WORRY AMONG MUSLIM LEADERS AS HEATWAVES AFFECT RAMADHAN

Abdulaziz Qaasim Amin Alkury, the Deputy District Khadi Arua Muslim district while giving his advice to the Muslim faithful on how to go through the season of Ramadhan.

By Godwin Abedican
 
Arua
 
Muslim leaders are expressing worries and concerns over the impact of the current heat waves on the ongoing season of Ramadan among the Muslim faithful.
 
The Muslims across the world began their 30 days of Ramadhan symbolized by a fasting on Saturday March 1, 2025 and this time it comes in the wake of rising temperatures and excessive heat causing fears on how a number of Muslims may manage their fasting.
 
Abdulaziz Qaasim Amin Alkury, the Deputy District Khadi Arua Muslim district says that, the Muslims must look at this challenge positively and continue with what they are called to do in faith.
 
“The season is very dry and very hot. There are people who cannot afford a meal in a day. I therefore recommended all the Muslims not to think for themselves and their families only, but also to look at the neighbors around and their needs. Let us avoid doing what is Islam or Ramadan doesn’t allow for the sake of allah” he appealed.
 
Meanwhile, Drate Yasin Jaffar, the Secretary Social Services office of the District Khadi Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Arua Muslim district calls upon those whose health is greatly affected by the heat waves not to insist on fasting.
 
“It is a challenge because if you look at the heatwaves right now, it is really very hard and looking at the conditions of fasting where a person starts to fast from morning to sun set without even drinking water and yet health experts have said that at least one must take a lot of water during this heat waves, many are going to face challenges. I will advise my fellow Muslims that if one feels that it is very much and affecting their health, it is good to break it.  It’s actually advised that you must not continue fasting, No. But still this is a command from Allah and also a blessing from Allah despite these challenges of the heatwave,” Drate advised.
 
Drate Yasin Jaffar, the Secretary Social Services
office of the District Khadi Uganda Muslim
Supreme Council Arua Muslim district speaking to radio Pacis.
 
Sharing his experience with other colleagues who are taking part in the fasting, Dratele Hamid, a Muslim narrates that a number of his colleagues have had a negative impact of the heat during this year’s fasting.
 
“There is a very big difference in this year’s fasting compared to the past. Currently the temperatures are very high though as a boda-boda rider I didn’t feel it much because in most cases I am riding. If you see the current sunshine and relate it to the previous ones, this one is a bit higher. A number of my colleagues are complaining, that’s why you see some of them sitting or lying down in shades during the day instead of working. It is Allah’s commandment as per our faith to fast and we need to be strong. It’s not our will but Allah’s will and we shall have to bear because Allah will reward us according to what we are doing,” Hamid said in an interview with radio Pacis.

Agua Farida, a Muslim expressing a point.

However, according to Agua Farida, a practicing Muslim, much as the heatwaves are terribly high, individual Muslims need to understand the reasons for fasting amid such challenges.
 
“It’s Allah that gives Baraka for this period of time and every time when you have the belief Allah makes his own ways. It depends on the faith of each individual. For me I am faithful that I can make it through. It’s not that you go throughout the day and night fasting and getting dehydrated. By the time you are breaking your fast, you must have enough drinks and also when you wake up at dawn to have your Suhur or Dakur, you should be able to take a lot of fluids and it keeps you going. When you are faithful there is a way things look light for you. We should know the benefits of this month of Ramadan so that one can easily push through,” Agua expressed.
  
Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths and can exacerbate underlying illnesses including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health, asthma, and can increase the risk of accidents and transmission of some infectious diseases.
 
If one is fasting during a heatwave, it is important to drink enough to adequately hydrate before you fast and follow the guidance on keeping cool and preventing dehydration. People with underlying health conditions should seek medical advice before fasting.