Immediately is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, also called the Christian Ramadan. Or possibly Ramadan is the Muslim Lent? It depends upon whom you’re speaking to, which is an issue for me. As a comic whose fan base is half Christian and half Muslim, and as a Catholic convert whose Muslim buddies are sometimes attempting to win my soul for Islam, I’ve needed to be taught loads to maintain all this straight. So in the present day I’m joyful to go my years of knowledge onto you.
Let’s begin with Lent. It’s the Christian season of fasting, penance, prayer, and good deeds noticed by Catholics, Jap Orthodox and Protestants who’re pretending to be Catholic or Orthodox. It lasts for 40 days, resulting in Easter Sunday, after we rejoice Jesus’ resurrection and return to our unhealthy habits till subsequent yr.
The observance of Lent goes all the best way again to an historical Catholic doc often known as “the Bible,” which tells the story of Jesus fasting for 40 days within the wilderness whereas being tempted by Devil to run for president. If you happen to don’t stay close to any wilderness, that’s O.Ok. Devil is more than pleased to return to you.
Lent lasts for 40 days, resulting in Easter Sunday, after we rejoice Jesus’ resurrection and return to our unhealthy habits till subsequent yr.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, so named as a result of we obtain ashes on our brow to remind us to “repent and imagine within the Gospel” or to “bear in mind that you’re mud, and to mud you shall return.” If you happen to neglect this message, you can even simply activate the information.
So what are the foundations in the present day? Historically, Catholics have been to abstain from meat and solely eat 1 regular meal and a pair of small meals per day throughout Lent, which for People comes out to round 4,000 energy. In different phrases, the fasting is organized round quantity and sort. Catholics can, nonetheless, eat fish, a loophole that I assume was invented by the disciples who made their dwelling promoting fish.
If this sounds stricter than you might be used to, it may be as a result of the bishops in your nation determined solely to use these guidelines to Ash Wednesday and the Fridays throughout Lent. This appears affordable to me, as making issues simpler is why Catholicism is doing so nicely in America.
A standard people devotion is to select one thing private to surrender throughout Lent, like chocolate, espresso or religion in democracy. However be artistic! For instance, Judas gave up Jesus, I gave up being Protestant, and regardless of all of his guarantees on the contrary, Rick Astley gave up you.
Be artistic! For instance, Judas gave up Jesus, I gave up being Protestant, and regardless of all of his guarantees on the contrary, Rick Astley gave up you.
After all, you will need to keep in mind that Lent shouldn’t be a secular establishment. It isn’t about you. It’s about God. It’s about self-denial, not self-improvement. That’s the reason this yr I’m proud to announce a Lent-themed board sport that I invented the place you advance one sq. for every single day you could possibly have died however didn’t. (It’s only a calendar.)
Now on to the Muslims. The very first thing to recollect is that Muslims don’t like studying phrases like “now on to the Muslims” in Catholic publications, so please attempt to keep away from that.
Not like each different minority group in America, Muslims don’t have a vacation that lets white folks get drunk. Germans have Oktoberfest, Mexicans have Cinco de Mayo and Irish folks have breakfast.
Muslims, then again, have Ramadan, a 30-day interval within the Islamic calendar filled with fasting and prayer the place Muslims abstain from meals, water and reserving me for exhibits. You’ll typically see it spelled “Ramazan.” For enjoyable, ask an ethnically numerous group of Muslims which is appropriate after which again away slowly as an argument breaks out.
Not like each different minority group in America, Muslims don’t have a vacation that lets white folks get drunk. Germans have Oktoberfest, Mexicans have Cinco de Mayo and Irish folks have breakfast.
It was within the holy month of Ramadan that Muslims imagine the Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Ramadan begins at first of the ninth month within the Islamic calendar, the date of which depends upon bodily observance of the moon. This implies it begins on a distinct day every year, typically shifting one week earlier in order that Muslims will present up on time.
Muslims don’t obtain ashes on their foreheads. As a substitute, they need to earn the mark praying salat 5 occasions a day for many years. The tip result’s a prayer bump often known as a “zabiba,” which appears an identical to the ashes we Catholics obtain. And when you concentrate on it, isn’t it stunning that regardless of our variations we’ve a shared approach of exhibiting off how pious we’re?
Not like Catholics, Muslim fasting is restricted by time, not quantity. Each day Muslims have a pre-dawn meal referred to as suhur, after which don’t have any meals or water all day till iftar, the night feast. In addition they abstain from cigarettes, foul language and speaking about folks behind their backs, which is one thing my good friend Sultan at all times does. Muslims are additionally anticipated to abstain from intercourse throughout Ramadan to provide Christian birthrates a while to catch up.
It is very important keep in mind that identical to with Christians, not each Muslim is required to quick. There are exceptions for well being, age, means and different bodily circumstances, which is why throughout Lent and Ramadan sensible folks observe an historical observe often known as “minding your individual enterprise.”
After all, when you’re not Muslim, you are able to do what I do: Skip all of the fasting and be a part of your Muslim buddies for iftar. However ensure you say it’s since you’re “being a very good ally” or “doing interfaith work,” even when it’s actually all in regards to the biryani, chapli kabob, samosas, kanafa and gulab jaman.
And no matter your faith, bear in mind this: 5 years from now, in 2026, the start of Lent falls on the identical day as the start of Ramadan. Who will quick essentially the most? Who will say essentially the most prayers? Who will give essentially the most to the poor? Begin practising now as a result of the winner will get my soul.
Correction: This text said incorrectly that Ramadan begins with Eid-al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr marks the tip of Ramadan. The sentence “Or possibly Ramadan is the Christian Lent?” was corrected to learn “Or possibly Ramadan is the Muslim Lent?”
