GABRIELLE Elananza is an Irish Catholic who fasts with her Muslim husband during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting which began around the world yesterday.
"The first day it takes a while to get used to the fasting but after that it is easy. It takes a lot of discipline and teaches you not to take food for granted because there are a lot of people who do not have the surpluses that we have. It also helps you keep your weight down," she said.
She and her Jordanian husband Azzam, who live in Clondalkin were at prayer in the mosque in Dublin last night - she was with the women, he with the men. Food, drink, cigarettes and sex are forbidden between sunrise and sunset during the 30 days of Ramadan and prayer lasts longer.
"In Jordan, no Christian would smoke a cigarette on the street out of respect but in Ireland we do not really expect the people to change for 5,000 or 10,000 Muslims. But our friends would know about our fasting and would not eat or drink in front of us," said Azzam.
Ramadan is one of 12 months of the Islamic lunar calendar so the starting date varies each year by about 11 days. The fasting begins the day after the first sighting of the new moon. According to Mr Muhammad O'Curnain, of the Islamic Centre, the new moon was born at 12.50 p.m. on Saturday and a sighting of the new crescent confirmed at 5.45 p.m. Fasting began at sunrise yesterday morning.
"It is easy enough in this country because the period of fasting is quite short. We stopped eating at 6.30 a.m. today and began again at 4.50 p.m. and it is cold so you are not thirsty," said Mr O'Curnain, an Englishman born to Irish parents. He became a Muslim six years ago.
He said Ramadan was not only about abstaining from food, drink and sex, but also from negative thoughts about others. He said ill will in the heart negated any benefit of fasting.