Foodlosophy to Fill You Up This Ramadan

Azim Azimzade. Ramadan of the poor people. 1938

Food is tied to everything we do and everything we are. This is true even when we abstain from eating it, as is the case for the millions of Muslims who are currently fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. In addition to the nutrition and enjoyment derived from consumption, food can have an even larger impact when it’s used as a spiritual aid. And by used, I mean not used, or at least withheld for a significant period of time. Sacrificing food and other indulgences can mean strengthening one’s spirit while ensuring a profound appreciation for the nourishment so easily taken for granted.

Photo of family preparing to enjoy Iftar in Bejing, China (Huffington Post). Check out more photos of Iftar from around the globe here: Ramadan Iftars From Around The World

It’s no wonder that food has the power to transform both personally and politically. In the course of his lifetime, Mohandas Gandhi fasted several times. In his fight against political injustice Gandhi called his fast “a god given opportunity” (History.co.uk). In addition to an opportunity, fasting became a powerful tool in the fight for caste equality in India. Furthermore, fasting is a valuable method integral to “passive resistance”, a philosophy that calls for peaceful progression towards achieving goals, often in the face of violent opposition. Of course, not all fasting is done in such dramatic fashion, nor is it solely intended to bring about political change.


On the contrary, most fasts provide a means for personal and spiritual growth. Members of Christian faiths fast during Lent, a period of forty days (give or take) meant to commemorate the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the desert. During Lent, Christians may abstain from eating certain foods, as well as forgoing indulgent behavior, all with the aim of spiritual advancement. Similar to Muslims during Ramadan, Christians spend Lent cultivating their “spiritual discipline” through religious study and prayer. This is seen as a time to grow closer to God.

But what is it about not eating that brings us mortals closer to the divine? I’m not a “religious person”, nor en expert in Theology, but I believe the Bible tells us that without suffering, compassion is not possible. Given the choice, I would opt for a non-suffering world, but in reality, suffering is a condition each of us will face. With this in mind, compassion becomes our only defense. We need to care for each other as much as we need to be cared for, if not only to ease our own suffering, but to bring about happiness and inner satisfaction when we help someone else.

But helping others can be near impossible when we are too focused on the self, too busy trying to gratify every urge, which is why we must go without if we are to understand, and notice, what others feel within. Denying the body food when hungry is a way to cultivate compassion through experience, and in turn, cultivate experience through compassion. I know what it is to starve because I too have starved. I can help those who starve.

Perhaps this is why kind and charitable actions often accompany fasting in both Islamic and Christian faiths. As we become less focused on the self, and consequently more aware of others, we are given a unique opportunity, as Gandhi might say, to transcend the meaning and act on this newfound awareness.

Photo taken from Eventbrite.sg

Many followers of the Islamic faith do take advantage of this opportunity:  “Muslims are encouraged to increase their charitable activity during Ramadan as part of spending the month living a more pious life” (McCarter). These activities include making donations, volunteering time and service at homeless shelters, and other compassionate endeavors intended to help those less fortunate (McCarter).

In the end, “cleansing the soul” may be the greatest reward during Ramadan, but it certainly isn’t the only. Sacrificing meals from dawn ‘til dusk means very hungry people. Fortunately, efforts and appetites are rewarded with nightly rituals and celebrations. Friends, family, and delicious food offer a lesson in gratitude while acting as both inspiration and reward for day after day of selfless action.

A Muslim family enjoying Iftar, a "community meal which celebrates the holy month"-Huffington Post

So next time you’re feeling cranky because you missed your lunch break, remember that little pang of hunger/irritation you feel is actually the feeling of a transformation occurring; it’s the digestion of wisdom extending far beyond the reaches of your gut… that is, if you recognize the god given opportunity. And if not, just think… dinner will never taste so good.


Sources:

Ahmad, Anis. "Ramadan." The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. : Oxford University Press, 2009. Oxford Reference. 2009. Date Accessed 7 Jun. 2016 <http://www.oxfordreference.com.proxy.wexler.hunter.cuny.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780195305135.001.0001/acref-9780195305135-e-0667>.

McCarter, William M. "Ramadan." Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia. Ed. Carlos E. Cortés and Jane E. Sloan. Vol. 4. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Reference, 2014. 1805-1807. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 June 2016.