Spirit of abstinence helps smokers quit the habit

Dubai: This Ramadan, like the previous two, Jaleel Abdullah has again promised himself that he will give up smoking.

The 42-year old sales manager is firm in his resolve that he will not fail this time. Two weeks since the start of Ramadan, he is successfully fighting back the temptation. Yet, Jaleel knows that the real test lies ahead - when he gets back to normal eating habits after Ramadan.

"During the last two Ramadan, I gave up smoking. But I reverted to the old habit with a new-found vigour. I do not want to repeat the mistake again," said the father of three.

And Jaleel is not alone in this fight against tobacco that takes a new dimension during Ramadan, when people fall back on the strength of their religious belief to kick the habit.

As smoking is not allowed between sunrise and sunset, Ramadan presents smokers with a month-long chance to quit the habit.

Dr Mahmoud Marashi, from The Department of Medicine, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, said: "Ramadan provides people with the opportunity to reflect and focus on their actions and the impact they have on themselves and others. Ramadan can be a particularly good time for people to quit smoking, but they need to resist the temptation to smoke after iftar."

Gulf News spoke to a few prospective non-smokers who have refrained from smoking since the start of Ramadan and hope to stick to their resolve. And they were unanimous that it was much easier to stop smoking when fasting.

Great inspiration

Laila, (name changed on request), an advertising professional said Ramadan and the spirit of abstinence is a great inspiration for smokers who are striving to get rid of their addiction. "I just tell myself that if I can do without cigarettes for the whole day, I can ignore the cravings during the evenings too," said the 23-year old.

Shihab Mohammad, a driver, admitted it was hard to resist the temptation when others smoked during iftar. "I look at them, put a cigarette on my lips, but never light it. I really want to give up because I have promised my wife that I will," said the newly-married from India.

Dr Amr Elekiaby, consultant pulmonologist at Al Zahra Hospital, Shrajah, said: "Smokers should set up a plan on what they will do after Ramdan if they have to seriously quit smoking."

Do you know anyone who has been able to quit smoking due to fasting? How does Ramadan affect your consumption habits for the rest of the year?