My first Ramadan: children in Dubai reflect on their first full fasting experience

Muslim children typically are not expected to fast during Ramadan until they reach puberty

Mazen Mohammed, 9, wanted to try his first full fast this Ramadan. Photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mazen reads the Quran at home in Mira, Dubai.

Mazen says many of his school friends are fasting this year too.

Jannat Khan, 8, reads her book on Arabic letters.

Jannat says she is glad she can join her parents in fasting during Ramadan.

Rayyan Mostafa, 9, performing his prayers at home in Dubai.

Like many children, Rayyan chose to observe a full fast this year.

On April 2, nine-year-old Mazen Mohamed woke to the first sunrise of Ramadan with a mission: to observe his first fast.

Despite his young age, Mazen was determined to try his first full fast this holy month after spending years watching older members of his family abstain from food and drink in dedication to their faith.

While he has experienced the odd bought of tiredness during the middle of the day, the South View School pupil said he is enjoying the challenge.

“This is my first time doing a full fast for Ramadan. Before, I would fast from sunrise to maybe lunchtime, but now I am doing it all the way until sunset,” he told The National.

“So far it has been good. I do sometimes get a little bit tired, but it’s weird because I actually feel like I have a lot of energy, especially just before Iftar.

“Actually, it surprised me because a lot of my friends in school are fasting too, so we get to share the experience together.”

Ramadan, a religious observance by Muslims, is the most sacred time in the Islamic calendar.

In most households it is spent renewing spirituality in the form of prayers, fasting, good deeds, reflection, charity and community service.

Muslim children typically aren't expected to fast during Ramadan until they reach puberty, but many try to practise it earlier, often encouraged by older siblings or relatives.

Mazen said he fasts because it helps him to understand how people who are underprivileged feel, people who can not afford daily meals.

“It helps me to learn patience and gratitude,” he said.

“I have a younger sister, she is three, so when she is older I can help her out when she comes to do her first fast.

“Waking up for Suhoor can be tiring but I really love to help set the table for Iftar and spend time breaking my fast with my family.”

Similarly, eight-year-old Jannat Khan chose this year to observe her first full fast.

Living in Mira Dubai, she said many of her neighbours and friends were fasting too, so she wanted to try it herself.

"Her grandmother told her that children usually try their first fast when they are a little older but she saw her friends at school fasting so she wanted to try it," said her father, Faraz Khan.

"I think it was a little hard for her experiencing hunger but she gave it a go."

With younger brothers and sisters, Jannat said they kept asking her why she wasn't eating, so she explained to them what she was doing.

"I only did it for one full day but it was in the school holidays so my brother asked why I was not eating," she said.

"I said you have to fast in Ramadan. We do it so we can feel what it is like for poor people who can not afford to eat every day.

"I found it fine. Maybe next year I will try more days."