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Islamic Fasting and Health: Difference between revisions
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*Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | *Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | ||
Some Muslims claim eating a small amount of | Some Muslims claim eating a small amount of food is the correct Islamic way however we cannot function for the whole day by eating only a small amount of food at the time of dawn. This would affect our performance even more during the day. | ||
==Effects on Health== | ==Effects on Health== | ||
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===Tachycardia, Severe Headaches, Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting and Circulatory Collapse=== | ===Tachycardia, Severe Headaches, Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting and Circulatory Collapse=== | ||
The following study was carried out on | The following study was carried out on Turkish Muslims in Germany who were involved in heavy and manual work. 'Moderate to severe health disturbances' including severe dehydration were found in such laborers during Ramadan: | ||
{{Quote|| | {{Quote|| | ||
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===Irritability=== | ===Irritability=== | ||
The following study in | The following study in Morocco found that irritability increased during Ramadan: | ||
{{Quote|| | {{Quote|| | ||
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{{Quote||2=The results are shown in Table 1. This demonstrates a '''significant rise in the number of Muslims attending during Ramadan''' compared to non-Muslims, with the proportion of Muslims rising from 3.63% of total attendances in the periods before and after Ramadan to 5.11% during Ramadan (P=0.0024). '''The rise in non accident-related attendances among Muslims was also significant''' when compared to non-Muslims (P=0.027) [...]<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1294766/ The effect of the fast of Ramadan on accident and emergency attendances] (J R Soc Med. 1994 September; 87(9): 517–518.)</ref>}} | {{Quote||2=The results are shown in Table 1. This demonstrates a '''significant rise in the number of Muslims attending during Ramadan''' compared to non-Muslims, with the proportion of Muslims rising from 3.63% of total attendances in the periods before and after Ramadan to 5.11% during Ramadan (P=0.0024). '''The rise in non accident-related attendances among Muslims was also significant''' when compared to non-Muslims (P=0.027) [...]<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1294766/ The effect of the fast of Ramadan on accident and emergency attendances] (J R Soc Med. 1994 September; 87(9): 517–518.)</ref>}} | ||
An increase in road traffic accidents in the | An increase in road traffic accidents in the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan was reported.<ref>Bener, A., Absood, G. H., Achan, N. V., & Sankaran-Kutty, M. (1992). Road traffic injuries in Al-Ain City, United Arab Emirates. The Journal of the Royal Society of Health, 112, 273-276.</ref> Taking this into consideration, you would expect Emergency Services in Muslim majority nations to work twice as hard during this period. Unfortunately, this is not the case. | ||
====Disruption of Services==== | ====Disruption of Services==== | ||
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===Violence and Anti-Social Behavior Towards Non-Muslims=== | ===Violence and Anti-Social Behavior Towards Non-Muslims=== | ||
The month of Ramadan often sees an increase in violence and anti-social behavior towards religious minorities living among a large Muslim population.<ref name="MNN"></ref> In some Muslim majority countries like | The month of Ramadan often sees an increase in violence and anti-social behavior towards religious minorities living among a large Muslim population.<ref name="MNN"></ref> In some Muslim majority countries like Algeria,<ref name="Algeria">[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/22/3018315.htm?section=justin Christians tried for breaking Ramadan fast] - ABC News, September 22, 2010</ref> Morocco,<ref>Doug Bandow - [http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11966 Morocco: The Limits of Islamic Religious Tolerance] - KATO Insitute, July 8, 2010</ref> Pakistan,<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/181534/25-jailed-pak-eating-public.html|2=2011-08-06}} 25 jailed in Pak for eating in public during Ramadan] - PTI, August 5, 2011</ref> Saudi Arabia,<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.bikyamasr.com/73404/saudi-warns-non-muslims-with-expulsion-if-eating-drinking-in-public-during-ramadan/|2=2012-07-22}} Saudi warns non-Muslims with expulsion if eating, drinking in public during Ramadan] - Bikya Masr, July 21, 2012</ref> and in parts of the United Arab Emirates,<ref>Anissa Haddadi - [{{Reference archive|1=http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/190323/20110801/non-muslim-holidaying-in-dubai-warned-to-respect-ramadan-rules.htm|2=2011-08-02}} Non-Muslim Holidaying in Dubai Warned to Respect 'Ramadan Rules'] - International Business Times, August 1, 2011</ref> it is against the law to eat or drink in public during fasting hours, and violating these laws can involve jail-time or expulsion. | ||
