how caN I RESPOND TO MY DAD in regards to ramadan?
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Fasting is good, it balances your body, improves your immune and lot more benefits but each should have his way as per the diversity and environment one lives in, so nothing wrong in what your Dad practice or what you practice.
Some do fasting by taking only Veg food, some do fasting in specific day of the week etc.. and there a lot kind of fasting practiced by the world.
By the way do not look for laws and rules in Quran, its just a message. -
Peace Kenybanez
Who told you that fasting is day and night? It is only from dawn till sunset/twilight/darkness (depends upon how interpret night.)
Moreover fasting period is determined by the believers and that is from 3 days minimum to 10 days maximum.
Read the details http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9606670.0
Thanks
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Peace,
Even Christian fasting has been from morning until evening historically. I suppose many would have died if they fasted 40 days in a row when they commemorated Jesus' days in the desert.
I see fasting as a repentance to God though and a way of redeeming for the bad you have done in all contexts of the recitation (Quran) and perhaps show grief for something. An emotional outburst.
Have faith
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peace KENYBANEZ
so i converted to islam within a couple of years ago and I believe that the quran is the source of law
YEs, you are right, the Quran is the law/way for all Muslims, and you need to apply every teaching of it into your daily life so that you can receive the blessings of GOD become a believer.
Remmber what GOD told the israelites when HE gave them the TORAHeuteronomy 281 "If you obey the Lord your God and faithfully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, he will make you greater than any other nation on earth. 5 "The Lord will bless your grain crops and the food you prepare from them. 6 "The Lord will bless everything you do. 7 "The Lord will defeat your enemies when they attack you. They will attack from one direction, but they will run from you in all directions.FASTING is "2185It was the month of Ramadan....Hence, whoever of you lives to see this month shall fast it.....;2187...And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread . Then complete the fast until the night...." This is the way ordained for all who are Submittedones (Muslims). If God ordained differently for the ISraelites, so what( And Jesus never changes the laws of fasting, for he did not came to change the law but to fulfill it). You just have to worry about doing it the way it was ordained for you in the QURAN. And remember that when Believers receive a commandment from GOD/The Most Merciful, the only thing they say is"WE HEAR AND WE OBEY". DO not be like the hypocrites who say"we hear but we do it our way". Pray God for wisdom, and Don't listen to the hypocrites, whose only effort is to loose many from the right path.
You do not have to convince anybody using ignorant medical excuses. You only Have to say "it is the way ordained for us, and we shall obey it". Fasting could be good to increase your health, your patience, your strength, your faith, to identify the hypocrites, etc.... but the true benefit is only known by GOD, and obeying gives you the greatest benefit.
Warning be careful, for in this forum the big majority are not even Submittedones (Muslims), and they are like Satan, they are only waiting for those who show weakness to lead them astray. You will certainly recognize them by the way they speak.
may GOD increase our knowledge and give us some wisdom.
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Quran is not the law, its just a message of oneness, meaning every diverse things are linked and related.
Laws and rules should be based on environment, One should understand and respect the diversity of the world.
Same type of foods cannot be eaten everywhere, we cannot eat meat the same way everywhere as we eat in a desert or in a more cooler place, in a humid place we need to cook them well?
We cannot dress the same everywhere, similarly we cannot pray the same everywhere. Each place has created saints or messengers who brought the good things to this world and we should try to understand them accept other's practices and try to choose the best way. The important thing is to understand His will and its difficult as whatever looks Good for us sometimes not be Good for everyone around us. so there needs a balance and for that we should not stuck ourselves into idol worshiping(rituals that has no explanation from us) that makes us understand His true will and Allah himself as his guidance reaches us. -
Peace amin,
Quran is not the law, its just a message of oneness, meaning every diverse things are linked and related.
The instruction to Moses is contained within the recited passages of it. So the commandments adhered to by Moses and those who taught according to that instruction is still valid to people as of today. And the enlightenment to Jesus regarding the instruction is also contained within that message. So you cannot say that it does not contain commandments from God.
However; there are many rituals and practices that are distorted due to wishful thinking and inability to interpret and interpreting in accordance to Pagan ritualism from whatever you read of the recitation (Qur'an) to the alleged Muhammad. They are not part of the law.
The old "Mosaic Law" is as follows (with reservation for translational errors)
The narration here was aimed at the Children of Israel, but anyone should adhere to them. None are abrogated from this decree.
2 (1) "I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of
slavery.
3 You shall not have other gods besides me.
4 (2) You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or
on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
5 you shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the LORD, your God,
am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness on the children
of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation;
6 but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation, on the children of those
who love me and keep my commandments.
