Long ago, people fasted for one day every year.
God wondered whether that was the right amount, so he summoned the animals to advise him. "Should people fast just one day? Longer? Or perhaps not fast at all?"
"They should fast every day of the year!" said Vulture. "Let them eat at night."
"That would not be right," said God, "and because you offered bad advice, you will no longer have the power of speech."
Then Rabbit said, "Let them fast one month every year."
God did as Rabbit advised.
That is why people blame Rabbit for the Ramadan fast.
Inspired by: "Why People Fast for Ramadan" in Algerian Folktales (published in Folklore) by P. P. H. Hasluck, 1925.
Notes: You can read the original story online. The storyteller was Messoud ben El Hadj, from Barika in eastern Algeria.
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