For nine-year-old Judi Samara, fasting full days for the first time last Ramadan was the culmination of a journey she began when she was six. Starting off with short half-day fasts as a six-year-old, she extended them to 3pm at seven, a bit more the next year and in 2016, she went the whole hog for 27 days.
Although in Islam fasting becomes obligatory for children only once they reach puberty, the age at which they start varies greatly among communities and even within communities.
Some start early while others just on time, but it always hinges on whether the children are ready. “In our case, [it] is based on when the child is physically and mentally ready to be able to complete the fast and to understand why they are fasting,” says Judi’s mum, Dr Fatin Samara, who is of Palestinian origin and an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at the American University of Sharjah (AUS).
This readiness comes from exposure to Ramadan and the support and encouragement they get at home as well as outside.
Pakistani expatriate Zoha Khawaja, 11, began fasting at six. After some short practice runs, Zoha was able to go without food and water for two days. Though Zoha’s mother, Somia Anwar, an adjunct faculty at AUS, thinks it might have been a bit too early for her daughter, she believes the atmosphere in Dubai motivates everyone to be a part of Ramadan and children are keen to participate in iftar along with their family.
“For both my kids, [Zoha and Abdullah, nine, who started fasting when he was seven] it was their choice; we never forced them,” she says. “Starting to fast at an early age is good for the kids, as they will keep this practice for life.”
For beginners, however, gaining control over hunger and thirst is a difficult task, which can melt the steeliest of resolve and dampen the initial burst of enthusiasm. Hence the need to approach it with caution. “Parents should encourage their children to fast in an easy and relaxed way, which makes it desirable to the child rather than feeling forced into something,” says Dr Hala Fikri Mohammed Al Hagrasi, Consultant and Head — Paediatrics at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi.
When seven-year-old Hessa Patel Khan decided to fast, there was no burden of success. “At Hessa’s school, students fasted as long as they could without any pressure,” says mother, Hemalee Patel, an entrepreneur from India. “Hessa followed the same and used to fast initially for a few hours during the days and ended it whenever she wasn’t up to it.”
As they get closer to lasting the day though, they will need a lot of hand-holding. The biggest challenge Sharmin Jawaid faced during her ten-year-old daughter, Ihab Asad Khan’s first fast was toning down her excitement and anxiety.
“[We] controlled them by diverting her attention to subjects and topics not related to fasting in the earlier part of the day,” says the Indian homemaker Jawaid. “We deliberately made it look like normal. In the final hour of the fasting, which was the most crucial, we got her involved in setting the iftar, which helped her complete the fast.
Once they succeed, Dr Al Hagrasi suggests a way to help them stay on track. “Give them a reward on the days they fast so they feel encouraged to fast again.”
A system that Dr Samara has used to her advantage.
“Encouraging words can also work wonders as it gives the child a sense of accomplishment and that they are participating with the adults in the family,”
Dr Al Hagrasi adds. And it wouldn’t hurt to prepare their favourite food for iftar.
What is important however is that parents realise “each child is different and even if a child might be ready at one age, another might need more time”, says Dr Samara.
“But most important of all [is for parents] to teach them the purpose of fasting and the beauty of Ramadan.”