7 (3) "You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not
leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain.
8 (4) "Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
9 Six days you may labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God. No work may be done
then either by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave, or your
beast, or by the alien who lives with you.
11 In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in
them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD has blessed the
sabbath day and made it holy.
12 (5) "Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land which
the LORD, your God, is giving you.
13 (6) "You shall not kill.
14 (7) "You shall not commit adultery.
15 (8) "You shall not steal.
16 (9) "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 (10) "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything else that belongs to
him."Blue Ironically the Kabaah to the Muslims is a giant idol for the people and against this commandment of God. you shall not bow down before them = The Muslims bow down in front of the idol in Mecca because they think it will bring them closer to God. And they bow down on the floor in front of them in the air unto nothing if they do not prostrate to the idol in Mecca. To God belongs everything between the east and the west.
You cannot say that these commandments do not exist within the recitation to Muhammad. They were known way before the book called Qur'an was composed and this means that people who know Torah already know what they read within the book called Qur'an. Yet people here claim that you cannot be successful unless you follow their idol Qur'an.
The elaboration by Jesus in between the book called Qur'an and the instruction to Moses put light to the commandments and were a sufficient addition to be honest. Qur'an is a regard from God and summarizes everything and being honest to them that had been revealed in the past.
Jesus made elaborations to the decree without abrogating it. For example
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.Or
21 "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever
kills will be liable to judgment.'
22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and
whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and
whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.My own conclusion of what Jesus taught is that the decree is not to be interpreted literally by the word but you can adjust how you adhere to it. Use your heart.
Have faith
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I'm still quite undecided on what specifically we are abstaining against. I know the translations says "do no eat and drink until ..." but i'm still unconvinced this means to actually not eat any food or drink (with it being requested in such a hot time of the year in some countries i find it impossible not to drink water without feeling extremely faint and lifeless).
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9604103.msg323981#msg323981
That thread might be of interest .
peace
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Peace sushi1992,
I am not sure if the word Sawm is linked/related to "fasting from eating and drinking." It is true that one verse in the Quran states that we should not eat and drink until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of dawn (in verse 287 in the monotheist translation). The fact that the word Sawm (abstinence) is mentioned in the same verse were we are told to not eat and drink until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of dawn, does not automatically imply that the word Sawm is related to fasting from eating and drinking. The sentence about eating and drinking until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of dawn, might be a mistranslation of verse 287 in the Quran. Besides, the word Sawm, in verse 2187, seems more related/linked to intimacy than to not eating and drinking. Most of the verse actually seems to talk about the intimate relations between husbands and wives; not eating and drinking.
Quran 2187 (Abstinence is only for the daytime.) It has been made lawful for you to go to your wives on the night of the Abstinence. They are your garments and you are their garments - close to each other, source of mutual comfort, complementing each other, trustworthy and keepers of privacy, reason for dcor, and redressers of faults. God knows that you would have deprived yourselves, feeling guilty, and so He turns to you and pardons you. So, now you may have intimate relations with them and, besides, seek all good that God has ordained for you. You may eat and drink until you can discern the white streak of light against the black streak of night at daybreak. Then complete the Abstinence until sunset. Do not have intimate relations with them while on special assignments in the Centers of the Divine System. These are the bounds set by God - so come not near violating them. Thus God explains His commands to mankind clearly, so that they understand and remain observant.
It is possible that the word Sawm is linked/related to "fasting from eating and drinking." But just like you I am still unconvinced that it means to actually not eat any food or drink.
"So eat and drink and be happy. If you see any human being, then say, "I have declared a Sawm for the Gracious, and I will not talk today to any of the people."
In the story of Mary, in verse 1926 above, she is allowed to eat and drink while declaring Sawm. If the word Sawm is linked/related to fasting from eating and drinking, then why is Mary allowed to eat and drink and be happy? If the word Sawm has anything to do with not eating and not drinking, then why is mary told to eat and drink and be happy? These are some questions that I have pondered on lately.
The above mentioned verse might even suggest that it is allowed to practice Sawm while eating and drinking. Therefore it seems that the concept of Sawm has nothing to do with "fasting from eating and drinking."
There clearly seems to be something wrong with the traditional understanding of the word Sawm being linked/related to "fasting from eating and drinking." Therefore I want to get to the bottom of this issue. Unfortunately, I am in a race against time these days. My free time is very limited these days. Therefore the little time I have left is highly valuable for me, and I have choosed to prioritize the things which I consider most important right now. But I definitely plan to study the concept of Sawm in dept in the future, if God wills.
