I know people debate that fasting in ramadan is unhealthy because not only do you lack food but they are asking us not to drink water either! I know that fasting with liquid or somethign acidic is suppose to be healthy and cleanse the body. What about fasting with not even liquid? what is the benefit in that? Can someone give me a logical valid answer or website that can allow me to explain myself to others as to why fasting the islamic way without liquids is also healthy and we do not need water?
I know people debate that fasting in ramadan is unhealthy because not only do you lack food but they are asking us not to drink water either! I know that fasting with liquid or somethign acidic is suppose to be healthy and cleanse the body. What about fasting with not even liquid? what is the benefit in that? Can someone give me a logical valid answer or website that can allow me to explain myself to others as to why fasting the islamic way without liquids is also healthy and we do not need water?
sorry never heard that people debate this matter..................
what is there to debate?....................:)
The ONE who gives health and takes it away......said though SHALL Fast the Month of Ramadan...........period!
Ther is NO Logic when it comes to matters of Faith!
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
I am sorry but not every human believes in faith or god for that matter! The logical part for you would be to tell me how fasting without food and LIQUIDS is considered healthy, in an more efficient way then just believing. If a white man of christian faith asks me how fasting can be healthy what would be the answer to that? lots of books and people claim that fasting in Ramadan is healthy for the body, but the fact is that fasting is healthy but water required in order to cleanse the system. Would it not make sense to not lie to people and say its healthy to fast without food and water then lie about it? I want to know if it is not healthy why is it said to be healthy? I am sure if you look up fasting in ramadan it is listed there that its suppose to be healthy and cleanse the body, i was taught this when i was a child, but have come to find out this is just a lie and not true at all! Please give me a better answer then faith and just believing, I am sure Islam has alot of sources to back up its claims right?
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
Fasting in general has been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, for rest of the digestive tract and for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects of total fasting as well as so-called crash diets. Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician. Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does not have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those which are protein only or fruit only type diets. Everything that is permissible is taken in moderate quantities. The only difference between Ramadan and total fasting is the timing of the food; during Ramadan, we basically miss lunch and take an early breakfast and do not eat until dusk. **Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration. The body has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity. **The physiological effect of fasting includes lower of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension. In 1994 the first International Congress on "Health and Ramadan," held in Casablanca, entered 50 research papers from all over the world, from Muslim and non-Muslim researchers who have done extensive studies on the medical ethics of fasting. While improvement in many medical conditions was noted; however, in no way did fasting worsen any patients’ health or baseline medical condition. On the other hand, patients who are suffering from severe diseases, whether diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from fasting and should not try to fast.
source: Islamic Students of Bhuvanagiri
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
But what should ppl living in extreme north during June-July Ramadan and people living in extreme south during December-January Ramadan do? For how long they should fast 20 hours a day?
I know people debate that fasting in ramadan is unhealthy because not only do you lack food but they are asking us not to drink water either! I know that fasting with liquid or somethign acidic is suppose to be healthy and cleanse the body. What about fasting with not even liquid? what is the benefit in that? Can someone give me a logical valid answer or website that can allow me to explain myself to others as to why fasting the islamic way without liquids is also healthy and we do not need water?
First, fasting is not a health thing or fad-diet. I hate those lame-ass attempts at being all scientific like, when neither the claiment or the people who the claims are directed towards have any meaningful sophistication when it comes to science. I'm sorry, but it's just lame when people want to skip spirituality altogheter and go for the "science" of the matter...as if they live their life according to strict rationalist (ahem..getting drunk) or scientific reasoning.
So if one wants to tout the benifits of fasting, I'd shy a way from the helath-style arguments...they're rather lame, and stupidly utilitarian. Yes, that's what skeptics will demand...but then, they (like many of us) eat utter crap out of the home...hell, half the organic crap we drink and eat is quite unhelathy, not to mention all the diet crap. In the grand scheme of things, there's probably ZERO health risk posed by fasting.
On the contrary, can you please give us references that cite it as unhealthy? You are making the claim that it is not, and in fact calling claims of it being okay a "lie".
People have been doing this for millennia...and aside from the wine of those who are looking for excuses to berate the practice, I haven't come across a valid blanket concern that doesn't reduce down to an individual's particular dietary habit during Ramadan.
As a type II diabetic, and one who watches his diet carefully, I have the numbers (in terms of blood sugar levels) to show that it is in fact a very healthy time for me. My glucometer doesn't lie.
In our quest for being "logical", let's not abandon common sense...
But what should ppl living in extreme north during June-July Ramadan and people living in extreme south during December-January Ramadan do? For how long they should fast 20 hours a day?
