The Fast for Ramadan

“Lo Kossou lo”
“Aye”
“You are not fasting. You should fast. You can start by doing one day until noon. And then the next day try until 3pm. And then…”
“Yes but I lost too much weight already. And my doctor said I have to gain weight for my health.”
“If you are heavier, that doesn’t mean you are healthier…”
“I know but…” I rethought my decision to argue with the chief of the village.
“You should really consider it… Okay well you can do it another time. I do it other times during the year.”
“Yes. I’ll do it another time, thank you.”
***
“Can I have two bags of water?”
“You are not fasting?”
“No I’m not.”
“Why?”
“Well I already lost a lot of weight and…”
“You don’t fast to lose weight.”
“I know but…”
“I thought you were going to say you are Christian.”
“I am Christian.”
“Well then…”
“I was going to participate in the fast because everyone in my community is Muslim and…”
“So you are Muslim here?”
“No I was just going to do it in support, out of respect.”
“So you are Muslim here but when you go home you are Christian?”
“No I’m Christian now!”
Ugh. Nevermind Madame.
***
“How’s the fast?”
“I’m not fasting.”
“What? Why not?”
“I already lost too much weight.”
“The fast is not about weight loss.”
“I know but…”
“God will provide for you. When you fast, God makes up for what you lack.”
“I know. I know.”
“So you are going to fast?”
“No my doctor said I have to gain weight.”
“Okay, okay.”
***
Clearly my reason for not fasting does not make sense to people. And honestly it really doesn’t. I’ve never lost weight in any of my previous fast (but I also ate enough for a feast at the end of the day). But I’ve already lost over 20lbs and this was during a period when I could eat whatever I wanted to, whenever I wanted to so I think I should abstain from the fast. I am not in the health to be able to fast sunrise to sunset without food or water. Maybe next year.
***
Since the fast commenced, there are more calls to prayer. In a world where there are no microwaves and most women do not have cell phones for alarm clocks, the “grand muslim men” (what we call them in French) make 2 extra calls to wake them up.
3AM! The call tells women to wake up to start preparing the meal. Pots start banging, dishes are washed and fires are started.
4AM! The call tells the family to wake up to eat. Doors are opened. Conversations start, as most families eat their favorite dish- tou.
5AM! The normal call to prayer. All food is put away and all those fasting go to the mosque to pray. During the fast, there are 17 rak'a of prayer as opposed to the typical 10.
***
“Oh Karla the market is full of people.”
“Really?”
“Yes during the fast you can get anything at night at the market. Massa, Sankare, Bissap, soup, rice… it’s all there.”
Most people break the fast with porridge because they say it is easier on the stomach. For many families, this is all they prepare to eat. Those that can afford it, go to the market and buy the prepared food there. This is the opposite of how I imagined we would break the fast- with a hardy meal. My friend who was in Ghana during last year’s fast said every night was a feast. I guess our feast can be bought at the market.
***
Your faith is not something you practice alone, it is community practice. Here 99% of my community is muslim and all that can do fast. We ask how the fast is going. We chant songs to God to give us strength. We break fast together. Even those I’ve never seen enter a mosque are fasting. “Are you fasting?” “Karla, it’s an obligation.” I respect their faith. I respect their sacrifice.

For more information about Ramadan, click here.