{{Quote||Last year [2009] during Ramadan, there was an upsurge against Christians in the Muslim world," says Jerry Dykstra of Open Doors, USA. Dykstra says that although persecution did not increase in every Muslim nation, it did increase significantly in many of them, Egypt being one of the worst. | {{Quote||Last year [2009] during Ramadan, there was an upsurge against Christians in the Muslim world," says Jerry Dykstra of Open Doors, USA. Dykstra says that although persecution did not increase in every Muslim nation, it did increase significantly in many of them, Egypt being one of the worst. | ||
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ICC's Jonathan Racho said: "Forcing Christians to fast during the Islamic fasting month is both outrageous and a clear violation of freedom of religion. We call upon Pakistani officials to immediately release Gull and Ashir and take appropriate legal measures against police officers who detained them."<ref>[http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue6747.html Christians arrested in Pakistan for eating during Ramadan] - The Christian Telegraph, September 2, 2009</ref>}} | ICC's Jonathan Racho said: "Forcing Christians to fast during the Islamic fasting month is both outrageous and a clear violation of freedom of religion. We call upon Pakistani officials to immediately release Gull and Ashir and take appropriate legal measures against police officers who detained them."<ref>[http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue6747.html Christians arrested in Pakistan for eating during Ramadan] - The Christian Telegraph, September 2, 2009</ref>}} | ||
Ramadan-inspired violence against non-Muslims and non-observant Muslims is on the increase in secular societies. Notable incidents include; a Jewish women in Toulouse, | Ramadan-inspired violence against non-Muslims and non-observant Muslims is on the increase in secular societies. Notable incidents include; a Jewish women in Toulouse, France, being called a "dirty Jew" and struck on the head by two Muslim teenagers for buying food during fasting hours; a Muslim man in a central Lyon Restaurant struck in the head with a glass bottle and hit with a chair by three youths for not respecting Ramadan;<ref>[http://vladtepesblog.com/?p=25211 Two people assaulted in France for eating during Ramadam. One was not even Muslim] - Vlad Tepes, August 24, 2010</ref> an 11-year-old in Sydney, Australia, chased and later beaten by Muslim students because he ate a salami sandwich during Ramadan;<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/national/parents-say-son-was-tormented-for-eating-salami-sandwich-during-ramadan/story-e6frfkvr-1225797140592 Parents say son was tormented for eating salami sandwich during Ramadan] - The Daily Telegraph, November 13, 2009</ref> a Turkish MP in Berlin, Germany, beaten by restaurant staff for ordering pork sausages;<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://news.am/eng/news/70698.html|2=2011-08-12}} Turkish MP was beaten for ordering pork sausage in Germany] - NEWS.am, August 11, 2011</ref> and the following report is of an atheist living in the United Kingdom: | ||
{{Quote||Monzur Rahman was left with a broken arm, damaged eye and lying unconscious in the street after the violent attack earlier this month. The 39-year-old atheist claims he was brutally set upon by a pack of youths for failing to observe Ramadan. | {{Quote||Monzur Rahman was left with a broken arm, damaged eye and lying unconscious in the street after the violent attack earlier this month. The 39-year-old atheist claims he was brutally set upon by a pack of youths for failing to observe Ramadan. | ||
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{{Quote||'''Low productivity during Ramadan affects Dubai employees'''<BR><BR>Performance in most companies, institutions and government departments around the Arab world is usually at a low during the month of Ramadan, with poor productivity and constant reported absences.<ref>[http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NjkyOTQ3NTM0 Low productivity during Ramadan affects Dubai employees] - Kuwait Times, September 24, 2007</ref>}} | {{Quote||'''Low productivity during Ramadan affects Dubai employees'''<BR><BR>Performance in most companies, institutions and government departments around the Arab world is usually at a low during the month of Ramadan, with poor productivity and constant reported absences.<ref>[http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NjkyOTQ3NTM0 Low productivity during Ramadan affects Dubai employees] - Kuwait Times, September 24, 2007</ref>}} | ||
In | In Bahrain, the work day is reduced to six-hours instead of the normal eight hours:<ref name="arabnews" /> | ||
