs in teh lunar month of Ramadan and is quite difficult in the first few days as your body's biological system is not used to the radical change in diet. After about a week or so it just becomes common practice to not have ur coffee, cereal in the morning.

Most muslims who fast wake up early in the morning to eat (Sohor sp?) but that is considered optional. However I do recommend a decent meal at sunset. Playing while fasting is another matter altogether and it really depends on the player's fitness and limits and I wouldn't recommend it but kudos to those who can. I find that kickin a footy around at lunchtime is fine but playing a competitive footy/soccer match isn't.

 

[Dydl]

Well they can eat as much as they want between sunset and dawn the next day so its not that bad. You just need to pretend that you are at the other end of the globe and taking long naps in the dark afternoon in between lunch and dinner

PS : ...and playing for Pakistan in the sunlit night

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[jack_sparrow]

Probably the best example would be Hakeem Olajuwon of the houston Rockets. Probably one of the best truest centers in Basketball history (definately top 5), he fasted while the Rockets were good and had to win all the games in the tough NBA. That type of stamina is mind boggling. I believe the rockets lost in 96-96 season, just barely while he was fasting. If he wouldn't have, then bam...no chance for the bulls.

pipe dreams though.

mad props for hakeem the dream olajuwon.

 

[Fratboy]

Its not really fasting to be honest if one gets to feast after dusk.

 

[pasag]

Its not really fasting to be honest if one gets to feast after dusk.

Totally ignorant statement imo.

 

[Fratboy]

Totally ignorant statement imo.

Not really. I've known families that lay out humungous feasts after dusk. A small and simple meal would be more appropriate given the goals of Ramzan IMO.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Its not really fasting to be honest if one gets to feast after dusk.

You'd get pretty ill if you ate a small meal after dark in some of these hot countries, I don't think people can gauge how difficult it is, until they have done it themselves.

 

[pasag]

Not really. I've known families that lay out humungous feasts after dusk. A small and simple meal would be more appropriate given the goals of Ramzan IMO.

Don't really see what your point is there and I'm not sure who you are to decide what is appropriate and what is not.

 

[Fratboy]

Don't really see what your point is there and I'm not sure who you are to decide what is appropriate and what is not.

Well, oh touchy one, it just seemed odd to me that with one of the aims of Ramzan being to make the more fortunate ones experience what their unfortunate bretheren have to live through every single day of their life, it was a pertinent point. I have had friends tell me that sometimes they actually end up consuming more food over the month of Ramzan than they would normally do so.

 

[Fusion]

Well, oh touchy one, it just seemed odd to me that with one of the aims of Ramzan being to make the more fortunate ones experience what their unfortunate bretheren have to live through every single day of their life, it was a pertinent point. I have had friends tell me that sometimes they actually end up consuming more food over the month of Ramzan than they would normally do so.

I would suggest that's the minority. Personally speaking, gorging yourself in the morning is quite hard. I know I would simply throw up. When I fast, I have a light meal to hold me through the day. As far as when you break the fast, your stomach has shrunk throughout the day. So you probably wouldn't gorge because you would get full sooner.

In any case, lack of food is just a small part of Ramadan. It's about cleansing one's soul and getting closer to God through prayer and good deeds. It's about appreciating what God has given us and showing our appreciation in turn to Him. So the consumption of food before and after the fast is irrelavent to the overall concept of Ramadan itself IMO.

 

[archie mac]

Great, I have learned more off this thread about Muslims then I have learned my whole life

Just a couple more questions, these are a little negative

Would some Muslims find playing sport during the fasting period a sin? I am asking because I was under the impression that while people were fasting they do not read or watch TV, so I was thinking that playing sport would be entertainment?

Is it considered rude to eat/drink in front of someone who is fasting?

Okay no more questions after these two

 

[Fusion]

Would some Muslims find playing sport during the fasting period a sin? I am asking because I was under the impression that while people were fasting they do not read or watch TV, so I was thinking that playing sport would be entertainment?

This should not be a problem AFAIK. During fasting, one is supposed to be focused on prayers, but there is no restrictions about participating in normal activities. If you want to play sports while fasting, so be it. It is upto each individual as to how best to utilize their time in regards to prayer (I mean besides the mandatory 5 prayers in the day).

Is it considered rude to eat/drink in front of someone who is fasting?

That depends. If you are in a Muslim country AND you are a Muslim, then proper etiquete would be to not eat in front of others. However, in non-Muslim countries, it would not be rude as the majority population is not observing the month of Ramadan and hence can not be expected to refrain from eating (whether in front of Muslims or not).

These are just my opinions of course. Other Muslims may agree or disagree. My circle of friends and families do share my thoughts on this, for what its worth.

 

[archie mac]

Thanks Fusion (I think this smiley should always be in the 'quick smiley selection box')