Don't be so unimgainative. True science buffs would anticipate space travel, and wonder what on earth Muslims would do in outer space!
There is an answer (either a standardized time, as the sun is used as a time keeping mechanism...or defining sunset as a certain number of degrees from the horizon in these climates). The fact is, people just don't believe Muslims are that willing to adapt their customs according to circumstance...even though this is a fundamental part of our legal and ritualistic tradition.
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
Thanks for the response. But most of our moulvies do not understand all this.
Don't be so unimgainative. True science buffs would anticipate space travel, and wonder what on earth Muslims would do in outer space!
There is an answer (either a standardized time, as the sun is used as a time keeping mechanism...or defining sunset as a certain number of degrees from the horizon in these climates). The fact is, people just don't believe Muslims are that willing to adapt their customs according to circumstance...even though this is a fundamental part of our legal and ritualistic tradition.
Reminds of a film called "Pitch Black" in which 2nd Mecca (or something like that) is mentioned!!!
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
Peace All
JazakAllah Khair bro picoico
I was waiting for someone to question the questioner. The purpose of fasting as described in Islam is for spiritual health not for physical health. That is the downfall of the argument of those skeptics. They cannot understand why anyone would willingly want to weaken themselves physically. Of course Muslims can, because by doing so it reduces our carnal appetites.
We get more agitated but are required to control our temper during Ramadan, in basics we are making our desires subservient.
Sun Szu said, do not give your troops too many luxuries or it shall make them lazy and arrogant.
By keeping people in relative hardship people are made better. By doing so to oneself you can state that you have lower dependencies than those who are not used to living without food or water.
Fasting is so we can become close to our Lord.
It is not to say that there is no scientific solution however. Allah (SWT) states that religion is not to be a burden on us. The basis for not consuming water in a fasting day does not contradict scientific recommendations. Scientific recommendations talk about a minimum of 1 litre of water should be consumed per day, but that is achievable during the sahoor and iftar times, we do not need to drink water between those times according to current scientific research, it is only based on an average water consumption per 24 hours basis.
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
Peace All
Ever heard of the Marathon Monks?
I think if you compare what they do to what Muslims do then no one will ever question us on health issues regarding fasting ever again.
THE SPIRITUAL ATHLETE’S PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT
Pay specific attention to these paragraphs! read below:
After completing the 700th day, the gyoja faces their most difficult feat. They must survive nine days without food, water, sleep, or rest. This period of time is called the doiri. Several weeks before hand, they prepare for this event by limiting themselves to small amounts of food so they will be ready when the time comes. When the doiri period begins, they spend their days reciting chants that they repeat 100,000 times. By the fifth day, they are dehydrated and are allowed to rinse their mouths with water but must spit out every last drop that enters their mouth. They usually go outside and take in the fresh mountain air where they are able to absorb moisture from the rain and dew through their skin. Usually what the gyoja finds most difficult is not the lack of food and water, but keeping awake and keeping the proper posture at all times of the day.
The doiri is purposely made to let the gyoja face death. After this period of time, they have come so close to death that they develop a sensitivity to life. They “can hear ashes fall form incense sticks, smell and identify foods from miles away and see the sun and moonlight seep into the interior of the temple.” Psychologists who examined the bodies at the end of the seven day period found that the gyojas had many symptoms of a dead person. The gyoja are now able to experience a feeling of transparency. Everything exits their bodies-good, bad, and neutral.
One relative of a gyoja remarked, “I always dismissed Buddhism as superstitious nonsense until I saw my brother step out of Myo-o-do after doiri. He was really a living Buddha.”
It has been reported that the doiri used to last 10 days but almost all the monks died during this period of time. So, they shorted the doiri to seven days. The doiri is also too dangerous to be held during the summer because the bodies were found to rot internally due to all the heat and lack of water in the body.
That last paragraph is a typo it is nine days for sure not seven.
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
General practice recommended:
In the run up to fasting Muslims have traditionally started to fast on off days to help with the month routine. If the metabolism is not used to it then sudden fasting can be more punishing on the mindset and on the body.
For those people who eat too much or are clinically obese I recommend should slowly reduce their intake and fast on and off in the run up to Ramadaan to make it easier.
