Dorian,

Yea....if heaven isn't a socialist-utopia, I wouldn't fancy it much, myself!

I don't imagine I'd be all that welcome, anyway.

But I've already wasted too much of my time thinking about it!

@ drpanjsheri

'We Fast not because it has benefits BUT because Allah says so.'

That really says it all.
Case closed,last person to leave turn the lights out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w&feature=fvw

Those worried about the way in which religion affects human rights might like to visit:

http://www.stop-stoning.org/
http://www.ex-muslim.org.uk/

It seems to me that there are innumerable people willing to be controlled by religious or other arcane behavioural systems.

What, for example is the earthly point in taking part in mindless rituals? They serve absolutely no logical purpose other than to demonstrate inclusion. Formulaic repetition, empty words and actions, mumbled apologies and oaths, arguably have little value otherwise - in my humble opinion. Not eating during the hours of daylight for 30 days, but gobbling down food after nightfall being a fairly good example.

However, I defend to the hilt Medhi Hassan's absolute right to do what he wishes, within reason. But why stop there? Perhaps stand on one leg between 10am and midday whistling 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' as a homage to the banishment of misery? What harm can it do?

After all it's not only Anglicans, Catholics and a raft of seemingly needy others who regularly appear to diminuish their own common sense by attaching value to these dubious notions of symbolic importance.

The magnificently royal Duke of Kent and his happy band of stealthily silent Freemasons, for example, dress up in constumes bearing all manner of jewellery and grandiose insignia, attach nooses to themselves, brandish malletts and gaily hop around coffins on a chequerboard - like dimented chessmen. Keeps them off the streets I suppose...

Mehdi Hasan
"I'm fed up with this. I'm off down Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese for a pint and a packet of pork scratchings."

FINALLY RESPONDS WITH AN INTELLIGENT ANSWER.I SUPPOSE THAT RESPONSE JUSTIFY'S HIS SALARY.
Allah will punish him later.

Max, felix et al .. you are a bunch of sad wankers who have nothing better to do. step away from the pc and 'get a life'. May be you should think about a trip to a local brothel, get laid & get rid of the hate and stress, that is built inside you both.

Stop taking job seekers allowance, jerking off on webcams, posting comments on the net and get a real job.

live n let live ...

adios

felix
13 August 2010 at 15:42

1R4M

"I'm gonna stop typing before I pass out from hunger..."

A whole month when Muslims are basically economically and socially dysfunctional,has anyone one done a study on the cost of that lack of productivity to the country?

I see sarcasm is totally wastend on you

I think this is an excellent piece, which addresses the most commonly asked questions about Ramadhan.It is written in a fresh way, it is fun and light-hearted (unlike other artcles about this subject)and so is enjoyable to read, and very informative too! Well done,Mehdi ;)

Looks like the two dimwits max & felix are their usual obnoxious selves...

Why do you two keep stalking Medhi's blog? Do you two
losers have no life?

Great article...too bad the atheists had to show up (as usual) and spew their unsolicited opinions. It's odd how people so dedicated to the eradication of proselytizing and belief insist on telling every person they meet how to be saved and redeemed with absolute fealty to Saint Dawkins.

Anyway...

I'm not Muslim, but when I studied Islam a few years back, I decided to fast; first of all to understand the effects and the commitment involved, secondly because the author that had piqued my interest in the first place spoke of it in glowing terms - he even said he was tempted to keep fasting after the 30 days were up. (For the record, it was Dave Sim. He's since devolved into an odd mashup of white Muslim Canadian and Wall Street Journal-reading, Israel-worshiping neocon. Oh well.)

I was under the impression meat and dairy were also forbidden...no idea why but it added to the overall experience. So did the lack of beer and cigarettes, obviously. I'd recommend it to anyone regardless of their beliefs; I felt more aware, sharper and less "under water" after the first week and whatever urges I had to indulge in "just one smoke" or "just a little bong hit" passed shortly after. Good times.

Wether it was on the streets of Belfast in the early eighties or the dirt roads of sangin, you would find those who would harm you and those who would be kind to you. A cup of tea appearing from a doorway as we cleared a street in Belfast or a cup of water in sangin, made you believe in humanity. Understanding one another takes great effort, this article, however imperfect, is an example of that effort.

"Let the Muslims fast.Those who want to fast can fast they way they like. Those who do not want to fast so be it...[etc]" nawawimohamad

Who is trying to stop them then? Who cares actually...

@Aliya. "As a Muslim, I feel we should be sympathetic and kind to everyone, in order to encourage people to ask questions and invite them to be curious". Aliya - as a human being, I feel we should be sympathetic and kind to everyone. Manners are not only reserved for muslims, Id like to think non muslims also pride themselves on having good manners. If you agree with this then do you not have a duty to disagree with every other comment on here that has displayed rudeness or ignorance?

