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{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=4|Content=4|Language=2|References=4}} | |||
<metadesc>Islamic fasting has significant harmful effects on health, national economy and productivity, crime rate, public safety and social behavior.</metadesc> | <metadesc>Islamic fasting has significant harmful effects on health, national economy and productivity, crime rate, public safety and social behavior.</metadesc> | ||
This article discusses the numerous adverse effects of [[Islam|Islamic]] [[fasting]] (''[[Sawm]]'') that have been observed using [[Islam and Science|scientific]] studies and | This article discusses the numerous adverse effects of [[Islam|Islamic]] [[fasting]] (''[[Sawm]]'') that have been observed using [[Islam and Science|scientific]] studies and news sources. | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
Medical fasting can have [[health]] benefits | Medical fasting can have [[health]] benefits. As we will explain here, Islamic fasting, however, differs in many respects, and thus has significant harmful effects on health, national economy and productivity, crime rate, public safety and social behavior. Health effects include heat stress, dehydration, migraines and, for lactating women, the nutritional make-up of their milk, among other harms. | ||
===What is Islamic Fasting?=== | ===What is Islamic Fasting?=== | ||
The salient features of Islamic fasting are: | The salient features of Islamic fasting are: | ||
* For 30 days every [[Islamic Lunar Calendar|lunar year]] (during the month of Ramadan), waking up before dawn and eating and | |||
* Refraining from consuming any food or water from dawn to sunset | *For 30 days every [[Islamic Lunar Calendar|lunar year]] (during the month of Ramadan), waking up before dawn and eating and drinking to prepare for the fast (binge eating is a common habit).<ref name="Anjali Dange"></ref><ref>Abdel-Moneim Said - [{{Reference archive|1=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/963/op11.htm|2=2011-08-28}} Wasting Ramadan] - Al-Ahram Weekly, September 3, 2009</ref> | ||
* Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | *Refraining from consuming any food or water from dawn to sunset | ||
*Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | |||
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. | 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. | ||
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==Effects on Health== | ==Effects on Health== | ||
In a recent study done on the Arab world, diseases linked to cholesterol and diabetes increased by 27.65% because of overeating.<ref name="ANSA"/> Non-compliance with prescribed treatment regimens is common during Ramadan. <ref>Aslam M, Healey MA. Drug regimens and fasting Moslem patients [Letter]. Lancet 1985;290:1746</ref> Other health effects include: | In a recent study done on the Arab world, diseases linked to cholesterol and diabetes increased by 27.65% because of overeating.<ref name="ANSA" /> Non-compliance with prescribed treatment regimens is common during Ramadan. <ref>Aslam M, Healey MA. Drug regimens and fasting Moslem patients [Letter]. Lancet 1985;290:1746</ref> Other health effects include: | ||
===Dehydration=== | ===Dehydration=== | ||
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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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Dr. Muhammad Alabdooni, a Muslim and the chairman of the Dutch Moroccan Physicians Association, also maintains there is no scientific proof that Islamic fasting is physiologically beneficial.<ref>[http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/fasting-during-ramadan-good-your-health Is fasting during Ramadan good for your health?] - Radio Netherlands Worldwide</ref> | Dr. Muhammad Alabdooni, a Muslim and the chairman of the Dutch Moroccan Physicians Association, also maintains there is no scientific proof that Islamic fasting is physiologically beneficial.<ref>[http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/fasting-during-ramadan-good-your-health Is fasting during Ramadan good for your health?] - Radio Netherlands Worldwide</ref> | ||
== | ===Increases the toxicity of commonly used medication=== | ||
Fasting has been found to significantly change drug metabolism and deplete crucial chemicals in the liver needed to detoxify medication. | |||
Paracetemol (also called acetaminophen) is one of the most commonly used drugs to treat day to day pain such as headaches or gastrointestinal pain, this is the very same pain that is likely to be encountered by a fasting individual. Therefore, a significant risk arises when someone who has been fasting takes this common medication (among many others). | |||
