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Islamic Fasting and Health: Difference between revisions
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{{QualityScore|Lead= | {{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=4|Content=4|Language=4|References=4}} | ||
<metadesc>Islamic fasting has significant harmful effects on health, national economy and productivity, crime rate, public safety and social behavior.</metadesc> | <metadesc>Islamic fasting has significant harmful effects on health, national economy and productivity, crime rate, public safety and social behavior.</metadesc> | ||
TNumerous adverse effects of [[Islam|Islamic]] [[fasting]] (''[[Sawm]]'') have been observed in [[Islam and Science|scientific]] studies and reported on in news sources. | |||
Intermittent and prolonged fasting is generally not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Depriving the body of water and essential nutrients by dividing and postponing meals to irregular intervals does nothing to limit consumption. In fact it causes a host of health, performance and mood disorders. Fasting is not normally prescribed for the well being of human beings. Instead, it is commonly understood that eating healthy, smaller-portioned meals, interspersed throughout the day is far better in maintaining a well-balanced diet and far more forgiving on a person's metabolism. Based on scientific studies, any claims that prolonged and intermittent fasting contributes to the well-being of an individual's health are misleading in relation to Ramadan. The only benefit of fasting that can be claimed, then, must be metaphysical. However, what is clear is that the practice has concrete and definite physical, social, and economic harms. | |||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
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*Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | *Breaking the fast at sunset and again eating and drinking to prepare for the day ahead. | ||
Some Muslims claim eating a small amount of food is the correct Islamic way. | Some Muslims claim eating a small amount of food is the correct Islamic way but this is culturally uncommon. | ||
==Effects on Health== | ==Effects on Health== | ||
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During Ramadan, Moslems are required strictly to avoid fluids and nourishment from dawn to sunset. Heat stress during such abstinence represents a substantial health hazard. In the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) where numerous Moslems, particularly of Turkish origin, perform heat work and other heavy labour, we observed moderate to severe health disturbances in such labourers during Ramadan, e.g.: '''tachycardia, severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and circulatory collapse'''. The '''severe dehydration''' of these workers was demonstrated by substantial increases in their hematocrit, serum protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid and electrolyte imbalance. Because of the evidence of the substantial health hazard to Islamic workers in such situations, we have strongly urged employers to refrain from assigning Islamic workers to heat work or heavy daytime work during Ramadan; we have therefore limited systematic studies of health problems during Ramadan to persons performing only moderate work. Even under these conditions signs of dehydration were found in the 32 labourers monitored. Some of these labourers also had to interrupt their observance of Ramadan due to health problems, e.g.: acute gout due to serum uric acid increase, or circulatory insufficiency. In light of the observed potentially harmful pathophysiological effects, the danger of dehydration of Islamic workers due to heat work during Ramadan should be taken very seriously.<ref>Schmahl FW, Metzler B, "The health risks of occupational stress in Islamic industrial workers during the Ramadan fasting period", Polish Journal of Occupational Medicine 1991 4:3 219-28</ref>}} | During Ramadan, Moslems are required strictly to avoid fluids and nourishment from dawn to sunset. Heat stress during such abstinence represents a substantial health hazard. In the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) where numerous Moslems, particularly of Turkish origin, perform heat work and other heavy labour, we observed moderate to severe health disturbances in such labourers during Ramadan, e.g.: '''tachycardia, severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and circulatory collapse'''. The '''severe dehydration''' of these workers was demonstrated by substantial increases in their hematocrit, serum protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid and electrolyte imbalance. Because of the evidence of the substantial health hazard to Islamic workers in such situations, we have strongly urged employers to refrain from assigning Islamic workers to heat work or heavy daytime work during Ramadan; we have therefore limited systematic studies of health problems during Ramadan to persons performing only moderate work. Even under these conditions signs of dehydration were found in the 32 labourers monitored. Some of these labourers also had to interrupt their observance of Ramadan due to health problems, e.g.: acute gout due to serum uric acid increase, or circulatory insufficiency. In light of the observed potentially harmful pathophysiological effects, the danger of dehydration of Islamic workers due to heat work during Ramadan should be taken very seriously.<ref>Schmahl FW, Metzler B, "The health risks of occupational stress in Islamic industrial workers during the Ramadan fasting period", Polish Journal of Occupational Medicine 1991 4:3 219-28</ref>}} | ||
Naturally | Naturally this would affect productivity, as is evidenced in a later section on Economical effects. | ||
===Weight Fluctuation=== | ===Weight Fluctuation=== | ||
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==Economic Effects== | ==Economic Effects== | ||