@The_Pair I infer from your comment that only fasting stops you from drinking, smoking, eating meat, etc. I would say this is morally and maybe intellectually wrong, I mean to only do moral things because some religion does it and not from your own conscious? I am an Atheist and I have been a vegetarian from the age of 13 and then turned vegan at the age of 19. I don't drink or smoke, these all come from my own rational conclusions of living a moral life.

If I only did these things because I was told to by some ancient text I doubt my conviction to do them would be so strong.

"@Elizabeth Boring? Check...Hackneyed platitudes? Check
Kudos. Although I am a tad disappointed that you didn't work in a reference to sky-fairies" Blueberry Cream.

You are of course disinclined or unable to answer even one of the points I raised, following your fairly witless assertions. You doubtless prefer to descend into 'clevver' minimalist repetition - a common device among those attempting to defend the indefensible. Do prolong the 'sky-fairy' thing. It's hilarious.

'Alexandra' - always consult widely. It seems as if a common mistake among the chattering pious is that they only tend to read the material they want to see - perhaps to ensure self-preservation and to prolong the escape from reality.

Have you never read an article that you either disagreed with or wished to comment on?

I agree that, sadly, some contributors here trumpet their ignorance by advertising their limited vocabulary through thenuse of expletives. But please do not deny others the right to comment publicly, in the way that garrulous Christians so often do.

@ Felix
'Do not think that a well placed minority cannot produce an inordinate amount of influence'

Are you referring to the NS? By my count I have four op/ed journalists with an Islamic bent. That seems to be quite a high proportion.
Before the accusations of Islamaphobia come in, I'd be saying exactly the same thing about any religion. The NS is not a religious magazine as far as I am aware, but the columns devoted to religion, and Islam in particular, seems out of all proportion.

Medhi Hassan,

Since its Ramadam, I personally would like to share these rather comical verses in the hadiths with you and Yo Zushi.

Tabari I:321 "When Eve became heavy with her first pregnancy, Satan came to her before she gave birth and said, "Eve, what is that in your womb?" She said, "I do not know." He asked, "Where will it come out from - your nose, your eye or your ear?"
She replied, "I do not know."

Tabari I:299 "It was the cover of finger nails that had kept their secret parts concealed."

Tabari II:78 "And everything that heard him (Allah)- stones, trees, hills and dust said, "Here I am Allah, here I am."

Bukhari V6B61N550
"The prophet said, "It is a bad thing some of you say, "I have forgotten such-and-such verse of the Quoran." For truly, I have been caused by Allah to forget it. So you must keep on reciting the Quoran because it escapes faster than a runaway camel."

Tabari I:299 "Scholars of the nation of our prophet say, "The tree which Allah forbade Adam and his spouse to eat was wheat."

With that hope you and Yo Zushi still have a happy fasting

thanks for the post, it helps me to understand a little bit.
okay no food and drinks, but no water? one would get dehydrated in say sahara region so easily. and also, no sex? the love between a man and a woman is one of the most beautiful thing.... i am sure god would love to see a man and his belove celebrate being together????

Mehdi

@Des Demona

You are a strange obsessive chap, aren't you?

N0. I'm. Not.Don't. Be. Silly.
Now give it a rest. lol

Mehdi, some people are going to disagree with you. Does that mean I'm obsessive? I don't know, but bear in mind it's not me continually posting articles that cause disagreement. Possibly that relates to the 'polemical' in your byline?

These days a comment like Ant's in a post about Islam is enough to bring tears to the eye. So used have we become to comment sections on articles on these subjects being filled with invective.

Also to the scholar of Hadith posting above, im pretty sure the bible says that all the trees of the field shall clap their hands when the bridegroom arrives...

Mehdi, its 11am and I am struggling.

As I promised on Twitter, here is my poem, ENJOY!

The hours long,
The hours of daylight,
The hours of fasting, the lips dry,
The stomach grumbles,
But you don't give in, you struggle on.

I respect the discipline,
30 days of denial,self control,
30 days of facing the intense heat,
30 days of purging yourself, to purify,
Ramadan Muburak, Barakallah fik!

I'm an atheist so the spiritual stuff is white noise to me. But Ramadan is a good exercise in social solidarity with the poor and hungry, and good a exercise in discipline.

I agree with Dorian. Quite why an organ which trumpets the values of progressiveness and reason should be celebrating medieval superstition is a mystery. If David Cameron took to festooning himself in velvet and performing the Macarena in Parliament Square in ritualistic homage to some Old Etonian custom,, Mehdi would be the first to herald this as proof of a tendency towards irrationality that disqualifies him from consideration as a serious public figure.

Read The God Delusion, Mehdi. It might do you some good.

''You are a strange obsessive chap, aren't you? ''

Medhi Hassan talking about himself. HE'S the one who is obsessed about his dopey mohamad religion.

And that is that.

Ramadan Karim. I read Mehdi's blogs. Usually, people commit to Ad hominen, irrelevant points rather than destroying Mehdis arguments. Mehdi is a smart gentleman, in my view. Your enquiries answered is a good step to get rid of the misunderstanding about Islam, hence, you well said there and thanks to you. Cheers.