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Monday, September 01, 2008

Ramadan has started

Yes, it has. For our community, the "Dawoodi Bohras", Ramadan started on the 31st of August 2008. Today, as I write this, we are into the second of 30 days of fasting, religiosity and shunning of vices like lying, cheating, robbing, etc. Ramadan is observed as a month of repentance and doing deeds that will help in redeeming ourselves in the 'after-life". This includes fasting, the reading of the Holy Quran, the praying of the Salaat and the giving of "zakaat", the dispersion of 1/40th of one's net worth in charities. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to visit Mecca for the performance of "umrah" (intent to do Haj) during Ramadan. My intentions being noble, I could not complete both my first and second fasts on account of symptoms of hypoglycemia - low blood sugar - that I developed towards the afternoon on both the days. I have sought advice on this and have been told to hold back a little on my diabetes pills from tomorrow. This, then, is what I am planning to do.