Still Connected

I have previously mentioned that there are many people who are exempt and do not have to fast or are forbidden from doing so.

In spite of this, many are allowed to continue with our types of worship and so can still gain reward during this month.

Every evening at Taraweeh, the nightly prayers held during Ramadan, I see elderly men and women walking into the mosque. It is obvious that some of them cannot fast; however, they still attend the prayers to get a sense of the month and partake in it.

As Muslim prayers see worshippers bowing, prostrating and rising, they require too many movements for the elderly or those with back or leg ailments to perform. It is for this reason that you find many praying while sitting down, either on the floor or on a chair.

This allows them to complete their prayers without further damaging their health. (Those who find sitting up difficult even have the option to pray lying down.)

In addition to the elderly, the young, the permanently sick, people who are travelling, have temporary illnesses, have missed fasts because they took nourishing injections, pregnant women and those who find fasting dangerous for their health can all partake in the evenings' worship.

For others, supplications are their outlet until they are able to fast and pray again.