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Peace sushi1992,
I am still not sure if the word Sawm is linked/related to "fasting from eating and drinking". It is true that one verse in the Quran states that we should not eat and drink until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of dawn (in verse 287 in the monotheist translation). The fact that the word Sawm (abstinence) is mentioned in the same verse were we are told to not eat and drink until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of dawn, does not automatically imply that the word Sawm is related to fasting from eating and drinking. The sentence about eating and drinking until the white thread is distinct from the black thread of dawn, might be a mistranslation of verse 287 in the Quran. Besides, the word Sawm, in verse 2187, seems more related/linked to intimacy than to not eating and drinking. Most of the verse actually seems to talk about the intimate relations between husbands and wives; not eating and drinking.
Quran 2187 (Abstinence is only for the daytime.) It has been made lawful for you to go to your wives on the night of the Abstinence. They are your garments and you are their garments - close to each other, source of mutual comfort, complementing each other, trustworthy and keepers of privacy, reason for dcor, and redressers of faults. God knows that you would have deprived yourselves, feeling guilty, and so He turns to you and pardons you. So, now you may have intimate relations with them and, besides, seek all good that God has ordained for you. You may eat and drink until you can discern the white streak of light against the black streak of night at daybreak. Then complete the Abstinence until sunset. Do not have intimate relations with them while on special assignments in the Centers of the Divine System. These are the bounds set by God - so come not near violating them. Thus God explains His commands to mankind clearly, so that they understand and remain observant.
It is possible that the word Sawm is linked/related to fasting (not eating food and/or drinking water). But just like you I am still unconvinced that it means to actually not eat any food or drink.
"So eat and drink and be happy. If you see any human being, then say, "I have declared a Sawm for the Gracious, and I will not talk today to any of the people."
In the story of Mary, in verse 1926 above, she is allowed to eat and drink while declaring Sawm. If the word Sawm is linked/related to fasting from eating and drinking, then why is Mary allowed to eat and drink and be happy? If the word Sawm has anything to do with not eating and not drinking, then why is mary told to eat and drink and be happy? These are some questions that I have pondered on lately.
The above mentioned verse might even suggest that it is allowed to practice Sawm while eating and drinking. Therefore it seems that the concept of Sawm has nothing to do with "fasting from eating and drinking."
There clearly seems to be something wrong with the traditional understanding of the word Sawm being linked/related to "fasting from eating and drinking." Therefore I want to get to the bottom of this issue. Unfortunately, I am in a race against time these days. My free time is very limited these days. Therefore the little time I have left is highly valuable for me, and I have choosed to prioritize the things which I consider most important right now. But I definitely plan to study the concept of Sawm in dept in the future, if God wills.
Peace Taro ),
I read that verse in the quran about Maryam and I think I read a similar verse in regards to abstaining from speech elsewhere as well. Personally, I feel that abstaining from speech is quite challenging but quite rewarding at the same time. I think it helps a being be capable of living with themselves without needing external communication - a bit like a really long meditation session. It would definitely disciple you more..... But I will definitely delve into this when i also have more time - my time is also limited as well.
Though I hope it's limited due to reasons other than health reasons...
peace
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I'm still quite undecided on what specifically we are abstaining against. I know the translations says "do no eat and drink until ..." but i'm still unconvinced this means to actually not eat any food or drink (with it being requested in such a hot time of the year in some countries i find it impossible not to drink water without feeling extremely faint and lifeless).
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9604103.msg323981#msg323981
That thread might be of interest .
peace
Abstaining is our wish, a Good habit that shapes us well, Timing should be accepted one among ourselves, within our family or group(local community) as per the convenience of everyone that takes the Oath.
I think, Quran gives us the range of timing that it can be practiced. ie the day time and the time to start and stop should be as per our convenience within that time.
So why only day?, Yes day time is more comfortable than nights, safe and can get medical aid , support etc. easily.
it highlights that we should not practice it in night or when one is sick, injured or one is in travel. -
Abstaining is our wish, a Good habit that shapes us well, Timing should be accepted one among ourselves, within our family or group(local community) as per the convenience of everyone that takes the Oath.
I think, Quran gives us the range of timing that it can be practiced. ie the day time and the time to start and stop should be as per our convenience within that time.
So why only day?, Yes day time is more comfortable than nights, safe and can get medical aid , support etc. easily.
it highlights that we should not practice it in night or when one is sick, injured or one is in travel.You say the start stop time should be as per our convenience.
"You may eat and drink until you can discern the white streak of light against the black streak of night at daybreak."
