Experiment Phase 7

The days felt longer, but I was getting used to the whole cycle. The time gave me a chance to reflect on why I was doing what I was doing and form a more personal and intimate relationship to God, also known as Allah, who was new to me. I was able to demonstrate love and faith in Him and show my dedication by abstaining from all that is taken for granted (food, drink, sex, speech, action). It gave me the opportunity to learn about the laws of the Quran that people abide by and concentrate on the four other pillars of Islam (Faith - Shahada, Prayer - Salat, Charity - Zakat, Pilgrimage to Mecca - Hajj).

Photo Source: http://ymaonline.org/sites/default/files/pictures/ramadan-in-quran.jpg

Although I am not truly Muslim, I treated the holy book and religious tradition as if it were my own and held it close to my heart, praying seriously as everyone else did. By obeying, I was forced to control my desires, and devote every part of myself to God. If I could describe it in one phrase, I would say it felt like a purification period or a cleansing of all sins, like a baptism. It is a simple sacrifice to help earn a place in paradise, similar to a rite of passage. It taught me the definition of belief, discipline, benevolence, appreciation, patience, and wellbeing.

Photo Source: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/ramadan081712/s_r01_RTR35A9L.jpg