It’s the time of the year to purify the body and soul, refocus on Allah and practice self-restraint.
You have to refrain from evil thoughts, actions and words. It’s a time to forgive the people who did you wrong, get rid of bad habits and strengthen your family.
Fasting during this time is considered an act of worship.
In addition, as more emphasis is put on the Quran during the holy month, praying 5 times a day becomes even more important.
The question is to what extent does this short-term lifestyle change effect your sleep patterns and quality?
Let’s get a better understanding of what Ramadan is before we dive into that!
While the Islamic calendar also has 12 months, it follows the moon rather than the sun.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and begins with the first sighting of the new moon.
While this was done with the naked eye in the past, telescopes and other tech is used today.
All Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk during Ramadan.
However, it is recommended that before sunrise, all Muslims eat a pre-fast meal known as suhur - think of it as a very early breakfast!
Then in the evening, they break their fast with iftar, which is a meal often beginning with dates and water, followed by dinner.
Ramadan lasts for a whole Islamic month, meaning between 29-30 days each lunar year.
The end of Ramadan is also known as Eid al-Fitr.
During this celebration, many attend prayers at the mosque and enjoy feasts at home with their family and friends.
Another very common thing to do is exchanging gifts and money with your loved ones.
There are a few standard wishes you can use to congratulate someone during Ramadan.
This is the most common greeting, and means “happy Ramadan”!
Another option would be to say Ramadan Kareem, which means “have a generous Ramadan”!
Since Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the fasting time, Eid Mubarak means “blessed feast”!
The sleep-wake cycle will change for many they wake up for suhur early in the morning whilst also having a large meal in the evening.
In fact, the heavier eating and activity levels at night drastically modify the metabolism of those who are fasting.
This will result in a higher body temperature and reduced sleep.
The sudden change can also cause sleepiness during the day and mood swings.
Studies have shown that daytime sleepiness peaks between 2 and 4pm during the Ramadan.
That’s why Dr Nizamuddin Gulsha, a specialist at the Medicine Clinic Mirdif, advises for those who are fasting to avoid going back to sleep in the morning after suhur.
Instead, it is better to take a nap in the afternoon but not to sleep in the mornings.
Getting the right amount and quality of sleep is important throughout the entire year – not just during Ramadan.
One of the key factors that can contribute to improving both is having the right tools for the job.
If you haven’t already done so, we recommend trying our latex mattress, latex mattress topper or latex pillowwith Vita Talalay latex inside.
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