It doesn't seem to be a matter of choice when you start and stop.....
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Peace,
And that command is quite easy to obey if you are around the equator because the sun is up within 30 minutes after the first light is visible anyway. I lived in Iran for over two years. Apart from the short twilight the sky is completely dark at night unless the moon reflects light.
Have faith
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Peace,
And that command is quite easy to obey if you are around the equator because the sun is up within 30 minutes after the first light is visible anyway. I lived in Iran for over two years. Apart from the short twilight the sky is completely dark at night unless the moon reflects light.
Have faith
Personally I find it hard to fast during hot weather. I've come near to fainting once when I didn't have any water and I thought this is ridiculous so I stopped. I have faith ) I will pursue the idea of fasting being for something other than abstaining from food.
peace
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Peace sushi1992,
I have fulfilled a traditional Ramadhan twice. And both times in Ramadhan month according to Shia tradition and it has been over 30 degrees Celsius constantly with peaks of 38 so it is possible to fast from drink and food also in hot weather.
The first few days are worst, but after that the body "realizes" it is an emergency and adjusts accordingly by reducing the sense of hunger to allow the survival instincts to focus on hunting for prey. The endurance can hence get a positive feedback. I would still say it can have a detrimental effect to fast a prolonged period even if you eat for a short time in the night because the body keeps itself in an exposed mode and also stores more of the food as fat if it can and there is a risk of muscular breakdown if you are not careful with the diet in the night because the body focuses on sustaining primary functionality due to the self-inflicted famine.
A bodybuilder would need to be super-careful and it is hard to keep the muscles from breaking down during a fasting (I am a bodybuilder) because big muscles require much nutrition and the nutrition digested in the evening and early dawn is stockpiled and are depots depleted the body gnaws on muscles like dogs on their bones.
If nutrition was not already challenging for a bodybuilder it becomes very hard while fasting for a minimum breakdown, for the month will tear on the muscles in the end. But they recover easily though fortunately after some weeks in the gym
And sorry that this was not exactly according to the topic.
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Peace sushi1992,
I have fulfilled a traditional Ramadhan twice. And both times in Ramadhan month according to Shia tradition and it has been over 30 degrees Celsius constantly with peaks of 38 so it is possible to fast from drink and food also in hot weather.
The first few days are worst, but after that the body "realizes" it is an emergency and adjusts accordingly by reducing the sense of hunger to allow the survival instincts to focus on hunting for prey. The endurance can hence get a positive feedback. I would still say it can have a detrimental effect to fast a prolonged period even if you eat for a short time in the night because the body keeps itself in an exposed mode and also stores more of the food as fat if it can and there is a risk of muscular breakdown if you are not careful with the diet in the night because the body focuses on sustaining primary functionality due to the self-inflicted famine.
A bodybuilder would need to be super-careful and it is hard to keep the muscles from breaking down during a fasting (I am a bodybuilder) because big muscles require much nutrition and the nutrition digested in the evening and early dawn is stockpiled and are depots depleted the body gnaws on muscles like dogs on their bones.
If nutrition was not already challenging for a bodybuilder it becomes very hard while fasting for a minimum breakdown, for the month will tear on the muscles in the end. But they recover easily though fortunately after some weeks in the gym
And sorry that this was not exactly according to the topic.
Peace MoF,
See I do see this as hardship to some degree. I really physically can't do the first few days because my body has a bad reaction. I literally just about get home off the tube from work because I'm knackered due to being so busy - fasting would really top it off.... I don't think I'd get home (( I'd rather feed the poor or abstain from talking. I don't have a partner so I couldn't abstain from sex so really... Not talking and feeding the poor would hve to be the alternative. I have a fast metabolism and I burn food quickly. I'd have to eat at like 1am a lot of food, then go sleep and wake for work and starve the whole day til 7pm? I'm unbearably hungry by 7am even if I ate when I was going bed! Lol... I'll stick with the alternative of feeding others or giving to charity... Its a lot less hardship. It's not even that I eat a lot tbh, I don't eat much. Just not eating at all or even worse, not having any water to hydrate yourself is too detrimental for me
Peace peace
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You are the best judge. There is just one person you should never cheat yourself. Try to be honest to your best ability and whatever you find is right, to not brood over it do it that way anc oncentrate on it in doing it well, whether it is some partial fast, or feeding somebody else, or both or whatever comes to you as most appropriate. Just keep in mind, that the aim is your purification. Not a self-punishment. Purifying usually entails getting rid of something that impurifies. may be habits, may be whatever distracts you from what you should be concentrating on. But be calm, this is nto a race, it is a loong way and we need our moments of thinking quietly, of rest, of restoring... Take it easy and take sincerely... In sha Allah you will get there.
