Ramadan: The struggle is real during load shedding

As Muslims across South Africa observe the holy month of Ramadan, one of the sacrifices they will have to painfully endure is load shedding by Eskom.

The month of Ramadan officially started on Thursday in South Africa, with the first fast beginning on Friday.

Once the fast starts, Muslims are not allowed to eat a morsel of food or even take a sip of water until sunset.

Load shedding

Depending on the times and schedules, load shedding is expected to pose a massive problem for Muslims during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which has a plethora of blessings for those of the Islamic faith.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk usually having a predawn meal before the fast begins.

Currently in the city of Johannesburg, fasting begins at about 4:52am and ends at 6:18pm.

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Discomfort

With the deliberate power cuts, Muslims now have get up earlier to have their predawn meals before the fast begins and also prepare their food well in advance to break their fast at sunset.

For Nasreen Jeewa, load shedding is expected to cause great discomfort for her and her family.

“A lot of the prayer time is going to be taken up preparing meals in advance. Normally during the day you can read the Qur’an and just before breaking fast we starting preparing savories and delicacies to enjoy after a day of fasting.

“Sometimes our load shedding starts from 2pm to 4:30pm and other times from 4pm to 6:30pm. This is the worst time to have load shedding because that it the time most of us women go into the kitchen to start preparing,” Jeewa said.

Sacrifices

Ammara Patel said load shedding will add to the sacrifices Muslims will have to make during Ramadan.

“We hope that we do not get load shedding at 4am because that is the time we have our sehri (pre-dawn meal) which is recommended to keep us nourished during the day while we are fasting. If there is load shedding at that time, we will have to get up earlier and we would not be able to prepare something or even have a cup of coffee, and I have kids who are also fasting.

“I really feel for those who do not have a predawn meal or had nothing to eat before beginning their fast and have to work, especially the Muslim women who have to rush home after a long day and still prepare meals for the family. Now, imagine when she comes home and there’s load shedding, it can have a huge toll on you,” Patel said.

Alternatives

There are many Muslims in South Africa that echo the sentiments of Jeewa and Patel and while some can afford generators, invertors and gas stoves, there are others who cannot, especially those in the informal settlement.

Many South African Muslims were hoping that there could have been some reprieve from Eskom or an adjustment of times of the load shedding to assist them as they sacrifice more than thirteen hours a day without food or water.

While Ramadan is a month of sacrifice, Muslims in South Africa will be giving up their spiritual time during the holy month to prepare a meal.

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