Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Is it worth it ? Ours is just coming to an end. Every year I wonder if I should do it again ?

And now that the silly season is over, can Ramadan be far away ??

007 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: Summer Course

johnslat · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

"And now that the silly season is over, can Ramadan be far away ??"

Huh? I thought that Ramadan WAS the silly season: day becomes night, night becomes day, and if you're actually trying to teach classes during the fasting month, well, lots of luck.

Regards,
John

Junaid · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Riyadh, KSA.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Naughty John. You've forgotten the most important rule --- commenting on Saudi reality is taboo!

johnslat · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject:

Dear Junaid,
Sorry to have offended you (and anyone else.) But would you mind telling me exactly what it was that I posted that was inaccurate/false?
Regards,
John

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

Junaid · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Riyadh, KSA.

Junaid · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Riyadh, KSA.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

Dear Junaid and smedini,
Sorry I gave the wrong impression. It's not at all the month I meant to call silly but rather the way it is observed by far too many Muslims in Saudi Arabia (in my opinion), a way that I personally think would greatly disappoint the Prophet.
When even the Arab News can run articles about how so many people actually gain weight during the fasting month, I think that it's not inaccurate to believe that the intent and real meaning of the month is being disregarded by all too many.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=53529&d=27&m=10&y=2004

But perhaps I'm expecting too much of human nature. After all, I'm sure Jesus would be greatly disappointed by the behavior of many so-called Christians, as would Moses by the behavior of many Jews.

007 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject:

Junaid · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Riyadh, KSA.

Thanks for the correction 007. It's now been edited. I guess it was a typical reponse you'd expect from Scot...no offence, mate Very Happy

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I'm with John on this one. Mohammed would be as appalled at the modern observation of Ramadhan (where twice as much money is spent on food and everyone complains of gaining weight... and expect to sleep all day or at least not work... while partying all night) as Jesus would be appalled at how Christmas has become an orgy of spending money one doesn't have for things one doesn't need - while also gaining weight and partying hard.

Both of them have turned into the 'silly season' in my opinion. Perhaps Muslims are unaware of the negative impression that is given by the modern observation of their Holy month. It isn't politically correct to point it out, of course, but I have many Muslim friends who have said this very thing to me in private.

VS
(that is not saying that every Muslim or Christian has lost the spirit of their holiday, but I'm talking about the majorities... and thank you 007 for supporting John - posting it at the same time as I was writing...)

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Ramadan is hardest of all for sportsmen who especially need fluids to replace the water lost during exercise. This is exacerbated in a hot/torrid climate like Saudi Arabia.

I am wondering (Koran experts) if there is some exception made for elite sportspeople to drink during Ramadan? I know that the old and the sick have waivers, or so I have been told. I find it hard to believe that elite runners can maintain 2-3 hours a day of intensive exercise, and not drinking anything while engaged in strenous exercise! Elite sports people can lose several litres of fluid per hour during exercise.

At what age do children/adolescents start (expected to) fast during Ramadan, or is there no fixed age? One feels sorry for those who have to teach adolescents in the Gulf during this time, as we can imagine how hard it is for the students to maintain focus during this time.

Weight gain is easy to imagine during Ramadan with the richer (more sugary) foods available, and the social aspect which compels people to eat far more than they need. In addition to this, people are generally less active as well. Calories ingested at night are disposed of less efficiently than during the day, when the human thermostat is on full blast.

Fasting can be very healthy if done in the right way, and one venerable gentleman on this forum has been semi fasting for the past 20 years, as he only eats one meal every 24 hours, and has been pronounced very fit and healthy by his medical team.

Ghost

007 · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

Fasting is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who has reached the age of puberty (over 12 yrs).
People who are exempt from fasting are: Elderly, sick, pregnant women, nursing mothers, women in the period of menstruation, children under the age of puberty, soldiers, and travelers (do not have to fast but they must fast at a convenient time later on).