As the Journal of Internal Medicine Reports: | |||
{{Quote||Paracetamol-related hepatotoxicity is now the most common cause of the potentially devastating clinical syndrome of acute liver failure in many western countries. In patients who develop liver damage following moderate paracetamol overdose in the order of 5–10 g daily, recent fasting and nutritional impairment have been identified as key precipitants. | |||
In keeping with experience in the modest paracetamol overdose setting [6], it is likely that fasting occurring on a background of longstanding diminished caloric intake and severe malnutrition played an important role in the development of paracetamol-induced liver damage at recommended dosage of 4 g daily in this patient. Fasting and malnutrition result in reduction of hepatic levels of glutathione, required for inactivation of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinonimine, the toxic metabolite of paracetamol [6]. A 16-h period of fasting is sufficient to substantially deplete hepatic glutathione stores in mice [11]. <ref name=ParaODFast">[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2796.2003.01097.x/full Paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity at recommended dosage] - The Journal of Internal Medicine, Janurary 24, 2003</ref>}} | |||
==Social Effects== | ==Social Effects== | ||
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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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===Crime Rate=== | ===Crime Rate=== | ||
In a study done on the Arab world,<ref name="ANSA"/> experts claimed that increases in blood crimes (+1.5%) and theft (+3.5%) were observed during Ramadan. | In a study done on the Arab world,<ref name="ANSA" /> experts claimed that increases in blood crimes (+1.5%) and theft (+3.5%) were observed during Ramadan. | ||
{{Quote||[Egypt] In the past few years, Ramadan — a month usually reserved for pious contemplation and reverence — has been marred by an alarming rise in violent crime, experts have said.<ref>Yasmine Saleh - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3746|2=2011-07-12}} Ramadan saw rise in violent domestic crimes] - Daily News Egypt, November 2, 2006</ref>}} | {{Quote||[Egypt] In the past few years, Ramadan — a month usually reserved for pious contemplation and reverence — has been marred by an alarming rise in violent crime, experts have said.<ref>Yasmine Saleh - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3746|2=2011-07-12}} Ramadan saw rise in violent domestic crimes] - Daily News Egypt, November 2, 2006</ref>}} | ||
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{{Quote||The Passports Department in Makkah arrested over 1,800 persons suspected of pickpocketing and stealing from pilgrims and visitors during the [2011] Umrah and Ramadan seasons ... Hussein stated that the advancement in technology, particularly facial recognition, reduced crimes tremendously in previous years.<ref>[http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article499367.ece 1,800 nabbed for thefts in Ramadan] - Arab News, September 9, 2011</ref>}} | {{Quote||The Passports Department in Makkah arrested over 1,800 persons suspected of pickpocketing and stealing from pilgrims and visitors during the [2011] Umrah and Ramadan seasons ... Hussein stated that the advancement in technology, particularly facial recognition, reduced crimes tremendously in previous years.<ref>[http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article499367.ece 1,800 nabbed for thefts in Ramadan] - Arab News, September 9, 2011</ref>}} | ||
===Child Trafficking=== | ====Child Trafficking==== | ||
{{Quote||With the advent of Ramadan in just a few days, child trafficking, a trade that sometimes goes unpunished in Yemen, is expected to increase as food prices rise and parents struggle to provide for their children. | {{Quote||With the advent of Ramadan in just a few days, child trafficking, a trade that sometimes goes unpunished in Yemen, is expected to increase as food prices rise and parents struggle to provide for their children. | ||