{{Quote||Alaa Al-Mohammadi, 27, works as a teaching assistant at King Abdul Aziz University, which, during Ramadan, opens between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Al-Mohammadi noticed the low level of productivity during the month of Ramadan, especially among students. “On account of the nature of the month when people stay up all night, absenteeism increases among students,” she said.<ref name="arabnews"/>}} | {{Quote||Alaa Al-Mohammadi, 27, works as a teaching assistant at King Abdul Aziz University, which, during Ramadan, opens between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Al-Mohammadi noticed the low level of productivity during the month of Ramadan, especially among students. “On account of the nature of the month when people stay up all night, absenteeism increases among students,” she said.<ref name="arabnews"/>}} | ||
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#'''''"Most of the evidence provided is from newspaper articles. Not very scientific is it?"'''''<br>The claim that "most of the evidence provided is from news paper articles" is false. The majority of this page references and quotes directly from the conclusions of scientific studies. It also quotes medical experts and statistics provided by Medical facilities. As for the news articles quoted here, they are reliable sources that reference and describe the conclusions of scientific studies. For an indepth section by section response, see the '[[Talk:Adverse Effects of Islamic Fasting|talk]]' page, or simply view the references provided below. | #'''''"Most of the evidence provided is from newspaper articles. Not very scientific is it?"'''''<br>The claim that "most of the evidence provided is from news paper articles" is false. The majority of this page references and quotes directly from the conclusions of scientific studies. It also quotes medical experts and statistics provided by Medical facilities. As for the news articles quoted here, they are reliable sources that reference and describe the conclusions of scientific studies. For an indepth section by section response, see the '[[Talk:Adverse Effects of Islamic Fasting|talk]]' page, or simply view the references provided below. | ||
#'''''"Muslims do not fast in Ramadan so they can be healthy. They fast because Allah commanded them to."'''''<br>This is true. But many Muslims attempt to justify this unhealthy practice by claiming it is healthy. Besides, if Allah is all-knowing and merciful, he would not endanger his followers' health by making a hazardous activity become compulsory. However, it would make complete sense if we were to accept he is ignorant of [[Islam and Science|science]] or a [[Jahannam (Hell)#Why_It_Makes_Allah_a_Sadist|sadist]]. But then why would anyone want to worship such a deity? | #'''''"Muslims do not fast in Ramadan so they can be healthy. They fast because Allah commanded them to."'''''<br>This is true. But many Muslims attempt to justify this unhealthy practice by claiming it is healthy. Besides, if Allah is all-knowing and merciful, he would not endanger his followers' health by making a hazardous activity become compulsory. However, it would make complete sense if we were to accept he is ignorant of [[Islam and Science|science]] or a [[Jahannam (Hell)#Why_It_Makes_Allah_a_Sadist|sadist]]. But then why would anyone want to worship such a deity? | ||
#'''''"Islam is just one of numerous religions (Hinduism, Christianity, Catholicism etc.) that prescribe fasting for its people."'''''<br>This claim is true, but also very disingenuous. Rules vary but fasting in Christianity is not compulsory, nor is it expected to be a complete fast. Meaning Christians generally reduce (not stop) their intake of food, and also drink freely during fasts. This is perfectly healthy and not comparable to the Islamic sawm. Similarly in Hinduism, fasting is a part of the religion, but individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on their personal beliefs and local customs.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting|2=2013-03-14}} Fasting] - Wikipedia, accessed March 14, 2013</ref> This argument is also a logical fallacy known as | #'''''"Islam is just one of numerous religions (Hinduism, Christianity, Catholicism etc.) that prescribe fasting for its people."'''''<br>This claim is true, but also very disingenuous. Rules vary but fasting in Christianity is not compulsory, nor is it expected to be a complete fast. Meaning Christians generally reduce (not stop) their intake of food, and also drink freely during fasts. This is perfectly healthy and not comparable to the Islamic sawm. Similarly in Hinduism, fasting is a part of the religion, but individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on their personal beliefs and local customs.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting|2=2013-03-14}} Fasting] - Wikipedia, accessed March 14, 2013</ref> This argument is also a logical fallacy known as ad hominem tu quoque. Meaning it is not a valid defense of Islam, but a diversion that some may construe as an indirect admission of Islam's flaws. | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||