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 Ramadan customs among Arab and Islamic people Popular customs during Ramadan

There is no doubt that the holy month of Ramadan holds great significance for Muslims around the world, as it is the month of worship, closeness to God, psychological and spiritual peace, and community solidarity. In addition to the religious aspect that this blessed month entails, it also constitutes a life woven with various customs among all Arab and Islamic peoples, each of which is distinguished by particular traditions that only appear in the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan customs vary across the Arab and Islamic world, from lavish Iftar parties that bring together families and friends, to lively nights filled with prayers, Tarawih prayers, and dhikr sessions, to staying up late and spending quality time, reflecting the unique heritage and traditions of each country.

Additionally, Ramadan customs go beyond the mere trappings and traditions of popular culture, as this month includes many acts of kindness, mercy, and generosity. It is a time when Muslims are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God through increased acts of worship, contemplation of the Quran, and participation in charitable works.

From bustling streets decorated with colorful decorations to the call to prayer echoing through the streets, Ramadan changes the fabric of daily life, instilling spirituality and social connection. In this article, we begin a quick exploratory journey during which we discover some of the most important customs and traditions that characterize the month of Ramadan in Arab and Islamic societies.

Customs of Arab and Islamic people during Ramadan

With the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, mosques are lit up, lamps are hung at their entrances, streets are decorated and joy spreads everywhere. Many traditions practiced during the holy month of Ramadan from the Islamic conquest to the present day are still alive, even if they have differed somewhat or changed in form over the years. Here are the most important of these Ramadan customs:

1- The breakfast cannon sounded

The sound of the Iftar cannon is a sound emitted by a military cannon in some Islamic countries during the Maghreb call to prayer, thereby announcing the end of the fast and the start of the Iftar time after sunset during the blessed month of Ramadan. There are conflicting accounts of the origin of this Ramadan ritual, although all of these accounts point back to Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

The most important story among these accounts states that one of the 15th-century Mamluk sultans tested a cannon given to him and fired it at sunset during the month of Ramadan. It is said that the people of Cairo thought it was a deliberate ringing for breakfast. After seeing the public reaction to this sudden action, the Sultan ordered the firing of a shell every day at sunset to mark iftar.

Cannon fire was used until 1859 but was later replaced by blank shells because some towns were densely populated and a real shell could pose a danger to people's lives.

This tradition then spread first to the Levant, and then to Baghdad in the late 19th century, eventually reaching the Gulf States and North Africa. Although this question has become irrelevant in modern times as many people rely on clocks to determine prayer and iftar times, it can still be done in some Arab and Islamic cultures as a type of heirloom or tradition.

2- Ramadan decorations

Lanterns have been one of the most important aspects of the month of Ramadan for centuries and still are, as they are hung in the streets to mark the start of the holy month and bring a spirit of joy to everyone. The most important feature of these lanterns is the prominent appearance of the crescent and star in the decorations, which are important Islamic symbols.

Although life has changed dramatically during the day of Ramadan, with Muslims abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset, the nights of Ramadan are characterized by a joyful nature and a state of bliss that prevails in the atmosphere, as decorations, lanterns, and lights create an indescribable festive ambiance.

Each country has its style of hanging decorations for Ramadan: for example, the streets of Cairo are decorated with colorful fabrics, lamps, and lanterns, while in North African countries, arabesque designs dominate. In Gulf countries, colorful lights and decorations of eight stars and crescents hang from shopping mall ceilings and lamp posts.

Although Ramadan has no official colors, green, yellow, purple, and turquoise – colors that represent peace and spirituality – are commonly used in Ramadan decorations.

3- Al-Musaharati

Before the invention of the alarm clock, people relied on Musaherati to wake up for suhoor, and although this is no longer necessary today, this tradition still exists today. During Ramadan, Musaharati roams the streets to wake Muslims for suhoor by playing the flute or beating the drum.

The origin of this tradition dates back to the first Al-Musaharati in Islamic history, Utbah ibn Ishaq, the ruler of Egypt in the 7th century, as he walked through the streets of Cairo at night shouting: “O servants of God, do suhoor, for there is a blessing in suhoor.

Over time, this phenomenon or profession spread to other countries in the Islamic world, under different names and tunes. In Morocco, trumpets are sounded to wake people up. In Yemen, Al-Musaharati knocks on door after door in the residential neighborhood where he works. In Egypt, Al-Musaharati beats a huge drum to wake up the inhabitants of the houses on the street he passes.

