I’ve done something so loopy today
I’m back to work. That meant going back to reality. That includes a) saying goodbye to my non-work indulgement the previous days; b) transferring to a new office; I was previously sharing the space with the IT Officer, now they want me to sit with the Legal Counsel (LC). Okay. Exciting; and c) hello to normal eating schedule. Ramadan is over so I am back to carrying chocolates in my bag. I just had cereals for breakfast today since there’ll be lunch on time anyway.
So my tummy growled at 1030am. Too early for lunch. Nothing to worry. I proudly pulled a maltesers’ pack from my bag. Opened it.
Me: (flashing my warmest smile convinced that at least a piece will be grabbed). You want some?
LC: No, thanks. I’m fasting!
Me: (Shocked. I stopped munching).
Me: Ramadan is over. Get some, please. (It’s our first day together. Creating first impressions, huh. I want to announce this early that I love chocolates. So LC won’t be surprised next time).
LC: Yeah. But I’m still fasting for the whole week.
Me: But why?
LC: It is good to fast in the next 6 days after the end of Ramadan. That’s much sacrifice. So that 6 days will be equivalent to 1 year of fasting. Allah, the God, will like that.
Me: (Feels so ignorant). I didn’t know that (smiling; I didn’t know if my reaction was reasonable. I really didn’t know that ‘6 days’ thing. I wanted to say, “uhum, I’ve done research pre-Ramadan. Nothing like that was mentioned”. But I chickened. Better to say less if you are not sure).
LC: Well, it’s like that.
Me: Sorry if I have offended you. You see, I’m not a Muslim but I also did fast last time. And I am afraid that I have offended you by offering something to bite.
LC: No. Go ahead. There’s no problem.
Me: No. I’ll fast with you.
LC: Why?
Me: Uhum, because… I don’t think it’s a good idea that I’m enjoying my chocolate and you’re not. Sort of… respect, you know.
LC: (Smiled)
Me: (Noticed the water on my desk). So, you won’t drink as well?
LC: That’s right (and smiled).
Me: Okay.
(And the unfinished pack of maltesers is back to my bag).
So on.
There’s no problem to be fasting again. If I survived a month-long fast, this one would be more manageable. I just felt so stupid. Talking about first impressions, huh. LC would probably give me a code of “Ms. Maltesers” and wanted to tell me, “ignorance of the law excuses no one, even if you have tempting maltesers in your hand”. And I would respond, “You’ve got to show me first in which part of the codal that is written. Or else, I won’t offer you anything next time.” Lol.
Update (October 6):
I can’t stand being loopy and did some research. Some of the Muslims are doing compensatory fasting and/or late fasting for the following reasons:
(a) Eating and drinking: If someone eats or drinks by mistake, or forgetting that he is fasting, or if he is forced to do so, his fasting remains valid and he is not required to compensate for that in any way.
(b) Vomiting: Involuntary vomiting does not require any compensation or later fasting.
(c) Menstruation and postnatal discharge: These invalidate fasting even if they start one minute before sunset.
(d) Deliberate ejaculation, whether through kissing and cuddling of one’s wife, or through masturbation. If ejaculation happens as a result of merely looking at a woman or day-dreaming, it does not invalidate fasting. It is considered in these cases in the same light as ejaculation during sleep.
(e) Eating something that is not nourishing such as swallowing a large quantity of salt is generally agreed to invalidate fasting.
(f) If during a day of fasting one intends to finish his fast, his fasting is no longer valid, even though he may not have had anything to eat or drink. Intention is an essential requirement of fasting. Therefore, if it is revoked by a new intention of breaking one’s fast, the fast is no longer valid.
(Source)
So, that explains.
hahaha…thats ok, you didn’t know. so one more week of no-maltesers for you! akin nalang!!! hehe
Hahhaa, I was laughing my heart out when I read this, okey, so one more week, Allah will like that! LOL!
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ako na lang ang bigyan mo ng maltesers!