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While there are no statistics that determine how many children are trafficked on an annual basis, authorities do know that during the month of Ramadan the numbers rise. "One of the main problems is that there is a lack of reliable data," Ur-Rahman said.<ref>Salma Ismail - [http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yementimes.com%2FDefaultDET.aspx%3Fi%3D1287%26p%3Dlocal%26a%3D1&date=2011-04-04 <!-- http://www.yementimes.com/DefaultDET.aspx?i=1287&p=local&a=1 -->Yemen child trafficking to increase in Ramadan] - Yemen Times, August 20, 2009</ref>}} | While there are no statistics that determine how many children are trafficked on an annual basis, authorities do know that during the month of Ramadan the numbers rise. "One of the main problems is that there is a lack of reliable data," Ur-Rahman said.<ref>Salma Ismail - [http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yementimes.com%2FDefaultDET.aspx%3Fi%3D1287%26p%3Dlocal%26a%3D1&date=2011-04-04 <!-- http://www.yementimes.com/DefaultDET.aspx?i=1287&p=local&a=1 -->Yemen child trafficking to increase in Ramadan] - Yemen Times, August 20, 2009</ref>}} | ||
=== | ===Emergency Services=== | ||
====Increase in Accidents==== | |||
In 1994, the Accident and Emergency Department of St Mary's Hospital in London conducted a study to examine if accident and emergency attendances increased during Ramadan for Muslim patients. At the time, the department was treating 55,000 new patients every year: | |||
{{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==== | |||
In August, 2010, Mustafa Mor, who was involved in a road accident in Turkey, was left waiting on a stretcher due to the X-ray service being closed for fast-breaking. | In August, 2010, Mustafa Mor, who was involved in a road accident in Turkey, was left waiting on a stretcher due to the X-ray service being closed for fast-breaking. | ||
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Another study takes a look at fasting Muslims who were stricken with lethargy and fatigue due to the behavioral changes that accompany the month long celebration. | Another study takes a look at fasting Muslims who were stricken with lethargy and fatigue due to the behavioral changes that accompany the month long celebration. | ||
{{Quote|| | {{Quote|| | ||
'''Abstract''' | '''Abstract''' | ||
This study was conducted in five provinces and food consumption, physical activity types and duration for 3 consecutive days were recorded in the questionnaire together with some general characteristics of 750 (320 males, 430 females) adults who were on fast during Ramadan at time of interview. One hundred and eighty-seven subjects had some type of health problems, among whom 60.4% were using drugs, and 31.6% were on diets; however, during Ramadan 9.7 and 18.8% of the subjects dropped taking drugs and did not regularly keep on diets, respectively. During the fasting time, from dawn to sunset, 34.3% of the subjects developed some behavioural disturbances, such as feeling tired and being unwilling to work. Although the meal consumed at dawn consisted of foods that were usually eaten at breakfast, the meal consumed at sunset consisted of a great variety of foods. Calcium intake was the most insufficiently consumed nutrient. It was observed that the daily energy intakes were less than the expenditures both in males and females. Further research should be done on the effects of fasting in health and disease.<ref>International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 2000 Mar 51:125-34</ref>}} | This study was conducted in five provinces and food consumption, physical activity types and duration for 3 consecutive days were recorded in the questionnaire together with some general characteristics of 750 (320 males, 430 females) adults who were on fast during Ramadan at time of interview. One hundred and eighty-seven subjects had some type of health problems, among whom 60.4% were using drugs, and 31.6% were on diets; however, during Ramadan 9.7 and 18.8% of the subjects dropped taking drugs and did not regularly keep on diets, respectively. During the fasting time, from dawn to sunset, 34.3% of the subjects developed some behavioural disturbances, such as feeling tired and being unwilling to work. Although the meal consumed at dawn consisted of foods that were usually eaten at breakfast, the meal consumed at sunset consisted of a great variety of foods. Calcium intake was the most insufficiently consumed nutrient. It was observed that the daily energy intakes were less than the expenditures both in males and females. Further research should be done on the effects of fasting in health and disease.<ref>Karaaðaoðlu N, Yücecan S, "Some behavioural Changes observed among fasting subjects, their nutritional habits and energy expenditure in Ramadan", International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 2000 Mar 51:125-34</ref>}} | ||
