The school reception area decorated for Ramadan
Katie showing off the Ramadan mural painted on her classroom windows
A Ramadan lantern in the school lobby
More Ramadan decorations in the school reception area
Ramadan lanterns being sold in the street
Ramadan is the most important religious holiday of Islam, and it lasts for 1 month every year. Muslims follow a lunar calendar, and Ramadan happens on the 9th month of each lunar year. This year Ramadan started on September 13th, three days before we began teaching. Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the Quran, the holy book of Islam.
Around 610 A.D., the prophet Muhammad used to go out to the desert near Mecca, (in today's Saudi Arabia), to think about faith, society and God. One night a voice called to him from the night sky. It was the angel Gabriel, who told Muhammad he had been chosen to receive the word of Allah. In the days that followed, Muhammad found himself speaking the verses that would be transcribed as the Quran. At many mosques during Ramadan, a little of the Quran is recited each night in prayers known as Tarawih. So, by the end of the month, the complete scripture has been recited. During the month of Ramadan, most people also spend time on their own reading and studying the Quran.
Muslims practice Sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan. This means that they can’t eat or drink anything, including water, while the sun is up. They also make a special effort to avoid sins, and give donations to the poor during this month. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam. As with other Islamic duties, all able Muslims take part in Sawm from about age twelve. Since my students are 14 and 15 years old, most of them were participating in the Sawm, (or fasting), for the entire first month I was teaching them. Just imagine moody, hormonal teenagers who are also not drinking or eating anything. I’ll just say it was a very interesting first month of teaching and leave it at that.
Fasting serves many purposes. While they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. And in this holy month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers.
Families get up early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as Iftar. Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost. The Iftar meal is the most important part of the day, and families, friends, and neighbors get together to eat and to spend time with each other throughout the evening. They play games, tell stories, sing songs, and give thanks to Allah for their blessings.
Because most of the people in Egypt were fasting during Ramadan, businesses closed early during this month, and many restaurants weren’t open during the daytime hours. Daylight savings time also began during Ramadan, so that the sun would set an hour earlier and end the fasting sooner. Our school also had a special schedule during the month of Ramadan. Instead of having classes from 8:30-3:00 everyday, we only had classes from 8:30-1:00 everyday.
Imagine the spirit of giving and the love and appreciation for your fellow man that happens during Christmas. This is what Ramadan feels like, only it lasts for an entire month instead of just a few days. Sometimes during Ramadan people can get out of sorts and become lethargic because they aren’t eating or drinking anything, but in general, people are very generous, loving, and kind to one another during this holy month. During Ramadan, many special decorations were put up throughout Cairo. There were beautiful lights, (similar to Christmas lights), and lanterns hung in all the buildings and restaurants, and there were also beautiful red and blue tapestries hung up on many of the walls.
I have to confess that it was a bit of a culture shock to be experiencing Egypt for the first time during this religious holiday. We couldn’t go out dancing on the weekends because most of the clubs weren’t open, and we couldn’t always go to restaurants or stores when we wanted to, which was inconvenient at times. However, the shock really came from being in a culture where people were 100% devoted to their religion and their beliefs, and absolutely no one was drinking. I think as Americans we don’t realize how much of our culture revolves around events involving alcohol. And I saw so many people praying in public during that month, just sitting in chairs outside of their apartment buildings or stores reading the Quran and singing prayers. They are proud of their beliefs and they aren’t afraid to show it, which is not usually the case in our culture.
I am really glad that I got to experience Ramadan while I was here. It is a very special holiday that means a lot to the Egyptian people, and I think the message of the celebration is a good one. No matter what your religious views, I think we should all take time to give thanks for what we have in our lives, remember and help those who are less fortunate than us, and make time every day for the most important people in our lives: family and friends.
Around 610 A.D., the prophet Muhammad used to go out to the desert near Mecca, (in today's Saudi Arabia), to think about faith, society and God. One night a voice called to him from the night sky. It was the angel Gabriel, who told Muhammad he had been chosen to receive the word of Allah. In the days that followed, Muhammad found himself speaking the verses that would be transcribed as the Quran. At many mosques during Ramadan, a little of the Quran is recited each night in prayers known as Tarawih. So, by the end of the month, the complete scripture has been recited. During the month of Ramadan, most people also spend time on their own reading and studying the Quran.
Muslims practice Sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan. This means that they can’t eat or drink anything, including water, while the sun is up. They also make a special effort to avoid sins, and give donations to the poor during this month. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam. As with other Islamic duties, all able Muslims take part in Sawm from about age twelve. Since my students are 14 and 15 years old, most of them were participating in the Sawm, (or fasting), for the entire first month I was teaching them. Just imagine moody, hormonal teenagers who are also not drinking or eating anything. I’ll just say it was a very interesting first month of teaching and leave it at that.
Fasting serves many purposes. While they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. And in this holy month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers.
Families get up early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as Iftar. Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost. The Iftar meal is the most important part of the day, and families, friends, and neighbors get together to eat and to spend time with each other throughout the evening. They play games, tell stories, sing songs, and give thanks to Allah for their blessings.
Because most of the people in Egypt were fasting during Ramadan, businesses closed early during this month, and many restaurants weren’t open during the daytime hours. Daylight savings time also began during Ramadan, so that the sun would set an hour earlier and end the fasting sooner. Our school also had a special schedule during the month of Ramadan. Instead of having classes from 8:30-3:00 everyday, we only had classes from 8:30-1:00 everyday.
Imagine the spirit of giving and the love and appreciation for your fellow man that happens during Christmas. This is what Ramadan feels like, only it lasts for an entire month instead of just a few days. Sometimes during Ramadan people can get out of sorts and become lethargic because they aren’t eating or drinking anything, but in general, people are very generous, loving, and kind to one another during this holy month. During Ramadan, many special decorations were put up throughout Cairo. There were beautiful lights, (similar to Christmas lights), and lanterns hung in all the buildings and restaurants, and there were also beautiful red and blue tapestries hung up on many of the walls.
I have to confess that it was a bit of a culture shock to be experiencing Egypt for the first time during this religious holiday. We couldn’t go out dancing on the weekends because most of the clubs weren’t open, and we couldn’t always go to restaurants or stores when we wanted to, which was inconvenient at times. However, the shock really came from being in a culture where people were 100% devoted to their religion and their beliefs, and absolutely no one was drinking. I think as Americans we don’t realize how much of our culture revolves around events involving alcohol. And I saw so many people praying in public during that month, just sitting in chairs outside of their apartment buildings or stores reading the Quran and singing prayers. They are proud of their beliefs and they aren’t afraid to show it, which is not usually the case in our culture.
I am really glad that I got to experience Ramadan while I was here. It is a very special holiday that means a lot to the Egyptian people, and I think the message of the celebration is a good one. No matter what your religious views, I think we should all take time to give thanks for what we have in our lives, remember and help those who are less fortunate than us, and make time every day for the most important people in our lives: family and friends.
