Rama-dama-ding-dong

For a Westerner, even during "normal months", Saudi Arabia can feel like "The Country of 'No'": no theaters; no alcohol; no drugs; no pork; no revealing clothing; no dating; no public affection; no music; no free speech; no equal rights; no religious freedom; no commerce during prayer time; no green space; and no regard for pedestrians. But in Ramadan, there is an extra no: no eating or drinking from dawn to dusk.

Now, I understand the significance of fasting for the religiously inclined, but I feel like the goals of Saudi-style fasting for Ramadan maybe somewhat at odds with their application...

First, because the fast includes water...with a singular exception. The timing of Ramadan, is based on the lunar calendar, which means it isn't anchored to any particular season. Every year, it begins a couple of days earlier. So, sometimes, it happens in the hottest part of the year, as it very nearly is now. So, we're living in the desert, and most days they temperature is in the mid-forties, and yet, we are not allowed to drink water...unless we are traveling.

This would have made much more sense a two hundred years ago, before there were cars or air conditioning, but considering our modern technologies, it strikes me as a little absurd, especially since there is, to my knowledge, no such provision for laborers. So, If you decide to take an afternoon drive in your air-conditioned car to Jeddah, you're allowed to crack a bottle of your favorite variety of good old moya, but if you have the misfortune to be a foreign worker slaving in the heat, you're S.O.L.

Secondly, if you're justifying your fast from a health perspective, cutting out water defeats the purpose. Health benefits from fasting include lowering cholesterol, and clearing out toxins, but refraining from drinking water does in no way facilitate these processes, rather it reduces their effectiveness.

Thirdly, it's extremely common, especially for young people, to circumvent fasting entirely. To avoid fasting, all you have to do is sleep during the day, and stay up all night. Then, you can eat all you want, and never have to deal with being hungry. From my experience teaching young Saudis, I can tell you with confidence, that this is a common habit for Saudi young men, anyway. So, as long as Muslims are awake for the prayers, they can technically fulfill their religious duties, without really having to fast at all.

For a foreigner, who is not Muslim, and has to work during the day, Ramadan doesn't make much sense, and is one more reason why Saudi Arabia is "The Country of 'No'"... although, to be fair we can still get food during the day at  hotels, which is a pretty nice concession.