Observant Muslims abstain from food and drink during the holy month of Ramadan between sunrise and sunset. This year has presented a particularly challenging fast because the month has fallen during the summer — and a particularly hot summer at that.

Islam's calendar is lunar, so its holidays move throughout the year, meaning that Ramadan often comes during cooler months. This year, however, it runs the full month of August.

Related: Eid Bazaar this Saturday at MCC

MCC Full Time School Principal Habeeb Quadri talked this week about the challenges and spiritual benefits of observing a summer Ramadan.

“It’s amazing how God has made your body able to adjust,” he said of the process of acclimation that happens during Ramadan. He compared it to what athletes go through during sports training camps, where they start thinking the regime is impossible and then see their body change and improve over the course of the training.

“God shows you the potential in yourself,” he said.

Still, he acknowledged, “it is tough.”

Quadri said it’s been nearly two decades since the last summer Ramadan. Staying indoors whenever possible is key, as is exercising during evening hours. And the late afternoon power nap is often a faster’s best friend.

Fasting also makes people more aware of the blessing of food, he said. Quadri is recently back from a trip to Kenya, where he witnessed intense poverty. He’s been thinking of those people during his fast.

“This is tough, but man those people haven’t had food for three days,” he said.