PMs last blog post..Happy Birthday Babe
hahaha. ganun pala yon! may extension pa na one week. salamat sa pagshare mo atleast ngayon alam ko na hindi pala dapat alukin ng pagkain ang mga muslim dito sa office.
pero pwede bang ako nalang alukin mo ng chocolate? hehehe
blue roses last blog post..sayang na pagkakataon
That’s quite considerate of you to not eat the chocolate even though your office mate said it was ok. Anyway, it’s probably healthier to put off eating the chocolate.
Wils last blog post..A Day at the Park … and Bay
Odd. First time to hear about that kind of fasting. I don’t know which is predominant in UAE, She’ah or Sunni. Here, its Sunni and I never heard them mentioning about “extended” fasting. Anyway, IMO, She’ahs are a bit weird in their interpretation of the muslim faith.
BlogusVoxs last blog post..Buhay Buhangin (series# 10)
ahaha nkuhh di ko din alam un ate, pero kya ko matiis di kumain wag lang di uminom ahehe
Ang hirap talaga pag walang liquid intake.
Thanks for dropping by.
I want maltesers. Would you believe that there’s no maltesers here in the US..well, not so sure in other states but here in California, wala…kung meron man like 1 store in the whole California jurisdiction! Haaaay.
That’s what I miss in Saudi…the maltesers!!! lolz. But Ferrero Rocher, Lindt, Ghirardelli and See’s chocolates are relatively cheap. Even drugstores carry them.
Anyway, ang hirap nga ng walang liquid intake. No food is fine with me. But no water or any liquid…I’d die.
no maltesers po…so send me some..hehe..i’m just gonna buy some online maybe…
oh yeah, i love dates…my dad used to bring a box of it every time he goes home for from saudi. they sell those here pero iba parin ung galing sa middle east talaga…
rheas last blog post..the other side of the fence
Coming here from Ganda’s blog…
Wow, hats off to u for offering to fast with ur LC
Totoo nga naman, parang insensitive that while ur munching on maltesers e nagfafast ung isa.
But, pag ako din na chocoholic, baka mangisay ako. Hehehe… Phew!
Grabe! It’s so complicated!
If it’s also your intention to lose weight, will that invalidate your fasting?
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So, the real reason why your LC extend his fasting is he did at least one “no-no” from your list that makes his fast invalid. It has nothing to do with “sucking up” to God’s good side. In the contrary, his compensating for his mistake.
Bolero pala yang LC nyo, pati ikaw nakonsyensya tuloy. But in fairness, his just acting his rule as your Legal Councel. Lawyer nga!
BlogusVoxs last blog post..Buhay Buhangin (series# 10)
nah…it’s not loopy. it was an honest mistake on your part
how interesting. thanks for sharing Jo! its always nice to learn about new cultures
caryns last blog post..Cooking tips for the un-domestic diva
good karma yan!
Yep!
[...] second photo from down left)? If you’ve followed my recent posts, you probably have an idea that I was quasi-fasting last week. So before meeting up with them, I got home to slash my corporate attire and changed to a denim and [...]
God alone is real, nothing matters but love for God.
Now I know.
I’ve updated the post to include the possible reasons for the compensatory and/or late fasting.
No problem with one more week, heehee.
Sure! *sends you maltesers*
Game! *offers you chocolates*
I like the idea of being fair, as much as possible. I hope I can put off chocos. But I AM a chocolate lover.
Thanks for visiting.
I’ve updated the post. Did some research about compensatory fasting.
No maltesers there?????? Grabe! You’re missing a lot. Lol. Do you miss the dates from here? Masarap din. =) Lately ko lang natutunan kainin.
Sige, padalhan kita before christmas heehee. First time ko tumikim ng dates dito. Iba nga daw talaga pag galing Mid East.
i’m expecting a box of maltesers…ahehehehe. jowk!
rheas last blog post..the other side of the fence
Haha! Padalhan din kita ng almond & choco flavor dates.
I almost felt “nangingisay” sa gutom during the first week of Ramadan. Lol.
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I think so. The intention is a deal breaker.
Now I know, heehee.
Yep. I really didn’t know. Happy tuesday!
I’m surprised myself.