Ramadan fast is food for the soul

By RACHEL IVES, Waiariki journalism student
Not picking at food when you work around it is hard enough for most.
Try it during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when you fast all day.
For Ayhan Semiz, owner of eateries Mecca Kebabs and Barbarosso in Rotorua, the sacrifice is worth it.
"Ramadan means that I will lose some weight. It is not difficult because we believe that there is a life hereafter," he said.
"There is a benefit that you will receive, that's the way we look at it. It's called the month of blessings."
Ramadan is a month of spiritual concentration for Muslims, who refrain from eating food during the daylight hours to focus on their faith.
During Ramadan, Mr Semiz wakes at 4am eating food before 4.30am, which is when the fast begins. He then sells food all day before breaking his fast at 6.30pm with his wife and family.
Ramadan is not only about the physical fasting.
"It's about being caring, having self-control and self-restraint in your mind, heart, thoughts and feelings," he said.
"Also, Islam is submission to the will of God. We accept things the way they are."
The 30 days are an important time for internal reflection, he said.
"You keep up with your daily life, it's not that you stop, you just take a break. You look at things and you say, 'that's right and that's wrong'.
"It's a reminder."
This is Mr Semiz's 11th Ramadan in a non-Muslim country.
"Celebrating here is not the same as at home. At home you have all your family and friends around you," he said.
"Here you don't have the call to prayer five times a day ... Celebrating in Hamilton was better, there was a bigger Muslim community."
In Rotorua there are only 15 Muslim families and during Ramadan, they meet each night at the Islamic Centre rooms above Mecca Kebabs on Tutanekai St to do special prayers.
"We have three days of celebrating at the end of Ramadan. We go visit all our family and friends and celebrate being able to eat again," Mr Semiz said.