I wouldn’t bother explaining it from a scientific perspective to anyone because that shouldn’t be the intention that I fast with. As for is it healthy or unhealthy, well personally I would say that it isn’t, because after having fasted through Ramadan several times, there was no deterioration in my health that I (or anyone else) observed, and I know many people who fast through the month while living active lives. They also got through just fine 
I am sorry but not every human believes in faith or god for that matter! The logical part for you would be to tell me how fasting without food and LIQUIDS is considered healthy, in an more efficient way then just believing. If a white man of christian faith asks me how fasting can be healthy what would be the answer to that? lots of books and people claim that fasting in Ramadan is healthy for the body, but the fact is that fasting is healthy but water required in order to cleanse the system. Would it not make sense to not lie to people and say its healthy to fast without food and water then lie about it? I want to know if it is not healthy why is it said to be healthy? I am sure if you look up fasting in ramadan it is listed there that its suppose to be healthy and cleanse the body, i was taught this when i was a child, but have come to find out this is just a lie and not true at all! Please give me a better answer then faith and just believing, I am sure Islam has alot of sources to back up its claims right?
the issue with your logic is that you are not telling that "white christian" why fasting is NOT for you to loose weight rather it is required so that you can come closer to Allah and appriciate what HE has given to you that you might be taking for granted. Food and water are the basic needs that we take for granted but really it is a blessing from Allah. That is just 1 small part of why fasting is required in Islam.
If you don't believe in Allah, if you do not have strong believe in religion, then I suggest you try to work on that rather than using fasting as an excuse for medical purposes.
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
I'm not gonna sit here and type up 2-3 paragraphs giving you an explanation...although I really appreciate those that have.
This is really all I have to say and it may not answer your question but it should suffice.
If you are concerned about going without water during your fasts...then make up for it by drinking plenty of water before fajr and plenty of water after maghrib. This should be enough for you to make it through the day. It's really that simple.
Keep in mind It's only for one month...surely we can survive....and Alhamdulillah....most of us here do.
If you need to explain to others. Tell them," I would inshaAllah fast even if science proves that it is unhealthy for me in every possible way, because it is worth it for obedience towards Allah, considering the fact that Allah (s.w.t) has always blessed me with infinite blessings without my asking. Now that HE is ordering me to do something, why should I become so selfish. You are talking about health. I would inshaAllah give my life and soul for the love and obedience towards Allah, by the grace of Allah. Having said that I am 100% sure that Allah would NEVER EVER ask me to do anything which is not good for me in this life and hereafter.** HE ALWAYS ORDERS ME WHATEVER IS THE BEST FOR ME. And I don't require science to judge that. Enough said!"
**
p.s. Science is all good and helpful, but it is not require to judge any order of Allah (s.w.t). If the Prophet (saw) told us that one should not drink water during fasting, then that is enough for every Muslim, even if science contradicts itself 100 times during the last millennium. Science might keep contradicting itself but not Quran and Sunnah.
Can I have a direct link?
Fasting in general has been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight management, for rest of the digestive tract and for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects of total fasting as well as so-called crash diets. Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or inadequate calorie intake. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician. Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does not have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those which are protein only or fruit only type diets. Everything that is permissible is taken in moderate quantities. The only difference between Ramadan and total fasting is the timing of the food; during Ramadan, we basically miss lunch and take an early breakfast and do not eat until dusk. **Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration. The body has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity. **The physiological effect of fasting includes lower of blood sugar, lowering of cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would be an ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension. In 1994 the first International Congress on "Health and Ramadan," held in Casablanca, entered 50 research papers from all over the world, from Muslim and non-Muslim researchers who have done extensive studies on the medical ethics of fasting. While improvement in many medical conditions was noted; however, in no way did fasting worsen any patients’ health or baseline medical condition. On the other hand, patients who are suffering from severe diseases, whether diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt from fasting and should not try to fast.
source: Islamic Students of Bhuvanagiri
This is good Thanks! Anyway of getting me a source =)
It is not to say that there is no scientific solution however. Allah (SWT) states that religion is not to be a burden on us. The basis for not consuming water in a fasting day does not contradict scientific recommendations. Scientific recommendations talk about a minimum of 1 litre of water should be consumed per day, but that is achievable during the sahoor and iftar times, we do not need to drink water between those times according to current scientific research, it is only based on an average water consumption per 24 hours basis.
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Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
^ yep :D
i said the same thing w/o having to look it up. it's really just common sense.
Re: Fasting without liquids such as water unhealthy?
**Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at all and in fact, it causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration. The body has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity.
**I would really like to know who came up with that theory. The first sentence doesnt make sense. Yes, the body has its own mechanism to conserve water, and it also does have mechanisms to coupe with diseases too! Though the last sentence has no scientific basis, plants and animals, or human beings are different things.
The best thing to do is drink plenty of water before fasting and also at aftar time, and try to avoid strenuous work which will dehydrate you. Drinking lots of water is a good thing, remember that!