Any more desolate and tumbleweeds would be awkwardly skooting across the central square's cobblestone and concrete tiles. Sitting in my front lawn under a mid-morning sun that's already telling my body to start a modest sweat, the view of Ifrane's most visited gathering area couldn't differ more from last night's typical menagerie of playful children, loitering teenagers and strolling families. With a quiet thunder, my fourth Ramadan in an Islamic country leaves its first impression.
It's that time of year again, and Ramadan is upon us. If you're reading from a western country, you probably haven't noticed and have little reason to take note of a religious custom that offers no significant change to your daily affairs. But, for those of us in countries like Morocco, it's hard not to notice. Moreover, if you're part of the Armed Forces deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, you're working under guidance from the highest echelons providing tactical and cultural reminders that impact most of your daily activities.
So what's Ramadan, and why is it so important? I've asked myself this question more than a handful of times and find a different answer every year. I'll start this time by putting it within the context of the five pillars of Islam, which are obligatory and include: the Creed (shahada الشهادة), the five daily prayers (salat الصلاة), fasting during Ramadan (sawm الصوم), alms-giving (zakat الزكاة), and the pilgrimmage to Mecca (hajj الحاج).
Simply put, Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting. It's the ninth month of the Islamic calender and a time for the devoted to submit themselves to God. The Islamic calendar is linked to the moon's cycle and doesn't exactly line up with the Gregorian calendar; therefore, Ramadan is about eleven days earlier each year. Either by design or coincidence, I've been told that this is significant because over the course of 34 years, a devoted Muslim will fast everyday of the year.
Ramadan's significance traces back to the beginning of Islam, as it was the time when the first verses of the Q'uran were revealed to the prophet Mohammed. Accordingly, Islamic tradition still holds that this month is a special time of year for God's revelations to man.
The most relevant revelation to non-practitioners like myself is that you can't find food during daylight hours...anywhere. Restaurants close during the day, general shops and services limit their hours and the general population tend to stay at home in order to avoid taxing themselves too much in the warm weather. But, there have been other revelations, as I've learned that the faithful submit to God in other ways.
Though not a central tenet, most read the Q'uran throughout the month. Additionally, the usual daily prayer echoing from minarets is replaced by full Q'uranic verses, and some Imams (mosque leaders) broadcast the full Q'uran over the course of the month. This extends the typical two-minute call into a full sermon in some cases. During one of my tours in Iraq, our Imam's five daily prayers would sometimes last thirty minutes apiece as he sang out full Q'uranic verses to his followers.
Another practice given special emphasis during Ramadan is alms-giving. One of the five pillars of Islam, charity is reportedly rewarded by God more during this holy month. Muslims believe that their reward for giving alms and providing for the poor will be 700 times more than during any other time of year. I'm not sure what that reward is but from the looks of things they have ample opportunity to claim it, as I've seen more willing recipients than I could shake a stick at shuffling through the streets of Rabat, Fez, Marrakesh, Tangier and just about everyplace else that has an intersection.
When the sun goes down, Muslims break their fast of food and drink and gather for the fast-breaking meal of Iftar. Served around the fourth of five daily prayers, this is when the day really begins. After spending most of the sunlight hours sleeping and milling around the house, Muslims start their "day." Shops open up, music starts and it's arguably business as usual until sunrise.
We'll see tonight how busy this place gets! Until the end of Ramadan, Eid-al-Fitr, I expect that the peace and quiet that I'm currently enjoying will be replaced by a party like most other nights - I better take a nap so I'm ready!
For a great photographic look at the Muslim faithful, visit "Foreign Policy" here.
It's that time of year again, and Ramadan is upon us. If you're reading from a western country, you probably haven't noticed and have little reason to take note of a religious custom that offers no significant change to your daily affairs. But, for those of us in countries like Morocco, it's hard not to notice. Moreover, if you're part of the Armed Forces deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, you're working under guidance from the highest echelons providing tactical and cultural reminders that impact most of your daily activities.
So what's Ramadan, and why is it so important? I've asked myself this question more than a handful of times and find a different answer every year. I'll start this time by putting it within the context of the five pillars of Islam, which are obligatory and include: the Creed (shahada الشهادة), the five daily prayers (salat الصلاة), fasting during Ramadan (sawm الصوم), alms-giving (zakat الزكاة), and the pilgrimmage to Mecca (hajj الحاج).
Simply put, Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting. It's the ninth month of the Islamic calender and a time for the devoted to submit themselves to God. The Islamic calendar is linked to the moon's cycle and doesn't exactly line up with the Gregorian calendar; therefore, Ramadan is about eleven days earlier each year. Either by design or coincidence, I've been told that this is significant because over the course of 34 years, a devoted Muslim will fast everyday of the year.
Ramadan's significance traces back to the beginning of Islam, as it was the time when the first verses of the Q'uran were revealed to the prophet Mohammed. Accordingly, Islamic tradition still holds that this month is a special time of year for God's revelations to man.
The most relevant revelation to non-practitioners like myself is that you can't find food during daylight hours...anywhere. Restaurants close during the day, general shops and services limit their hours and the general population tend to stay at home in order to avoid taxing themselves too much in the warm weather. But, there have been other revelations, as I've learned that the faithful submit to God in other ways.
Though not a central tenet, most read the Q'uran throughout the month. Additionally, the usual daily prayer echoing from minarets is replaced by full Q'uranic verses, and some Imams (mosque leaders) broadcast the full Q'uran over the course of the month. This extends the typical two-minute call into a full sermon in some cases. During one of my tours in Iraq, our Imam's five daily prayers would sometimes last thirty minutes apiece as he sang out full Q'uranic verses to his followers.
Another practice given special emphasis during Ramadan is alms-giving. One of the five pillars of Islam, charity is reportedly rewarded by God more during this holy month. Muslims believe that their reward for giving alms and providing for the poor will be 700 times more than during any other time of year. I'm not sure what that reward is but from the looks of things they have ample opportunity to claim it, as I've seen more willing recipients than I could shake a stick at shuffling through the streets of Rabat, Fez, Marrakesh, Tangier and just about everyplace else that has an intersection.
When the sun goes down, Muslims break their fast of food and drink and gather for the fast-breaking meal of Iftar. Served around the fourth of five daily prayers, this is when the day really begins. After spending most of the sunlight hours sleeping and milling around the house, Muslims start their "day." Shops open up, music starts and it's arguably business as usual until sunrise.
We'll see tonight how busy this place gets! Until the end of Ramadan, Eid-al-Fitr, I expect that the peace and quiet that I'm currently enjoying will be replaced by a party like most other nights - I better take a nap so I'm ready!
For a great photographic look at the Muslim faithful, visit "Foreign Policy" here.
Let the Fast End! For those of you wondering: no, I'm not participating in the fast. I may appreciate the ritual and respect those partaking, but my peppered olive and couscous lunch have affirmed my non-participation.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you were fasting too. It is an interesting religion.
ReplyDelete