Ramadan's Reflections

They're funny those first few days of Ramadan. They leave you completely drained. Today, I am/have been on the verge of dehydration. But I can't tell you how close I was/am, since I've not been there before. I had to walk outside for a while, and there is no way to program your body NOT to sweat in the heat. I guess physiological micro processors are pretty dumb, and what's more, you can't override them. Sweating in a humid environment is counterproductive and counterintuitive. There's absolutely no benefit. It'd be cool to be able to control your pores and your perspiration glands (or whatever they're called). I remember when I was in the fifth grade how I used to sneak in to the kitchen while fasting and drink water from the tap while pretending to be washing my hands. I couldn't miss a single football game, Ramadan or not.... And when thirst struck afterwards, there was absolutely no resistance. I'm glad I've toughened up a little when I've become an adult. There's this merciful concept in Islam, it's called being a 'Mukalaf': which means being a responsible adult and answerable to one's actions. Thankfully, this period doesn't start until after puberty and minimum mental maturity (there's no age threshold, though). A fifth grade football-loving kid isn't a Mukalaf, and hence he's relieved. An almost 30 years old engineer running errands in one of the hottest spots in the world IS pretty much a Mukalaf. It's presumed that man can and should handle himself with grace while fasting. It's presumed an effeminate and infantile thing to complain about thirst or hunger. Come to think of it, most fasting masses are such troupers. When God have chosen to us, Muslim masses, a ruling classes that, by and large, throw hissy fits left and right. We tough it out. There are always abundance of evidence. Take the recent tantrum thrown by Saudi officials, for instance: now they require all UAE citizens to have passport while entering into the kingdom. What is this all about? you ask, well allegedly: it's about the map on the identity cards of Emirati citizens. Saudi officials don't like the shape of the borders on that map. Borders for God sake? You'd think that Saudi Arabia in particular would keep its tantrums in checks while Ramadan is approaching. You'd think they'd look for reasons to bring people together and propagate love and respect between the brothers..... Instead, they choose the worst way possible to handle the situation. Another example: take the recent horrific bombings in Baghdad (95 dead and 1300 injured for God sake?). If the op-ed by Abd Al Bari Atwan in today's Gulf News is to be believed, then we're looking at different factions within the Iraqi government playing power struggle with each other and exploiting political and security failures to score point and advance their own agenda. And the tools they're using? the lives of non-suspecting, embattled and embittered Iraqis. What could be more despicable than that? we were still on the verge of Ramadan, I beg you to remember.


Hold on, it's time for Azan. I'll drink some and eat some and come back...

-----------------

........ And so far in the two days that have passed of Ramadan, I've witnessed couple of awful outburst in real life too. Apparently, the lack of morning coffee and nicotine puts everyone on edge. Although those two substances are the farthest thing from being healthy or relaxing. I guess it's dependency. Human bodies are ill-equipped when it comes to cutting off on toxic intakes. I pity those who think they can lose weight in Ramadan. I think it's theoritically impossible. Your body is habitual to the (almost) constant stream of food intake. When you fast, your body-- like with the autonomous, stupid sweat pores-- gets the impression that you're in a state of famine. So when you have your Iftar (and no matter how good you are at self restraint, you ARE going to eat a good meal at Iftar), your body is still under the impression that famine had struck and it could strike anytime soon. So it stores fat. This continues for a while. Our bodies are highly adaptive but they can't keep pace with the speed of change around us........

Tell you what, now that I've finished my Subway foot-long sandwich and drank a litter and a half bottle of water, I don't feel like writing anymore. I want to go out smoke some argileh and meet my pals. Each will have his rant, and some might throw fits. Believe me, none of us looks or acts like a Mukalaf, I guess it's because none of us like to take him/herself seriously. For your sanity's sake, seriousness is the most ridiculous thing to have around with the headlines of today. I'd rather live like a fifth grade football loving kid.