Eid al-Fitr, which means "festival of the breaking of the fast", is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and spiritual reflection for the Muslim community. During Ramadan, Muslims will fast daily from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food, drink and sensual pleasures.
Eid al-Fitr is a joyous time for Muslims, typically commemorated by visiting the mosque in the morning for communal prayers, wearing new clothes, giving to charity and being able to eat again during daylight hours.
To commemorate this important occasion, RACS spoke with one of their Fellows Dr Ahmad Aly, MBBS, FRACS, MS, about the personal significance of Eid al-Fitr and Ramadan and managing the requirements of Ramadan as a surgeon.
How are Eid al-Fitr and Ramadan personally significant to you?
Eid al-Fitr, which marks the culmination of Ramadan, is a very significant time for me personally. Ramadan is special because it's a unique state of being, where you're in a constant state of discipline and worship for an entire month. It provides me with an opportunity for ongoing self-reflection, increased awareness of my personal strengths and shortcomings and a profound reminder of my faith.
It's very easy in the hustle and bustle of daily life as a surgeon to be caught up in the requirements of the job. Ramadan provides an opportunity to reset, improve my personal character and moral traits. While Eid al-Fitr is a joyous occasion, there's also a tinge of sadness as you often feel like you could have done more during Ramadan to improve yourself as a person.
How do you manage the rigours of fasting during Ramadan with your workload as a surgeon?
There's always a degree of apprehension as you approach Ramadan, however it is really a time to develop your sense of empathy and gratitude. When you get started, it's not really as hard as you think it might be. It can certainly be demanding having to fast everyday, however as a surgeon the safety of the patient is paramount. Breaking your fast if the life of the patient is at risk is permissible and if you have to break your fast there is a provision for feeding the needy in lieu.
Increasingly, we are seeing Muslims across many high-performing professions observe Ramadan and continue to excel. Bachar Houli was the first practicing Muslim in the AFL and played some of his best games during the month of Ramadan.
Muslims are expected to pray five times a day. Do you ever find it difficult to conduct your prayers if you're in the middle of a surgical operation or in the operating theatre all day?
Prayer times are quite flexible, so there's significant latitude there. Often operations have natural pauses where you're able to take time to pray. There are certainly operations where you can't step away - in these situations, you can make up the prayer later, as you're engaged in critical life-saving work.
What can actually be a greater challenge is finding a suitable room to pray. I'm fortunate that at the public hospital I work at, we have a multi-faith prayer space we can use. However, in other places where I work and prayer rooms aren't readily available, I've had to be creative, even praying in anaesthetic bays on occasion.
What advice do you have for aspiring Muslim surgeons?
I would say to anyone aspiring for a career in surgery, go for it. It's a challenging and demanding profession, but incredibly rewarding. During your training, learn as much as you can and accumulate experiences, even if it's not immediately apparent how it's relevant to you. Be humble and curious - this is an open and welcoming profession that rewards dedication and hard work. For Muslim trainee surgeons, seeking knowledge, dedication to your profession and a strong work ethic are all part of the sunnah (the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the primary sources of Islamic guidance). The care and wellbeing of your patients should always be your central focus.
About him
Dr Ahmad Aly, MBBS, FRACS, MS, is a General Surgeon and Specialist Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon. He trained at the Austin Hospital, Melbourne, and completed subspecialist fellowships in Adelaide and the United Kingdom, gaining expertise in the full spectrum of upper gastrointestinal surgery before returning to Melbourne in 2005. He is the Head of Upper GI Surgery at The Austin Hospital, a senior lecturer and researcher with Melbourne University. He is also a board member of ANZGOSA and OSSANZ.
