Ramadan-the Month Of Fasting: –
Muslims await Ramadan all year round. They celebrate the holy month with utmost piety and sanctity. They engage in prayer and worship to earn Allah’s pleasure. In this month, Muslims around the globe tradition the Ramadan practices etched for centuries.
Ramadan Practices around the world: –
Ramadan is like a sabbatical from routine life. It is a lot more than fasting and worship. Muslims connect with their roots this month by getting closer to their Ramadan traditions and rituals. Here are the most common Ramadan practices around the world.
Egyptian lanterns lit the streets: –
Historians recount that in 358 AH, the Fatimid Caliph Moaezz El-Din El-Allah conquered Cairo on the 5th of Ramadan. To welcome the Caliph, local people lit candles and secured them in wooden frames to prevent them from blowing out. Since then it became a tradition to welcome the holy month by lighting the colorful Fanoos, or lanterns.
Turkish drummers wake up the Muslims: –
Ramadan in Turkey is as auspicious as in any other Muslim country. To wake up the Muslims for suhoor, drummers sing and beat their Davul, double-sided drum, and sing songs. People give them bahsis, tip, for their duty. They also provide them with sehri. Women prepare special meals and drinks for suhoor and iftar. The Turkish Ayran is a delicious drink to rehydrate after a whole day’s fast at iftar. Meze, shorbas, pide, and zeytin yagli are some of the popular Turkish cuisines for Ramadan.
Moroccan Nafars sing melodious hymns: –
Just as Ramadan traditions in Turkey, the Moroccan Nafars sing melodious prayers across the cities, waking up the people for suhoor. The Nafars dress up in the traditional gandora, a hat, and a pair of slippers. The feeling of getting up to the beautiful prayers is surreal. At the end of Ramadan, the people compensate these Nafars for taking up this esteemed duty.
Indonesian Padusan cleanses the Muslims: –
This is an interesting Ramadan ritual in Indonesia. The Muslims welcome the holy month by performing a purification ritual. They bathe and cleanse in natural pools nearby to detoxify themselves. The idea is to relax, soothe, and purify on the holy month’s arrival. The country is abundant in natural pools. The Javanese Muslims perform Padusan which is one of the most important Ramadan traditions in Indonesia.
Syrian cannons fire at Iftar: –
Cannons firing is one of the oldest living Ramadan traditions around the world. Not only Syria but in Lebanon and many other Middle Eastern countries announce the iftar time by firing cannons. The tradition originated in Egypt. Once during Ramadan, the Egyptian ruler Khosh Qadam accidentally fired a cannon at sunset. People assumed that it was a signal to end the fast and do iftar. They appreciated the gesture. Since then it became a Ramadan ritual to fire cannons to signal iftar time.
Pakistani women create a festive mood to prepare for Eid-ul-Fitr: –
When it comes to Ramadan traditions, Pakistan is nowhere behind. Traditional foods for sehri and iftar such as pheni, pakoras, dahi barey, and chana chat adorn the dining table. When the last days of Ramadan come, women rush to the local markets to buy jewelry, bangles, and mehendi. Chand Raat, the night before Eid is a special occasion where markets and parlors stay open all night long. People go out for last-minute decking up, shopping, and exchanging sweets and desserts.
Arabic children sing to collect sweets: –
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other gulf countries is one of the most cherished occasions. Umrah in Ramadan is such a beautiful experience that people from all over the world yearn to perform the holy journey during Ramadan.
Haq Al Laila is a long-lived Ramadan ritual whereby children dress up nicely and come out on the streets in their neighborhood. They sing songs and chant “Aatona Allah Yutikom, Bait Makkah Yudikum”. It means, “Give to us and Allah will reward you, and help you visit Mecca.” The elders then give sweets to the children. They also tell stories about Ramadan to the kids. The purpose is to create awareness about Ramadan amongst the children.
FAQs: –
How do Muslims in the USA typically observe Ramadan compared to other countries?
Muslims in the USA observe Ramadan by fasting, praying five times a day, attending mosques or community centers nearby, and reciting the Holy Quran.
What are some common Ramadan traditions and practices in Muslim communities in the USA?
Common Ramadan practices and traditions in Muslim communities in the USA include: –
• Recitation of the Holy Quran with meaning
• Attending religious sermons
• Offering Taraweeh prayers
• Charity and social welfare.
How do American Muslim families balance Ramadan observance with work, school, and other commitments?
It gets challenging for American Muslims to balance Ramadan observation with ongoing routine. Here are some ways to overcome the challenges: –
- Plan the activities, be it household chores, office or school work
- Manage iftar and sehri meals by “make and freeze” options
- Consume energy-boosting foods to keep you going all day long.
What are some ways that non-Muslims can learn more about Ramadan and support their Muslim friends and neighbors during this holy month?
Muslims can make non-Muslims aware of Ramadan through their good conduct. Helping each other and being patient are some ways to gain support and favor from non-Muslim friends and neighbors. When Muslims stick to the teachings of Islam and its values, this will move the non-Muslims to gain knowledge about the religion. They will support the Muslims in matters such as reduced workload or sharing of the load at the office, shortened working hours, and helping with school work.
