UAE | Heritage and Culture
Non-Muslims celebrate positive experiences of fasting
"In Bangladesh, I would read stories about parents selling their children for food; when I fast, I feel for them," says Sourav Das, one of many non-Muslims fasting during Ramadan who finds it to be an exceptional experience.
- By Samah Al Kaff, Community Journalist
- Published: 23:32 September 26, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
- Though I'm not a Muslim, I fast. I want to know how it feels and what is its effect on me, says Maria Rodriguez.
Dubai: "In Bangladesh, I would read stories about parents selling their children for food; when I fast, I feel for them," says Sourav Das, one of many non-Muslims fasting during Ramadan who finds it to be an exceptional experience.
"When I saw my friends fasting, I got interested and then I started fasting myself," he said. "Once I started fasting I came to know how there are a lot of benefits in it."
In his opinion, fasting helps people find themselves. "Fasting will help you explore more into your self - find your limitations - what you can or cannot do for food, will you be able to hold your anger? And how much patience you've got."
Fasting has also helped him connect to the UAE and its people better. "Fasting has helped me learn more about Muslim culture and to appreciate it," said Das.
Maria Rodriguez is another non-Muslim who started fasting this Ramadan for the first time. "Though I'm not a Muslim, I fast," said Rodriguez. "I wanted to know how it feels and what is its effect on me."
"The first week of Ramadan was a bit hard, especially when I felt hungry, but after that I was able to manage myself. I'm happy and can't believe I've made it through to the last week of Ramadan," she said.
Health benefits
An added impetus was that she is married to a Muslim. She said: "My husband [Egyptian] and child are Muslim and fasting helps me enhance my knowledge of the culture."
Satheesh Kumar, told Gulf News: "Although I feel tired by the end of the day, I feel relaxed. During Ramadan, I feel that life goes on very smoothly: my family is happy, my work is to my satisfaction, and my earnings are good."
He finds the fasting to offer many benefits - both physical and psychological. "I personally feel fasting is good for the health. It also gives you the extra energy to face anything in life," Kumar said.
To others, fasting during Ramadan helps them experience the kindred spirit of the month.
"I love fasting and how we break our fast together because it makes me feel that we are all human beings and equal - we all experience hunger," Gopalkrishnan, another fasting non-Muslim, said.
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