I was talking to my director and she discovered I am fasting. She was soo horrified with the fact that I don’t eat or drink anything at all for 17+ hours. Then she goes on to say well it can’t be good for your health. I didn’t know what to say or how to explain the benefits of fasting, besides saying oh we fast so we know how people who live without food and water feel.
How do you explain why you fast to your non-Muslim friends or people?
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
simply because, as a Muslim, fasting has been prescribed by Allah and Allah knows best. we fast to cleans our soul so we could achieve piety N righteousness.
tell her that Muslims have been fasting for the last 1400+ years in worst climatic conditions and doing heavy works under 40+ degrees of heat.
tell her that Allah has exempted sick and infirm and elderly people from fasting if it’s hard on them…Allah again knows best.
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
Tell her that it is debatable whether it is healthy or not but it teaches restraint and self-discipline.
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
I’ve explained to coworkers and even some clients. When they think it’s really difficult or whatever, I tell them it just seems a lot more difficult than it really is. Reality is I find the actual fasting to be the easiest part of Ramadan.
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
So what is the hard part ? Namaaz, tiraveeh ? Waking up and staying up at all odd hours ?
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
That’s it. The altered sleep schedule is the hard part for me.
Tell them to read up on the fast diet.. then challenge them to a fast dual
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
fasting isn’t unhealthy, starvation is. During Ramadan, you do NOT starve! You’re eating twice in 24 hours and most people eat quite fatty foods, fried stuff, parathas and whatnot. In the normal state, body glucose is the main source of energy for us. In a state of fasting, once the glucose has been used up, fat becomes the next source of energy. Now if you weren’t eating anything at all for days or weeks, your body would start to use protein as the next source of energy and that is what’s harmful for health, that is what they call starvation. But since you’re eating throughout Ramadan and fasting only till Maghrib each day, your body does not reach a state of starvation. But you do get dehydrated which may lead to headaches and that’s the only negative effect of fasting I’ve personally experienced. Otherwise fasting can be actually really good for health as per several published studies. As for people for whom fasting can be dangerous, such as diabetics, they’re exempted from fasting.
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
I haven’t had to explain it to anyone in a while, but someone did ask why does ita lways come in the summer…I wasn’t sure how to word it other than it starts on a differetn date every year and it does happen in wintertime too
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
sara…it didn’t occur to you to explain that we use a lunar calendar and therefore the start date varies by 10 days each year?
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
Same here. Last year was so hard because of lack of sleep throughout the month. Let’s see how this one will go.
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
I was thinking maybe telling them that it’s just like a cleanse. But what throws people off is that we can’t even have water during this time.
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
I simply says:
I am fasting…
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
Question is when they ask you why do you fast…what do you say?
One thing for sure…I didn’t enjoy the food I had for Sehri this morning. But now that I am thinking about it, it seems like it was super delicious lol. It definitely makes you realize that we should be thankful for what we have.
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
^ This !
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
Whaat ? They don’t let you take naps at work ? 
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
I have been asked, “Why do you guys call it fasting when you are actually slowing?”
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
Say the hardest part first. If they still insist, then explain what fasting does to you. Like this.
her “why u fast”
you “Because I am supposed to”
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
Tell her that it’s your way of dieting 
Re: So how do you explain fasting..
Don’t need to explain to any one if you’re motmain yourself you know 