Hawzah News Agency (Lancashire, UK) – A non-Muslim teacher in Lancashire is fasting for the entire month of Ramadan to show support to her Muslim students who are taking their GCSE’s, Lancashire Telegraph reported.
“My students respect that I am fasting to support them this month even though it is not my religion,” Catherine Coulthard, a business teacher at Pleckgate High School, said.
“Lots of students across Year 11 are fasting whilst they are focused on their exams which are over 90 minutes long, some as long as two and a half hours.
“It’s nice to see students from each year group giving it a go, some for the first time.”
Catherine said her students and their families have been incredibly appreciative of her efforts.
“I had a lovely couple come to me at the end of parents evening and offer to bring food back to school for me that night,” she said.
“I was shocked at their generosity and they seemed thrilled that I was giving this a go. “This is what they do every year, so I don’t think of it being a big deal me having a go for the first time.”
The experience of the first time fasting was inspiring to Catherine.
“I knew going without food wouldn’t be a problem, but I hadn’t realized just how much I miss having a drink. It makes you really appreciate that all we have to do is turn the tap on or go to the fridge and grab a drink.
“It must be awful living in much warmer climates than ours and having to go for days without clean, cold drinks.”
There are other incidents where many non-Muslims have shown a strong passion for the month of Ramadan, and many of them chose to join Muslims in observing the month of fasting.
There is also a case of Nick Watson, a long-term British expatriate in the Emirates, having lived there for 20 years, and did not miss a single Ramadan.
In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint, and good deeds.
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