Ramadan just started ... bad timing for Algeria

Anyone know what the religious penalty for not observing Ramadan is? Hell fire in the next life?
In the present life, I would expect 40 million Algerians to be happy with delayed observance/temporary exemption?

Seriously I expect the game to be close ...... would hope it doesn't come down to players flagging due to lack of hydration.

 

Exodus 35:2
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

Do a lot of Christians work on a Sunday? Yes. Even devout Christians? Yes. Some choose not to, some are in no position to choose, they need to feed their family, some don't give it a second thought. Because we've all grown up with Christianity we've come to understand that just about every Christian interprets the teachings of the bible differently. Different aspects hold different levels of importance to different people.

For some reason we don't transfer our understanding of Christianity to that of Islam. Muslim's are people just like Christians. There seems to be a belief that they're brainwashed automatons, following the Quran to the letter, but they're not. For a start, that's impossible, it's full of contradictions, just like the bile. And, just like the bible, it's down to interpretation. Many Muslims have the same questions and doubts and pin differing levels of importance to different aspects of their own religion, just like many Christians.

Ramadan is an important month in the Islamic calendar, but there will be some Muslims who describe themselves thus who don't fast at all. Others will follow the idea in principle but because of their situation will bend the rules. Alcohol is banned under Islam, but many Muslims follow much of the other teachings but enjoy a drink. You can't say that means they're not Muslim any more than you can say someone who works on a Sunday or divorces and remarries is not a Christian.

We've got to stop thinking of Muslims as religious nut jobs who simply follow the word of a book, and realise they're people just like us. Otherwise we'll never get anywhere. They have the same doubts and fears and many of them will have a good meal and a drink before they play in an important world cup match. Whether they do or they don't, it shouldn't really be a news story. It's summat between them and their religion.

 

Nigeria are doing alright...

 

Bloke at work who is a devout Muslim told me it is between the individual and God, (yes he said God not Allah) At the time we were discussing a Bradford player, Zac Rehman I think, who didn't strictly follow the Fasting due to his football comittments.

 

Not so sure all Nigerian players are Muslim.

 

I'd say a fair few are. Same with some of the French and germany players as well.

 

Surely it depends on how they prepare. The players may have adjusted their lifestyle and had a meal at 7am and then gone to bed for 8 hours getting up at half 3 so by kixk off theyve only been awake for 90minutes.

 

Correct, Jay.

It was noticeable at work today that a few Muslim lads weren't in. They'd told me last week that they were having a couple of days off to focus on their fasting. They've been doing it for years and apparently a few days of focus gets them through the rest. Suppose it's like working nights, getting used to that.
But there were some other Muslim lads who were in today. They just sleep more in the day, to compensate for being up late at night eating. But they admitted they were struggling today to me. Don't think me describing what I'd just had for breakfast and what I was having when I got home helped, like. Or asking them if they were hungry every hour. They know what I'm like though. All power to em I say. I couldn't do it for a few days nemind a month.

But you're right about Muslims cherry picking certain aspects of their religion. A lot I know are devout to most extents. But the lads I spend most my time with are British born and they're usually the ones who don't pray 5 times a day, do drink alcohol, and take in water whilst at work. Cheating their religion? As you say, not really. I'm a Christian, but a lapsed one. I don't go to church except for Easter/Xmas. I work Sundays quite often (no choice). And I no doubt partake in many 'un' Christian activities. These things are all personable I suppose. Each to their own and that.

But yep, there are so many variants of Islam that it's quite insular to presume otherwise. Although going by the media and other mediums, it seems the majority of Britons apparently think all Muslims are extreme and radicalized.



PS - Is Islam the most discussed topic on the BBS?

 

So like Methodists going to the pub then, or Catholics eating meat and not fish on a Friday.

 

I hope you saved your money. They always seem to come through in the end.

 

Total wipeout. To make matters worse, I had Algeria in the office sweepstake. Lose lose.