Source: The Huffington Post

Salt Lake Tribune  |  By Peggy Fletcher Stack

Every day. For a month. From sunup to sundown. No food. No water.

No sweat?

No, plenty of sweat, especially this year.

With Utahns baking under energy-sapping, forehead-dripping, water-chugging temperatures, the state’s Muslims are swearing off that liquid life force during the heat of the day — and the morning, and the evening.

The annual 30-day fast known as Ramadan, one of Islam’s five pillars, began Tuesday (July 9) and requires that believers forgo food and drink. At this time of year, that means 15 hours of parched throats and unquenched thirst.

Exempt from fasting are pregnant or nursing mothers, prepubescent children and anyone with a medical condition. Anyone who is taking medication during the day should not fast, either.

“It is not meant to be detrimental to someone’s health,” said Anwar Arafat, the imam at Al-Noor Mosque near downtown Salt Lake City. “In fact, fasting for them is a sin.”

Beyond that, Arafat and other Muslim leaders encourage believers to stay near air conditioners and have minimal physical activity. Some build their vacation days around Ramadan, so they can nap or rest in the afternoon. They try to slow down and take it easy.

To read further and watch a slide show about Ramadan in different parts of the world, click here.