Teaching children about fasting

Muslim faithful at Jamia Mosque in Kisumu county on April 13, 2021 as they mark the Holy Month of Ramadan. They called for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation among all Kenyans. (Collins Oduor, Standard)

The Muslim holy month of Ramadhan -- the ninth month of the Hijri calendar -- is a time for Muslims to practice self-restraint in keeping with the literal meaning of the word Saum (to abstain).

During Ramadhan, when consumption of food and water is prohibited between the hours of dawn and dusk, how do Muslims observing the fast manage to go without food?

Ramadhan is interpreted as the obligation to refrain from eating, drinking, sexual activity, and all forms of immoral behaviour, including impure or unkind thoughts, from dusk to dawn. This concept is usually taught from a very early age.

Although Muslim children are not required to fast during Ramadhan until they reach puberty, younger children in many families do enjoy participating in the fast and are encouraged to practice their fasting in a way that is appropriate for their age.

It is common for a younger child to fast for part of a day. This way, they enjoy the Saum. It is unusual for young children to fast for more than a couple of hours.

Children also participate in Ramadhan in other ways aside from the daily fast. They collect money to give the less fortunate, help prepare meals and recite the Quran.

By teaching children about Ramadhan, a sense of belonging is created in them; they grow up practising it without feeling any burden.

This makes Muslims adapt on how to refrain from food and water for a whole day from a tender age.

Fasting during Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the testimony of faith, prayer, charitable giving, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca.

The practice of fasting serves several spiritual purposes: to remind someone of their human weakness and their dependence on God for sustenance; to show them what it feels like to be hungry and thirsty so that they feel compassion for the less fortunate; and to reduce the distractions in life so you can more clearly focus on your relationship with God.