CAIRO: Fasting during Ramadan presents a challenge to all Muslims, but particularly so to those engaged in physical labor. Going without food, water and cigarettes is testing enough for those working in air-conditioned offices, but presents a greater challenge for those laying bricks and sweeping streets. Add in the fact that Ramadan has come in September this year when the temperatures are in the late 20s, and the working day for Cairo's laborers begins to look like an unenviable task. With the exception of 26th of July Street, Zamalek's streets are noticeably quieter during Ramadan, at least until after Iftar. On a warm Sunday afternoon it is easy to walk on the roads, passing shuttered shops and restaurants, with only the occasional car to negotiate. The whacking of hammers and buzzing of chainsaws, though, is ever-present. There is construction work underway on buildings all over Zamalek, and at the pizza restaurant that Rageb, 31, and his workmates are renovating, there is a massive job to get done before the end of Ramadan. It is 2 pm, several hours before Iftar, and Rageb has been working since 8 am. He expects to work well into the night. Although his manner is upbeat, his face is drawn, his shoulders are slumped, and his hair and clothes are covered in grey cement mixer. "The first day [of fasting], and maybe the second, is really hard, he says of working during Ramadan. "But it gets a lot easier after that. God gives us strength. Shortly after 5 pm, the workers put down their tools, have a quick wash, and make their way to the dinner tables laid out over the pavement at the end of 26th July street. "We break fast with amar eldin (a traditional juice made from dried apricots) and eat meat with rice, salad and bread. Then we sit around drinking tea and smoking cigarettes. Along with most of the others on the site, Rageb comes from Beni Suef, a town about 150 km outside of Cairo. He and his workmates are living on the site for the duration of the construction work, sleeping in makeshift bunks for the few hours they do sleep each night, waking at 3 am for sohour. For Rageb's workmate Ali, 32, the best part of Ramadan is the sense of well-being he enjoys after a day's fast. Ali says that despite not eating or drinking throughout the working day, the only time he feels tired is after a large iftar. "We rest for some time after eating, and we feel very happy. The benefits of fasting have long been extolled. Voluntarily depriving oneself of food, drink and other temptations is known to instil discipline and patience. Done correctly, fasting is also believed to allow the body to rid itself of toxins ingested through the various additives, preservatives and pesticides used in and on food. And in the context of community, fasters talk of the sense of solidarity and togetherness Ramadan engenders. Health experts, however, point out that working on an empty stomach without water can lead to dehydration, heat stroke, and exhaustion, and recommend reducing work hours while fasting. Dr Sherif El-Mangoury, a physician based in Manial, cautions that workers should always be in the shade while carrying out their tasks, and warns that the elderly and those with cardiac difficulties should avoid working while fasting altogether. "Especially in the hot weather the workers will be sweating and losing more fluids, so strenuous work without any water is unwise, he said. In the Quran, an individual is exempt from fasting under certain conditions, for instance if they are sick or travelling, or when the act is potentially dangerous to one s health, like in the case of a pregnant woman or someone who suffers from diabetes. Arguably, the latter could be applied to laborers like Rageb and Ali. Rageb dismisses the idea, however. He enjoys the challenge, he says, and insists that fasting makes the individual stronger. Laughing, he grabs his friend Ali and puts his arm around him. "Fasting brings us all closer together. It brings us closer to God.