In the Levant, this role became so popular that each neighborhood had its maharani to walk the streets, beat the drums, and shout to the residents: “Rise, sleepers, there is no god but the eternal God.” »

4- Tables of the Most Merciful

There is nothing better than the tables of the Most Merciful, which are held in most Arab and Islamic countries to represent the idea of brotherhood, interconnectedness, and compassion. Compassion and empathy towards the poor or those with fewer resources is a basic principle learned through fasting.

In Egypt, charity tables are organized in various residential neighborhoods, where everyone joins hands to contribute to the food or tables or help organize the table. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, sumptuous banquets are held in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. In the UAE, temporary tables filled with food are set up in mosque courtyards and Ramadan tents, organized by charities and funded by community members.

5- Ramadan Foods

Perhaps the most important thing that distinguishes the month of Ramadan from other feelings of Arab and Islamic customs is the presence of certain types of luxurious food and dishes that fill the tables, which may not be common during the rest of the months of the year. Some dish names may be similar across countries, although recipes or ingredients may differ.

This results in the increasing demand for certain foods such as samosa, fattah, kunafa, etc. as people purchase these foods in larger quantities during the month of Ramadan to eat them for breakfast. This is partly due to the desire to eat traditional foods that reflect the celebration and heritage atmosphere of this special month.

Additionally, some Ramadan-specific foods are considered part of the daily routine of families during this month, as they are specially prepared and served for breakfast and suhoor, making it a distinctive phenomenon in Ramadan. Arab countries during the month of Ramadan.

 There is no doubt that dates are an essential ingredient on every Arab table, as it was one of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, to break the fast with dates and l water, and the Muslims followed this. Sunnah from the time of the Prophet to the present day.

In addition to Ramadan foods, there are oriental treats. For centuries, Muslims have enjoyed traditional sweets, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, including chebakia, a Moroccan cake made with honey and sesame, and luqaimat, fried donut balls sweetened with sugar. honey or date molasses with a pinch of sesame, and qatayef, which is... A tart filled with cream or nuts, then fried, sweetened with honey, and more.

6- Family visits and dinner invitations

Family visits are an important part of holy month traditions in many Arab and Islamic cultures. This type of visit is seen as an opportunity to strengthen family ties and improve communication between relatives and friends. 

The exchange of food and hospitality is also considered an essential part of the Ramadan experience. In some traditions, iftar is held daily during Ramadan at a family member's home, starting with the eldest member of the family and then alternating with the rest of the family.

These visits represent the essence of the Islamic religion, which calls for harmony, compassion, and family bonds, and there is no better opportunity to do so than the month of Ramadan.

7- Ramadan evenings

During the month of Ramadan, evenings take on a special and distinct character, as people gather to spend time together after Tarawih prayers until dawn. Evenings are an integral part of the Ramadan experience in many Arab and Islamic countries and reflect the spirit of social cohesion. 

These evenings differ between many Arab cultures and even between members of the same society, as they include a different set of activities and events. For example, evenings may include reading the Holy Quran, participating in religious activities such as dhikr and supplication, or going out to eat and enjoying dishes prepared specifically for the month of Ramadan and then eating the suhoor and going home.

In conclusion, the importance of the month of Ramadan and the religious and spiritual values it embodies is evident in the extent of happiness we feel as it approaches and in the Ramadan customs and traditions, we look forward to undertaking. to celebrate the visit of the holy month. Ramadan customs are considered a profound cultural heritage, embodying a rich heritage that spans hundreds of years.

At the end of this pleasant journey of discovering the most important customs of Ramadan among Arab and Islamic peoples, we realize that this blessed month represents more than just a period of fasting and abstinence from food and drink. It is a time to calm the soul. , and draw closer to God through prayer, the Koran, and remembrance. It is also an opportunity to reinforce the values of patience, compassion, and tolerance. To build social relationships and strengthen bonds between community members.

As the Holy Month approaches, it is necessary to reflect on the spirituality and values it conveys and how they can be applied throughout the year to improve ourselves and our relationships with God and with others. To all our subscribers from the Arab world, tell us about the most important Ramadan traditions and events in your country, and don't forget to subscribe to the Forsa website to receive all the latest news from our useful and interesting articles!