Ramadan and Lent season - Wetin be intermittent fasting?
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As Muslims begin dia holy month of Ramadan and Christians begin Lent, dem go observe fasting.
During di month of Ramadan, Muslims no go chop or drink during di hours of daylight, while during Lent, Christians no go chop during some particular hours of di day.
Lent wey dey observed by millions of Christians all ova di world don start on Wednesday 18 February 2026 wit Ash Wednesday.
Also, di first day of dis year Ramadan na Wednesday 18 February 2026.
Some dey wonder why di two fasting dey begin on di same day.
While Ramadan dey follow di Islamic calendar, wey dey start wit di sighting of di crescent moon, di Lent na according to di Gregorian calendar.
Muslims go observe di Ramadan fasting for di holy month for 29 or 30 days based on di Islamic Lunar calendar, while Lent dey hold for 40 days.
Di two season na for fasting, and dis na how intermittent fasting dey occur.
Christian Lent fasting dey start on Ash Wednesday wia churches dey hold special services, and same as di Muslims wey dey begin wit di sighting of di moon.
Di two fasting na period wen di believers dey seek di face of dia creator more.
For Christians, di Lent fasting na period wen dey remember di events wey lead up to di death of Jesus Christ, and Ramadan na holy month for di Muslims.
Wetin be intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting na type of time-restricted diet wia di pipo wey dey do am leave long gap between dia last meal of one day and first of di next.
During di intermittent dey make pipo combine dia meals into shorter period during di day.
Wit dis, dose wey dey fast try to leave gap of up to 16 hours witout food and eat during eight-hour window.
During Ramadan, e dey common to chop one meal (sahoor) for early morning, just bifo sunrise and anoda one (iftar) for evening, directly afta sunset.
For di Christians, some dey chop just once in a day, around 6pm or more, depending on wetin di pesin believe to break im fast.
Intermittent fasting dey change mealtimes, and not really di meals.
Some sabi pipo say intermittent fasting dey help wit weight loss and health benefits, but some odas say even though fasting fit help our bodies repair and increase lifespans, best approach for losing weight.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV don send greetings give Christians as Lent begin, say make dem use di season to share love.
"As we begin our journey through Lent, let us ask di Lord to grant us di gift of true conversion of heart, so dat we fit betta respond to im love for us and share dat love wit dose around us," di Pope tok for im X post.
For Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu send message to di Christian and Muslim faithful as dem begin Lent and Ramadan on same day.
Tinubu say e no common for di two fasting to start on same day and e mean say "we share a lot in common and we be one pipo under God."
"For Christians, di Lenten season na time for fasting, abstinence, and penitence, following Jesus Christ example. For Muslims, Ramadan na hallowed season wey reflect total submission to God Almighty and to mark one of di five pillars of Islam.
Tins to sabi about Ash Wednesday
- No chopping of meat- One of di Ash Wednesday rules for Catholic Church na say members wey don reach 14 years and above no fit chop meat on dat day.
- Dem dey recycle di ash from di last lent- Di ash wey dem dey use on Ash Wednesday na from di palm leaves wey dem use celebrate Palm Sunday during di last Lent.
- No wish pesin "Happy Ash Wednesday- "Happy Ash Wednesday" no be di kain greeting wey you suppose tell pesin wey carry ash cross for forehead even if you mean am well.
Tins you no suppose do during Ramadan
- No food/water during fasting period: Fasting na di most significant part of Ramadan, dat na why you need do away from eating and drinking between dawn and dusk.
- No keep malice: Ramadan na all about forgiveness, wey be why you no suppose hold rancour against anybodi.
- No chew gum: During Ramadan, e dey best make pesin no chew gum or smoke.
- No listen to loud music/songs: Respect di view of those wey dey fasting or pray during dis holy period.
- No waste time: Ramadan be one pious period, and e dey good to try use time wella to pray to Allah and nurture discipline.
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