The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began this week and, all over the world, those who respect the Islamic faith will fast from sunrise to sunset. Over the years, some myths and misconceptions have haunted this holy month, though they are open thoughts for interpretation.
"Brushing your teeth breaks the fast"
Shabbir Hassan, a student of excellence in Islamic Sciences and Sharia, told the BBC that sometimes people who fast mistakenly believe that brushing their teeth breaks the fast. "The best advice is to use a minimal paste, use something simple, not too strong," he says. You can brush your teeth, but be careful not to let the water down.
"You should not swallow saliva"
Swallowing saliva is perfectly permissible and, in fact, encouraged. "This misconception has no basis at all," says Hassan, "swallowing saliva is natural. It will certainly not break the fast."
"Overcoming someone else's saliva is something a little different that should be avoided during fasting," he points out. "The whole point of fasting is to control your desires, which include food, drink, and intimacy."
"It is only about food and drink"
Eating or drinking are not the only activities that are forbidden when fasting. "Fasting is less rewarding if you communicate badly and insult others," he says.
"Eating or drinking accidentally breaks the fast"
If you really forget that you are fasting and eating something, fasting is still considered valid as long as you stop at the moment you realize it. However, if you consume something in circumstances that could have been avoided, then the fast is broken.
“Nëse jeni duke marrë abdes gjatë agjërimit, në të vërtetë ju rekomandohet të shmangni gargarën. Thjesht shpëlani gojën me ujë dhe pështyjeni menjëherë,” shpjegon ai.
“Nuk mund të merrni ilaçe”
Këshilli Mysliman i Britanisë (MCB) lëshoi një udhëzim të përbashkët me Shoqatën Ndërkombëtare të Glaukomës duke u kërkuar njerëzve që të vazhdojnë të përdorin ilaçe të caktuara, të tilla si pikat e syve. Udhëzimi përshkruan se pikat e syve, pikat e veshit, injeksionet dhe infuzionet e uretrës janë ndër ilaçet që nuk prishin agjërimin.
Megjithatë, gëlltitja e ilaçeve do të zhvleftësonte agjërimin. Hassan thotë: “Së pari, nëse keni një gjendje mjekësore, gjëja e parë që duhet të pyesni është, a duhet të agjëroj?”
“Duhet të agjëroni me çdo kusht”
In Islam, fasting is considered obligatory only for those who are medically fit and have reached an age of maturity. This excludes young children, those who are sick (physically or mentally), weak, are traveling, pregnant or breastfeeding women, according to the MCB.
"If it is a short-term illness from which they know they will be cured, people will be able to fast on other days," says Hassan. "If it is a long-term condition and they cannot keep the fast, they can perform fidyah - a small donation paid to feed a poor family."
