Reflections on Ramadan and the significance of fasting
'This is an exercise which teaches us that we should be doing more to serve humanity,' says Sultan Mahmood
As Muslims worldwide mark the holy month of Ramadan, we delve into what the religious practice means to some of the 125,000 Calgarians who celebrate it.
Fasting from dawn until dusk can mean going without food and water for three quarters of the day in Calgary.
"Usually, people are pretty surprised," said Syed Taha.
"They're like, 'How are you able to even survive? Eighteen hours without a single drop of water?'"
But the fasting is as much about empowerment as it is restriction, said Talha Ahmed.
"It shows us that you are able to accomplish much more than you think that you can."
In this video, hear from the Muslims who celebrate Ramadan as they share what it means to them, what it teaches them about themselves, and how those lessons stay with them long after Eid al-Fitr.