Salaam
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You are the best judge. There is just one person you should never cheat yourself. Try to be honest to your best ability and whatever you find is right, to not brood over it do it that way anc oncentrate on it in doing it well, whether it is some partial fast, or feeding somebody else, or both or whatever comes to you as most appropriate. Just keep in mind, that the aim is your purification. Not a self-punishment. Purifying usually entails getting rid of something that impurifies. may be habits, may be whatever distracts you from what you should be concentrating on. But be calm, this is nto a race, it is a loong way and we need our moments of thinking quietly, of rest, of restoring... Take it easy and take sincerely... In sha Allah you will get there.
Salaam
[/quotePeace huruf,
Thank you for your sweet and kind words of advice... I'll repeat them often. I always try to do things as well as possible and hopefully I can keep doing so. I pay some money every month to a charity and I pay quite a bit more to some young kid in El Salvador to help him stay in school and get fed.... I'm on the go all the time and I waste a lot of energy doing one thing or the other (mental tasks drain the energy out of you quicker ( ) and I feel that caring for a child who needs it is a good deed )
peace
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peace
And that command is quite easy to obey if you are around the equator
Those who live close to the arctic circle are always giving the same excuses of long days. Do you realize that those muslims living close to the equator have to stand days with temperatures of around 110 ?F 43 C or more . It is funny that those who give the most excuses about anything regarding the faith live in the western countries. Why could that be?
Sweden daylight hours July 340am 1002pm=around 18 hour daylight ;July temp= 23 ?C (73 ?F). those living close to the arctic have a very cool Ramadam. I do not see why they complain so much, when it is that cool I even have to remind my self of drinking water.
Here in Texas we have 15 hour daylight and day temperature around 100 F 37C and some days it can go to 110F 43C. And I believe the muslims living in the middle east have it worst. You complain too much to be muslims.
"I have declared a Sawm for the Gracious, and I will not talk today to any of the people." the verse clarifies itself of what Mary is abstaining from.
ALSO
2187....You may eat and drink until you can discern the white streak of light against the black streak of night at daybreak. Then complete the Abstinence until sunset. And do not have intimate relations with them...
the verse clarifies itself of what the abstinence is about=no liquids---no food--and no sex.If you had faith you could stand 40 days and nights straight without drinking and eating, like Moses or Jesus.
RAMADAM is a mater of faith, and only those whose faith is weak look for excuses.
May God increase our knowledge and give us some wisdom.
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peace
Those who live close to the arctic circle are always giving the same excuses of long days. Do you realize that those muslims living close to the equator have to stand days with temperatures of around 110 ?F 43 C or more . It is funny that those who give the most excuses about anything regarding the faith live in the western countries. Why could that be?
Sweden daylight hours July 340am 1002pm=around 18 hour daylight ;July temp= 23 ?C (73 ?F). those living close to the arctic have a very cool Ramadam. I do not see why they complain so much, when it is that cool I even have to remind my self of drinking water.
Here in Texas we have 15 hour daylight and day temperature around 100 F 37C and some days it can go to 110F 43C. And I believe the muslims living in the middle east have it worst. You complain too much to be muslims.
"I have declared a Sawm for the Gracious, and I will not talk today to any of the people." the verse clarifies itself of what Mary is abstaining from.
ALSO
2187....You may eat and drink until you can discern the white streak of light against the black streak of night at daybreak. Then complete the Abstinence until sunset. And do not have intimate relations with them...
the verse clarifies itself of what the abstinence is about=no liquids---no food--and no sex.If you had faith you could stand 40 days and nights straight without drinking and eating, like Moses or Jesus.
RAMADAM is a mater of faith, and only those whose faith is weak look for excuses.
May God increase our knowledge and give us some wisdom.
Mate, don't even give me bullcrap about if you had faith you would do it. I've done it for a few days a couple of years ago and I couldn't do anymore as it was too hot for me. When I was in my home country, it was hitting 30 degrees better the problem is the humidity. Humidity always makes me feel sick and faint. Some people thought the weather was fine (usually people from middle eastern countries) and most looked like they were sweating puddles and finding it hard to stand up. If I had a choice on when to do it and if it wasn't consecutive days, then I'd probably be capable. But YOU can't say that it's easy just cos you have higher tolerance levels. Everyone is different and everyone has different thresholds. Don't come here saying people don't have faith just cos they can't tolerate certain levels of heat and humidity. That's a load of bull.