Ghada, hello again, just so you have a little background info I will tell you that I currently live in Berlin, my wife is Turkish and her family are still Alibi Muslims (non practicing at best). However because of the reported, Qurans promise of blessings to those who take part in Ramadan they too fast for thirty days. Which brings me to my point of question, it has been reported that within countries and or areas where Muslims shop for food the sales are never as high as during the month of Ramadan.
If in deed the Muslim fast is supposed to help you understand those who do not have food to eat how does a feast before sunrise and after sunset fulfill this? And as far as physically healthy or physically beneficial I would also question the body’s benefit of working to digest food during hours of sleep. I know that there are truly people who desire a closer relationship to God who are truly blessed by their spiritual stuffing if you will, during the month of Ramadan. But if the majority of Muslims perform their Ramadan fasting ritual as I observe here in my majority Muslim neighborhood, then I question if it is any thing more then a ritual?
When we speak of fasting for 21 days or 40 days or one week or even day, I believe we are referring to 24-hour periods, i.e. 21 days, not 21 times 8 to 10 hours.
God bless you, you seem to be a true seeker of God, may He reveal Himself to you in ways that you cannot explain in any other way then DEVINE REVELATION.
Brother Jerry- The Berlin Bear