Ramadhan: Reap the benefits of moderation

The Sultanate of Oman is observing the first day of the holy month of Ramadhan on Thursday along with other GCC countries. The day is the beginning of the month-long fasting among Islamic believers.

Religious scholars urged all believers to observe fasting and to reap the benefits of the month both physical and mental while remaining moderate in action and engagement with material things.

Ali al Hattali, Head of Religious Preaching at the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs (MoARA) said the blessed month of Ramadhan is considered one of the most important months in the life of a Muslim. Muslims need to recondition themselves to the lessons of Ramadhan, which is modesty.

However, people tend to accumulate food of all kinds and cook a large amount of food, wasting most of them.

“A believer should not focus only on eating in Ramadhan, but on acts of worship and alms and zakat, from which a Muslim gets a reward. Fasting, abstinence from wrong thoughts, evil speech and acts, recitation of Holy Quran, giving zakat, helping each other and the like,” Al Hattali said.

As to the health benefits, Dr Benny Panakkal, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist and Medical Director, Badr al Samaa Group of Hospitals, shared his understanding that the month-long fasting has immense benefits to mankind and one shouldn’t miss the golden opportunity but those who are on medication should take precautions.

Those who are on long-term medications are advised to consult a physician before making any adjustments in medication or dietary plans during Ramadhan because Muslims on long-term medications may need to adjust their medications, especially diabetic medications to avoid side effects and treatment failure due to improper use.

“Certain groups of people who have highly uncontrolled diabetes or severe organ failure are advised to abstain from fasting. Others who are taking twice daily medications can take their physician’s opinion on converting it to a single daily dosage after iftar. All other medications which have to be taken twice can be taken during suhoor and iftar,” says Dr Mohammed Mirvaz, a Specialist internist at Al Salama Polyclinic.

During Ramadhan, oral medicines like insulin injections, inhalers, suppositories, or eye/ear drops are usually not permitted. Diabetes patients have to be vigilant about hypoglycaemia which is a dangerous complication.