(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) "It was when I was six," Ziyaudeen Ahamed said recollecting his first day of fast. Right from the age he understood about the holy month of Ramadan, Ziyaudeen Ahamed wanted to fast and devote himself to Allah.
Ahamed had tried to fast when he was only five but his parents didn't give consent.
"My parents said I was too small and told me to wait until I turned at least seven," said the native of Chidambaram in Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Ahamed, however, didn't want to wait that long and found his own way to fast.
"It was when I was six," Ahamed said recollecting his first day of fast.
"I used to wake up early and have light food. I would then continue my fast. It was very tiring and challenging. However, my parents soon came to know about this and told me to end fast. I didn't give up that time and continued fasting for three days. It was after the second day that my parents stopped being concerned. However, the next day, they told me my three days of fasting at age of six is equal to 30 days in eyes of Allah and that I needn't go any further."
He ended his fast after three days but became confident about fasting for the entire month for next Ramadan. And at age of seven, Ahamed's father, who worked in Saudi Arabia, was with him for the entire month.
"He used to guide me as to how it should be done. He told me about the significance and meaning of the month of Ramadan."
About going to school, Ahamed said: "I used to take leave for a day or two. It is not always that you have father home for Ramadan month and Eid festival. Otherwise, it was a bit challenging."
Ahamed elaborated as to how his family would observe the holy month in a pious manner.
"We never used to go out for fun, entertainment, play and all the stuff you usually see and associate with this holy month. This is a month of devotion, reading Quran, helping the needy etc. This is how we as a family used to observe our Ramadan month. This is how I observed my first entire month of fasting."
About fasting today, the 32-year-old said: "The UAE summer heat is very testing. At times, I have to work outside and it is very taxing. By 3pm, I will be exhausted but a prayer will energise me again. I enjoy doing this duty towards Allah."
Ashwani Kumar
MENAFN1606201700490000ID1095571998
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