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Ramadan in Egypt
Mansoura, EGYPT – In Egypt, Ramadan is considered one of the most unique months of the year. Decorative lanterns, or fawanees, appear all over the streets, giving us a sign of the beginning of this holy month.
People get together everywhere. Families gather to break their fast at sundown for the iftar meal, as no one wants to break their fast alone.
In Egypt, there’s a kind of challenge between families over who will invite the other first for iftar.
If someone invited you first, you will invite him after, so the families can spend as much time as possible together.
As the saying goes, “Ramadan loves gatherings.”
Everyone is in rush to get home early to pray or enjoy the time with family and friends.
All of us are trying to be humble, to spread joy and greetings and to help each other and those who are in need. We do this because the main idea of Ramadan is to feel the same feeling of those who are in need and also to have self-control over your desires.
During Ramadan, food tables are set up along streets so anyone can break their fast on a free meal even if they have no money.
Every neighborhood creates its own tables and people who live there prepare the food. When the sunset comes, meals are served.
People here are in a kind of friendly competition for the whole month to see who can be most charitable, and to create closeness in the community.
Rich people give money to the poor and the healthy donate to the sick. Everyone is sharing and giving time, money and love in hopes of getting a reward from God.
Ramadan is a living example of how can we obtain social solidarity. I wish all months could go like this, full of love and sharing vibes.
Unfortunately this month won’t last forever, but I am always looking forward to the next Ramadan so I can feel this way again.
Ramadan foods from Pakistan. At left is biryani, or rice with potatoes and meat. At right is pakoray, which is vegetables like potato or spinach fried in chickpea flour. (Photos by Anya Farooqui/YJI)
Ramadan in Lebanon
Ancona, ITALY – Like the sun after a raging storm, Ramadan comes every year to remind us that after the pain, the joy will always be here, and that after any hardship relief will always find its way to our life.
“Ramadan always comes in the right time” is a sentence I used to hear a lot in Lebanon, where I am from.
This year I can agree with it, as this month came to help people heal after everything that happened.
Ramadan, known for its importance for Muslims and all the Arab world, is really special in Lebanon.
Life switches to night shifts and all the streets are decorated. Houses, restaurants and coffee shops are all full of people gathered at night.
There are new markets, food trucks and juice kiosks opening.
You can’t imagine seeing all the people in a hurry before Ramadan, trying to buy everything and prepare their houses for this holy month. It’s funny to see people emptying the supermarkets as if the food will disappear.
On the last day of Sha’ban – the last night before fasting begins – many people arrange a lunch or dinner called “Sibaniyat Ramadan,” dedicated to eating whatever foods they desire in preparation for abstaining from them during the days of fasting.
And then the race begins. Everyone is in hurry to arrive on time for iftar, the meal that breaks the fast when the sun sets.
There are lines of people in front of sweet shops and employees running for the break of iftar.
And we can’t forget the traffic that increases as the hour of iftar approaches. At home, everyone is in the kitchen helping to make dinner and have the food on time.
What makes this month special is how it brings families, friends and colleagues together.
You see families competing over who will invite the other one first. Once you’re invited, don’t forget to bring some sweets, a box of dates or refreshing drinks like orange juice or jellab. A popular drink during Ramadan, jellab is made from carob, dates, grape molasses and rose water.
Then, you’ll probably invite your hosts to come to your place at a future iftar.
The main idea of Ramadan is acknowledging the blessings we have, and thinking of others, keeping their feelings and needs in mind. That’s why in this month people tend to give, help and donate more.
Everyone works to be nicer to others and even to ourselves by leaving bad habits behind, being grateful for what we have and spending quality time with our families.
What also makes this month more special in Lebanon is how it can bring people from various religions together. You’ll see Christians excited for it, as Christmas unites us, and then Ramadan also does.
We always find reasons to gather. I really wish these special months would last for the whole year as they bring so much love and peace to our hearts and souls.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai, U.A.E. – My teenage dream has come true: I am celebrating Ramadan in a Muslim country.
Living in Russia, I never felt the holiday atmosphere of the Islamic holy month. Most Russians are Christians, so Ramadan is not a special month for them. But last September when I started my studies at the American University in Dubai, I finally got to experience what it is like to be a fasting Muslim in an American university in an Arab country.
For those who don’t know, Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims fast and do good deeds. Fasting in Islam means abstaining from food from dawn till dusk. It is also a month of connecting with family, charity and praying.
In the United Arab Emirates, religion is highly respected and it’s expected that people keep certain customs. For instance, work hours are shortened, some restaurants are closed during the day and music in public places is limited.
Tour agencies tell tourists to dress modestly and respect religious customs in Dubai. It is true that the rules aren’t as strict as they used to be – there are way too many expats in Dubai to keep it that way.
Still, Dubai is a religious city, so Ramadan is known to everyone living and visiting it.
I thought Ramadan would be celebrated in each corner of the city, with many exciting and free events for the public, decorated streets and extra friendly people. Although people here are friendly regardless of the time of the year, the rest of my expectations didn’t turn out to be true.
Ramadan in Dubai actually means slowed work, sleepy people, shortened working hours, special deals in stores and endless Ramadan commercials on YouTube. It is not what I expected, but it still offers some benefits: professors are easier on us with assignments and we can get stuff for a reduced price.
But most importantly, Ramadan is about community. After a long day of not putting a drop of water in your mouth, you gather for iftar with your friends to have delicious food and a lively conversation.
If you are not with them, you call all your relatives to wish them Ramadan Kareem (“Have a blessed Ramadan.”) You meet girls in the dorm’s kitchen to cook meals for suhoor (the meal before dawn.)
Guys go to mosques to pray in groups.
Shaden Zein, a freshman student from Saudi Arabia, studies business at American University in Dubai.
“Ramadan should be celebrated with family,” said Zein, who is Muslim. “The vibe is more family-friendly. To make the most out of it, I spend as much time as I can with my friends and relatives, especially during iftar. It makes me feel like I’m at home even though I’m not.”
Pharell Jerome Sainviller is a Christian from a Muslim family. Sainviller, who grew up in Dubai and studies at American University in Dubai, said Ramadan is a departure from typical customs.
“In Ramadan, it’s like a small Christmas every night, because my whole family comes together at iftar, and we all eat and drink,” said Sainviller. “It’s not the case usually, my father dines alone and my mom is not here in Dubai and so I’m by myself, but in Ramadan the family is together. And even if you’re not fasting, people here are not gonna be mad at you, they’re not trying to impose the religion on everyone.”
I realize that decorations or events are not the main aspects of Ramadan. I was thirsty for a community of people who understand the value and importance of this month. I found it in Dubai.
Ahmed Elkhamisy is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Mansoura, Egypt. He wrote the section about Ramadan in Egypt.
Larissa Ayoub is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Lebanon. She is studying in Italy. She wrote the section about Ramadan in Lebanon.
Amina Urdukhanova is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Russia. She is studying in Dubai. She wrote the section about Dubai.
Anya Farooqui is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Karachi, Pakistan. She contributed photos for this article.