As some of the above studies | As some of the above studies establish, fasting can cause dehydration, sleep disorders and other harmful affects. Naturally all of this would affect productivity and the national economy. Those living in Muslim majority nations can readily feel the effects of stagnation that accompanies the month of Ramadan. In such places, it is a month that is marked by very low productivity. When the entire population of a country observes fasting during the time they are at work, it is inevitable that they will suffer a significant loss in general productivity. In a survey carried out by Cairo’s Institute of Social Sciences of the Arab World it is found that the productivity of Arab businesses during the month of Ramadan dropped by a staggering 78%: | ||
{{Quote||During Ramadan, the productivity of Arab businesses drops by 78%. The essential factors? Fewer work hours, absenteeism, and sick leave. (...) The figures are included in a survey carried out by Cairòs Institute of Social Sciences of the Arab World which was printed today by 'Leaders', a Tunisian website. (ANSAmed)<ref name="ANSA">[http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS280US281&q=%28ANSAmed%29+-+Tunis%2C+September%2C3+++During+Ramadan%2C+the+productivity+of+Arab+businesses+drops+by+78%25.+The+essential+factors%3F+Fewer+work+hours%2C+absenteeism%2C+and+sick+leave.&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Ramadan: Productivity of Arab Businesses Drops by 78%] - ANSAmed, September 3, 2009 (''[http://www.ansamed.info/en/news/[email protected] original URL]'')</ref>}} | {{Quote||During Ramadan, the productivity of Arab businesses drops by 78%. The essential factors? Fewer work hours, absenteeism, and sick leave. (...) The figures are included in a survey carried out by Cairòs Institute of Social Sciences of the Arab World which was printed today by 'Leaders', a Tunisian website. (ANSAmed)<ref name="ANSA">[http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS280US281&q=%28ANSAmed%29+-+Tunis%2C+September%2C3+++During+Ramadan%2C+the+productivity+of+Arab+businesses+drops+by+78%25.+The+essential+factors%3F+Fewer+work+hours%2C+absenteeism%2C+and+sick+leave.&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Ramadan: Productivity of Arab Businesses Drops by 78%] - ANSAmed, September 3, 2009 (''[http://www.ansamed.info/en/news/[email protected] original URL]'')</ref>}} | ||
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{{Quote||I couldn't concentrate in school. I had nasty heart burn all morning, because we'd wake up at an ungodly hour to gorge! [...] There are many women in my life and some of them are extremely old with various medical conditions. They all feel compelled to fast. It drives me insane!<ref>[http://nimbu.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/its-a-strange-ramadan/ It’s a strange Ramadan] - Blog from Nimbu, a former Muslim, September 14, 2007</ref>}} | {{Quote||I couldn't concentrate in school. I had nasty heart burn all morning, because we'd wake up at an ungodly hour to gorge! [...] There are many women in my life and some of them are extremely old with various medical conditions. They all feel compelled to fast. It drives me insane!<ref>[http://nimbu.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/its-a-strange-ramadan/ It’s a strange Ramadan] - Blog from Nimbu, a former Muslim, September 14, 2007</ref>}} | ||
== | ==Apologetic Arguments== | ||
#'''''"Most of the evidence provided is from newspaper articles. Not very scientific is it?"'''''<br>The majority of evidence for the harms of Ramadan fasting come directly from the conclusions of scientific studies | #'''''"Most of the evidence provided is from newspaper articles. Not very scientific is it?"'''''<br>The majority of evidence for the harms of Ramadan fasting come directly from the conclusions of scientific studies | ||
#'''''"Muslims do not fast in Ramadan so they can be healthy. They fast because Allah commanded them to."'''''<br>This is true. | #'''''"Muslims do not fast in Ramadan so they can be healthy. They fast because Allah commanded them to."'''''<br>This is true. Yet many Muslim [[Du'aah]] attempt to justify this unhealthy practice by claiming it is healthy | ||
#'''''"Islam is just one of numerous religions (Hinduism, Christianity, Catholicism etc.) that prescribe fasting for its people."'''''<br>This claim is true, but also very disingenuous. Rules vary but fasting in Christianity is not compulsory, nor is it expected to be a complete fast, meaning Christians generally reduce (not stop) their intake of food, and also drink freely during fasts. This is perfectly healthy and not comparable to the Islamic sawm. Similarly in Hinduism, fasting is a part of the religion, but individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on their personal beliefs and local customs.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting|2=2013-03-14}} Fasting] - Wikipedia, accessed March 14, 2013</ref> This argument is also a logical fallacy known as ad hominem tu quoque, meaning it is not a valid defense of Islamic fasting, but a diversion from the main point. | #'''''"Islam is just one of numerous religions (Hinduism, Christianity, Catholicism etc.) that prescribe fasting for its people."'''''<br>This claim is true, but also very disingenuous. Rules vary but fasting in Christianity is not compulsory, nor is it expected to be a complete fast, meaning Christians generally reduce (not stop) their intake of food, and also drink freely during fasts. This is perfectly healthy and not comparable to the Islamic sawm. Similarly in Hinduism, fasting is a part of the religion, but individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on their personal beliefs and local customs.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting|2=2013-03-14}} Fasting] - Wikipedia, accessed March 14, 2013</ref> This argument is also a logical fallacy known as ad hominem tu quoque, meaning it is not a valid defense of Islamic fasting, but a diversion from the main point. | ||