Fasting

Hello Mash, I am a Baha'i. We also fast for a month in my Faith. Our fast is at a different time of year. It is in march and it is to celebrate the start of the new year (which begins the day after the fast ends in our calendar). Our months are 19 days long. We do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset on those 19 days. Then on the last day we celebrate with a large gathering and feast at sundown. During the fast there are special prayers which we say, acknowledging that the fast is for God and that we are obedient to Him. These prayers are said in addition to the obligatory prayers that are said every day of the year. The purpose of the fast is to renew our focus on God for the start of the year and to purify ourselves of earthly desires. It is also a symbol of how we often starve ourselves spriritually. I look forward to the fast each year. It is such a wonderful bounty to grow closer to our Creator.

i have never fasted as part of my religious background. however, i once fasted for 30 days. i drank only liquids. that is: juice, coffee, tea with honey, pepsi. i was only "hungry" for the first 3 days. after that, i drank liquids to keep my strength and energy up. but, did not experience what i call hunger pangs. i visited an oriental physician. he was a suffiest (sp) and a board certified physician, too.

Hello Mash99, Since I'm also a Moslem, I have nothing to say except "Happy Ramadan" and may Allah bless us. Amen.