Getting ready for RAMADAN....

For those who don't know, Ramadan is the 9th month of the Muslim Calendar. The month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran (equivalent to our bible) "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation." Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is apparently a time of worship and contemplation

During this month strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during the fasting. The fast start from sunrise to sunset, where finally at the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the 'iftar', which literally translated means breakfast. In the evening following the iftar, it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends, eating as much as possible is if, like the camels, storing as much food as possible for the next day, where the fast is resumed. I am infact teasing the girls at my place of work, telling them that the food they eat will all be stored in their hips and thighs!! ;P

Apparently, the good that a person acquires through the fast can be destroyed by five things:

1. The telling of a lie

2. Slander - (a false or malicious report about someone)

3. Denouncing someone behind his back

4. A false oath

5. Greed or covetousness

In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer. This is usually 2-3 times longer than the daily prayers, and some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. Finally on the evening on the 27th day Muslims celebrate the Laylat al Qadr which literally means the 'night of power', where it is believed that on this night, the Prophet Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according tot he Quran, this is when God or Allah determines the course of the world for the following year - Weird ha!!!!

Finally when Ramadan ends there is the Shawwal which is celebrated for 3 days where the Muslims eat and eat and eat, as if to get back what they have lost during the fast. Gifts are also exchanged (the tradition is that the gifts are usually new clothes, and people have to wear new clothes during this feast). Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals.

All the streets are fully decorated with silver tinsel. Even the Center i work in has been decorated with ' RAMADAN KARIM' written all over the wall, KARIM thus meaning 'think about others and don't be selfless'. It pretty much reminds me of our Xmas, where we have little lights all over the place and the streets and houses are decorated, and Merry Xmas is written all over the walls. The only exception though is that houses are not decorated with Xmas trees, but with Ramadan Lamps, which are these plastic (or the original ones would be glass) lamps which light up and sing some traditional Ramadan Arabic song. Just like our Xmas carols!

I have thought about whether I should do Ramadan or not, and came to the conclusion that there is no reason why I should do it, as I am not dedicating it to my God and I would rather do a proper lent this Easter. Though for respect to the Egyptians I have no intention of flashing around my bottles of water and coffees, of eating in the streets, or at work and of smoking away in front of those dying for a cigarette. I will eat before I leave home and spend the rest of the day without food and water. Considering that it means at least 8hrs of fasting, it is not that bad for a beginner!!

So tomorrow is the special day, the 1st day of Ramadan. Tonight people will be awake all night getting ready for the first day of fasting - i.e. filling their bellies up at 5am!!! And tomorrow will be the 1st great If tar!! There are usually tents around the cities where people can go and have their if tar, where the poor people are fed and where there is belly dancing and entertainment all night!!! I am hoping that will be my destination tomorrow night!!!

I can't wait to go to as many iftar's as possible!!!!!