In September 2009, Stephen Constantine, Head coach of Sudan partly blamed his side’s loss to the Black Stars to the fasting of most of his players. <ref>[http://sports.peacefmonline.com/soccer/200909/26144.php "Fasting affected my players" – Sudan coach] - Peace FM, September 6, 2009</ref> In Italy, both a prominent coach and a team owner in the top Serie A league linked the rigors of Ramadan's sunrise-to-sunset fasting to Muslim players' poor performance on the pitch. <ref>Jeff Israely - [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1919106,00.html Soccer Star Benched for Fasting During Ramadan] - TIME, August 27, 2009</ref> | In September 2009, Stephen Constantine, Head coach of Sudan partly blamed his side’s loss to the Black Stars to the fasting of most of his players. <ref>[http://sports.peacefmonline.com/soccer/200909/26144.php "Fasting affected my players" – Sudan coach] - Peace FM, September 6, 2009</ref> In Italy, both a prominent coach and a team owner in the top Serie A league linked the rigors of Ramadan's sunrise-to-sunset fasting to Muslim players' poor performance on the pitch. <ref>Jeff Israely - [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1919106,00.html Soccer Star Benched for Fasting During Ramadan] - TIME, August 27, 2009</ref> | ||
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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 | 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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==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
Intermittent and prolonged fasting is generally not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Depriving the body of water and essential nutrients by dividing and postponing meals to irregular intervals does nothing to limit consumption. In-fact it causes a host of health, performance and mood disorders. Fasting is not normally prescribed for the well being of human beings. Instead, it is commonly understood that eating healthy, smaller-portioned meals, interspersed throughout the day is far better in maintaining a well-balanced diet and far more forgiving on a person's metabolism. Any claims that prolonged and intermittent fasting contributes to the well-being of an individual's health are misleading, based on the scientific studies that prove otherwise. | Intermittent and prolonged fasting is generally not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Depriving the body of water and essential nutrients by dividing and postponing meals to irregular intervals does nothing to limit consumption. In-fact it causes a host of health, performance and mood disorders. Fasting is not normally prescribed for the well being of human beings. Instead, it is commonly understood that eating healthy, smaller-portioned meals, interspersed throughout the day is far better in maintaining a well-balanced diet and far more forgiving on a person's metabolism. Any claims that prolonged and intermittent fasting contributes to the well-being of an individual's health are misleading, based on the scientific studies that prove otherwise. The only benefit of fasting that can be claimed, then, must be metaphysical. However, what is clear is that the practice has concrete and definite physical, social, and economic harms. | ||
==Responses to Apologetics== | |||
#'''''"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? | |||
#'''''"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== | ||
{{Hub4|Fasting|Fasting}} | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
* [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080914093305299C824902 Ramadan diet poses health risk - experts] | *[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080914093305299C824902 Ramadan diet poses health risk - experts] | ||
===Scientific Studies=== | ===Scientific Studies=== | ||
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9100605 Ramadan diet restrictions modify the circadian time structure in humans. A study on plasma gastrin, insulin, glucose, and calcium and on gastric pH] ''(extract)'' | *[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9100605 Ramadan diet restrictions modify the circadian time structure in humans. A study on plasma gastrin, insulin, glucose, and calcium and on gastric pH] ''(extract)'' | ||
* [http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/related/9198696/%5BRamadan__A_month_of_fasting_with_risk_for_both_nocturnal_overeating_dehydration_and_starving%5D Medical Search Engine Result]'' - more studies on fasting'' | *[http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/related/9198696/%5BRamadan__A_month_of_fasting_with_risk_for_both_nocturnal_overeating_dehydration_and_starving%5D Medical Search Engine Result]'' - more studies on fasting'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist| | {{Reflist|30em}} | ||
[[Category:Islam and Science]] | [[Category:Islam and Science]] | ||
[[Category:Health]] | |||
[[Category:Fasting]] | |||
[[Category:Criticism of Islam]] | |||
[[Category:Ritual]] | |||