By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net,
Srinagar: Amaan, Furqan and Azim are three close friends since childhood and live in a common neighbourhood. All of them are 11 years old, studying in their fifthstandard in three different schools in District Srinagar.
Round the year they don’t get to spend much time together due to cumbersome school timings and private tuition classes. But Ramadan have come like a blessing for them as their respective tuition teachers have considerably minimized the duration of their classes thus paving way for their reunion.
The main part of the story, however, is quite different from their reunion; all the three friends at such a tender age are observing fast for the whole month in Ramadan since last three years.
These three friends caught my attention as I was passing by a roadside park on Eidgah road in Srinagar. All of them were in a thorough discussion with Miswaks (A herbal Chewing Stick used as a substitute to tooth brush) in their mouths. As I went closer and enquired about the topic of discussion, one of the friends, Amaan replied, “Bhaiya, hum discuss kr rehe the ki hum sab mai se pichle 3 saal ke Ramadan mai pure mahine kis ne roza rakhe hain (Brother, we were discussing that who among us is on the higher side in observing the fast for the whole month of Ramadan in the preceding years)”.
Amaan asserted that he has been observing fasts for the whole month since last three years. While Azim replied in the same tone and Furqaan said that he had missed some days in last year due to compulsion by his parents as he was suffering from cold and flu. All of them had come for a light stroll as they claimed that playing during fasting times leads to drain of energy.
When I tried to enquire about the reason behind the use of Miswak (the Herbal Chewing stick), Amaan replied, “Kyun ki Hamare Rasool Muhammad (SAWS) Miswak Istamal krte they. Isliye ye sunnah hai. Aur waise bhi Tooth paste mai chemicals aur namak hota hai jis se roza tootta hai. (Because Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) used Miswak, thus it is sunnah for Muslims to use it otherwise these tooth paste contains chemicals and salts if used leads to breakof fast”.
As the Azan for Asar prayers began on the loudspeakers of a nearby Mosque, all the three friends asked for my permission to leave for the prayers. I asked them to pose towards camera for a photograph which they willingly obliged. While leaving Amaan gave me an extra Miswak which he was carrying in his pocket.