so, we're coming up on the end of ramadan. i was going to write about this when ramadan started, but time flys when you're pulling 17 hour work days. anyways, i don't know how much you've heard about ramadan, but it's probably true. while the sun is up there is no: eating, drinking, smoking or looking at women. you can look at your wife, but that's it.
it is also a time to try to be a better muslim. be nicer to people, perform favors, all that good stuff. that's where my interest comes in. a few days before ramadan started, we got a brief on it. we don't drink or eat while out on patrol now for the sake of the iraqis who are fasting. but there was also a security aspect to it.
does being nicer to people include us? will insurgents say, "it's ramadan, i'll be a good muslim and not attack the Americans right now" or will they say, "it's ramadan, i'll be a good muslim and attack the Americans now." result? no change. they don't like us but are too scared to come out and play with us.
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Or, you could ask the very nice Muslim man that works/owns the store next to me...when I asked him how he does a fast every day for 40 days..no eating, drinking etc...he replied that "it is nothing compared to what those who are very sick or have nothing, go thru every day". He said he isn't particularly religious himself, but this is what he was brought up to do, to honor God, that it's just something you do. (that's one of the "nice guys" who just happens to be a Muslim!)
Mart,
The fast is from sunrise to sunset each day. It is not 29-30 days with no food or drink at all. There is a large meal in the marning before sunrise, a large meal after sunset, and a huge feast at the end of Ramadan.
Andrew,
There *may* be a greater security risk on "the night of power," one of the odd numbered nights during the last ten days of Ramadan. Some bad guys think that there is greater glory in comitting acts of Jihad on this night (although nobody knows for sure which night it is). Good luck with all that!
-Don
I know it's during daylight Donald. I guess I wasn't too clear on that! It's just that I can't see myself not eating the entire day in between, and especially no fluids during a hot day.
What's the "greater glory" on the odd night Don? Extra virgins? Plus, you know what I never got? If the guys in a jihad think they get the river of honey and the 72 virgins...what about those women that blow themselves up in the name of their cause get???
well, ramadan is basically over. i think 1 day left, maybe 2. supposedly the gates of heaven are open and the gates of hell are closed during ramadan. but apparently that's just a nice saying cause that doesn't mean everyone automatically goes to heaven. just better odds, i guess. so if you're gonna die for allah, nows the time.
then again, if you're gonna die for allah, we're always happy to oblige, no matter what month it is.
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