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Posted by: Zyngaru
« on: April 10, 2024, 09:32:44 pm »

Quote from: Emlyn Morgan on March 13, 2024, 10:01:41 am

From my balcony we can see the sun setting into the ocean. "You can break your fast now. We can eat," say I. "No," says my companion. "We must wait to hear the sunset call to prayer!"

So, if they are using an out-of-time clock for Call to Prayer, then no one gets to eat.  Or worse!  A clock that isn't wound, so it isn't even running.
Posted by: Emlyn Morgan
« on: April 10, 2024, 04:01:00 pm »

Quote from: Emlyn Morgan on March 13, 2024, 10:01:41 am

But time is a different concept down here.

I'm not even going to ask why this hotel I'm staying in has three clocks in reception - all wrong. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Posted by: Emlyn Morgan
« on: March 13, 2024, 10:01:41 am »

Quote from: ivor
Very confusing, even without the one day! Is that to make the fasting duration shorter?
Putting the clocks back has the effect of making sunset seem to arrive sooner, so you can break your fast earlier, but in reality just causes confusion. Children hear the call to prayer for first light, get up, eat quickly before sunrise, rush to school,  look at their smartphones and can't understand why they've arrived an hour early!

But time is a different concept down here. The town hall clock has shown a couple of minutes past two o'clock since the Spanish fled in 1976. Inconsiderately, they never come back to do the winding!  If a visitor wants to know how anybody knows what time it is, the question is not understood. "But we have the sun, and the calls to prayer."

From my balcony we can see the sun setting into the ocean. "You can break your fast now. We can eat," say I. "No," says my companion. "We must wait to hear the sunset call to prayer!"
Posted by: Zyngaru
« on: March 13, 2024, 08:13:17 am »

Quote from: Emlyn Morgan on March 13, 2024, 03:53:22 am
Quote from: Zyngaru
So, I am curious as to what kind of fast is observed for Ramadan?

I had never experienced the month of Ramadan in a Moslem country in previous years because it fell in the summer when I am not here.  However the Moslem calendar is lunar, months are shorter, so each month creeps forward against the international calendar, and now Ramadan falls in winter when I am here.

I had thought that Ramadan was all about fasting, but now I find it is much about feasting. After sunset we join family, friends or neighbours for to have a special meal named Iftar with special foods. So it's rather like having Christmas dinner every night for a month! And yes, observants of the fast can eat again before sunrise.

Yes, cafes and restaurants are closed all day. The fast, no food or water, is from sunrise to sunset throughout the month. I do not observe the fast; I eat indoors during the day - discreetly, out of consideration for those who are fasting.

Thank you for the explanation.  Basically, it is a fast to get your appetite elevated to be able to enjoy the feast.  Makes sense.  Feasting for Holidays makes sense also.  Holidays whether secular or religious are meant to enjoy not to suffer.

Going all day without water is okay as long as you aren't walking in the desert sun.  I wouldn't recommend working out in the hot sun and not drinking water.

Thanks again for explaining it to me.
Posted by: Emlyn Morgan
« on: March 13, 2024, 03:53:22 am »

Quote from: Zyngaru
So, I am curious as to what kind of fast is observed for Ramadan?

I had never experienced the month of Ramadan in a Moslem country in previous years because it fell in the summer when I am not here.  However the Moslem calendar is lunar, months are shorter, so each month creeps forward against the international calendar, and now Ramadan falls in winter when I am here.

I had thought that Ramadan was all about fasting, but now I find it is much about feasting. After sunset we join family, friends or neighbours for to have a special meal named Iftar with special foods. So it's rather like having Christmas dinner every night for a month! And yes, observants of the fast can eat again before sunrise.

Yes, cafes and restaurants are closed all day. The fast, no food or water, is from sunrise to sunset throughout the month. I do not observe the fast; I eat indoors during the day - discreetly, out of consideration for those who are fasting.
Posted by: Zyngaru
« on: March 12, 2024, 02:51:07 pm »

Quote from: Emlyn Morgan on March 12, 2024, 12:12:08 pm
Despite the predictions of the astronomers, the first sliver of the new moon was not sighted in the west-north-west over Morocco until Monday evening (11th March 2024 in the international calendar). So today, Tuesday, is the first day of fasting from sunrise til sunset. Remember that in the Moslem calendar as in the Jewish calendar each new day starts at sunset.

And today we put the clocks back one hour just for this month of Ramadan, much to the consternation of the international airlines who set their timetable change a day early!

I'm curious.  So, you can eat a full meal before sunrise and another full meal after sunset?  If that is correct, then what kind of Fast is that?  Does this fast last all month?  I have fasted for a month, but that was no eating for the entire month.  I did drink water, because you can't survive for a month without water.  So, I am curious as to what kind of fast is observed for Ramadan?
Posted by: ivor
« on: March 12, 2024, 12:31:18 pm »

Very confusing, even without the one day! Is that to make the fasting duration shorter?

Are you participating? Are restaurants etc. closed during the day?
Posted by: Emlyn Morgan
« on: March 12, 2024, 12:12:08 pm »

Despite the predictions of the astronomers, the first sliver of the new moon was not sighted in the west-north-west over Morocco until Monday evening (11th March 2024 in the international calendar). So today, Tuesday, is the first day of fasting from sunrise til sunset. Remember that in the Moslem calendar as in the Jewish calendar each new day starts at sunset.

And today we put the clocks back one hour just for this month of Ramadan, much to the consternation of the international airlines who set their timetable change a day early!