Ramadan speculation: The emotions of wasted time can lead to heart attacks and death.

Ramadan afternoons are full of spirituality and serenity, but they are also not without quarrels that escalate into fistfights. Some people lose their spirituality and become irritable and lose their balance, which is countered by reminders of fasting. Hands stretch out, voices rise, and quarrels break out before iftar, an ever-changing Ramadan habit. Fasting during Ramadan teaches patience and self-control; however, some use Ramadan and fasting afternoons as an excuse to engage in quarrels, some of which end up in hospitals and others in police stations. The rate of accidents and quarrels during fasting increases, especially in the period immediately preceding iftar. Some attribute this to fasting, but all attempts at calming the situation fail, leading to unfortunate consequences. One person may find himself in the hospital and another behind bars.

Experts have warned against quarrels that occur before iftar, stressing that the last moments of the meal are characterized by confusion and haste, as everyone strives to reach their destination as quickly as possible without regard for others and their needs.

The solution is not in screaming

Psychiatric consultant Dr. Mohammed Al-Hamed says, "People differ in their characteristics, cultural level, social awareness, and educational attainment. Some are able to be patient, control themselves, forgive, and tolerate, not spoiling their fast and the spirituality of the month. Others lack the willpower to resolve any situations they encounter with anger and shouting, which may escalate to quarrels and fistfights." Al-Hamed added, "When a fasting person becomes angry or agitated, adrenaline secretion in the blood increases significantly, reaching 20 or 30 times the normal level. This poses a risk to an individual's health, as high adrenaline levels can lead to heart attacks or sudden death in some predisposed individuals."

Dr. Mohammed Al-Hamid explained that the fasting person is exposed to low blood sugar, which causes a decrease in concentration. Therefore, nervousness increases during fasting, and recklessness may also increase while driving, especially before the Maghrib prayer. This is why we see the rate of accidents while driving, due to drivers’ insistence on arriving home before the call to prayer. Nervousness increases, ending up in hospital emergency departments, police stations, or in reconciliation between quarrels on the roads. Al-Hamid called for training oneself to be patient and calm, and to avoid going out during rush hour for those who do not possess these qualities. He pointed out that going out early to run errands or to head to one’s destination enables the fasting person to avoid agitation and haste, thus preventing quarrels and accidents.

Cigarettes and nicotine

Social worker Talal Al-Nashri confirmed that the afternoons are witnessing a flurry of buying and selling, accompanied by a rush to get home, regardless of the cost. This makes them ready for any quarrel or outburst they may encounter, especially among smokers, who are strongly affected by nicotine.

Al-Nashri explained that there is no scientific evidence that fasting during Ramadan negatively affects the human body. Fasting, he said, "refines the soul and teaches it patience, tolerance, and forgiveness. However, some people neglect the spirituality of this holy month and become emotionally agitated over the smallest of situations, causing quarrels and accidents."

Al-Nashri stressed that one should not use the excuse that fasting is the reason for these quarrels and incidents. The true Muslim fasts from food and his limbs fast from sins. He gets used to self-control, patience, and living in the spirituality of the month of fasting. He gets used to strengthening the soul with good deeds and tolerance with others. It is a virtuous month that we need to live and earn reward in, far from quarrels. The Prophet - may God bless him and grant him peace - advised the fasting person to be calm, not to be noisy, agitated, or to get into fights with others.

He added: On the authority of Abu Hurairah - may God be pleased with him - who said: The Messenger of God - may God bless him and grant him peace - said: “If it is a day when one of you is fasting, he should neither utter obscene words nor raise his voice. If someone insults him or fights him, he should say: I am fasting.”

Imprisonment, flogging and a fine

Legal advisor Majed Al-Ahmari confirmed that the penalty for a fight varies depending on the type of assault, whether it is a slap to the face or a kick with the foot. It also varies in the case of physical or verbal assault. The penalty depends on the extent of the damage caused to the person by the assault. In cases where the recovery period exceeds 15 days, the case is converted from a misdemeanor to a felony, and thus the penalty varies. He explained that if the purpose of the assault was theft or damage to the property of others, the penalty depends on the perpetrator's intent and the purpose of the assault. Therefore, the penalty for a fight varies according to the physical damage resulting from the assault in the fight, as well as the material damage, the tools used in the assault, and the recovery period. Attorney Al-Ahmari explained that the penalty is discretionary and is up to the judge, and may include imprisonment, flogging, a fine for threatening public safety, or all of these.

soul-destroying rage

Legal expert Al-Ahmari stressed the necessity of the elements required in cases of assault for a penalty to be imposed on the perpetrator. These elements include the moral element, which refers to the perpetrator's intentional assault of the victim by beating him voluntarily, and the physical element, which refers to the perpetrator physically assaulting the victim in any way, and the victim must be a living human being. He said: "The penalty for assault varies depending on the type of instrument used. Hitting with the hand results in minor bruises and is not dangerous, but hitting with a sharp instrument causes serious wounds and permanent disabilities." Lawyer Majed Al-Ahmari warned of the consequences of some quarrels that escalate to murder, which falls under the provisions of quasi-intentional murder. Quasi-intentional murder occurs when the perpetrator unintentionally causes the death of a person, as in the case of two people getting into a quarrel and one of them angrily uses a sharp instrument to strike the other, unintentionally leading to his death. The penalties imposed on the accused are determined if he is proven guilty of the crime of unintentional murder, whether due to a mistake, lack of judgment, or a fit of anger.