UAE | Heritage and Culture
'I try to be patient and guard my tongue'
Fasting, literally translated, means the process of abstaining from food. However, for Babak Tehrani, an Iranian expatriate residing in Sharjah, it is a personal challenge and a test of his endurance.
- Rabab Khan and Manuel Almario, Community Journalists
- Published: 23:35 September 25, 2008
- Babak Tehrani believes that a fast begun at the crack of dawn should only be ended at dusk.
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
Fasting, literally translated, means the process of abstaining from food. However, for Babak Tehrani, an Iranian expatriate residing in Sharjah, it is a personal challenge and a test of his endurance.
"I believe it is a personal achievement when I am able to stay away from food for the major part of the day," he said.
Ramadan sheds new light on the life of this 21-year-old university student. While on-campus, in the scorching heat, thirst is a factor that cannot be ignored.
He said: "I generally drink a lot of water during the day. Last week, I walked out of class to get a drink of water. Fortunately, I realised just in time that I was fasting."
People who are unwell are excused from fasting, and if someone eats or drinks something without realising it, the fast does not break. However, Tehrani believes that a fast begun at the crack of dawn should only be ended at dusk.
Come what may
"I would never consider breaking my fast, regardless of the circumstances. If I break my fast, I feel like I have sinned," he said. A lot of times, people tend to be ignorant of their responsibilities towards society, but Ramadan serves as a wake-up call for them.
"During Ramadan, I try to be nice to everyone around me. I travel by taxis almost every day, and when I pay the fare, I do not take the change back. I consider it to be 'Sadaqa', or a voluntary Islamic charity," Tehrani said.
Many things in people's day-to-day life go unnoticed, but the purity of this month makes Tehrani realise his mistakes.
Extreme caution
"I try to be extremely careful of my actions. Even if certain things are wrong, I generally fail to recognise them. However, during Ramadan, I become conscious," he said.
It is important for people to create individual boundaries that prevent them from doing wrong, he said.
"I try to be patient and guard my tongue while I fast. My main aim is to discipline myself in the eyes of the religion," Tehrani added.
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