JEDDAH, 5 November — Saudi Arabia has set the mood for Muslims worldwide to welcome another holy month of Ramadan during which the faithful fast from dawn to dusk, praying and thanking Allah for His blessings, helping the needy and atoning for mistakes.
Ramadan could begin begin tomorrow if the new moon is sighted tonight.
The blessed month symbolizes the essence of Islam for it was in Ramadan that the first verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The strict abstinence the month entails is taken as a blessing in terms of physical and spiritual rewards.
Markets and malls have reported brisk business as people stacked up on groceries, fruits and vegetables besides breakfast specials, which vary from community to community.
Traffic has been heavy for the past three days and parking lots at major supermarkets have been packed to capacity as families in droves went on shopping sprees.
Business hit a high point at all major markets and predictably, foodstuffs topped the shopping list.
Non-Muslims are expected to respect the spirit of Ramadan and abstain from eating, drinking and smoking in public.
Breach of the restrictions invites punishment including deportation. Rarely are they caught on the wrong foot as they willingly abide by the norms.
Travelers and the infirm are exempt from fasting but are required to make up later.
Life in real terms slows down during the month, with minimal daytime activities. But nights are hectic and colorful with people making up for lost eating time, often overeating.
Offices have short working hours .“I am fasting, so don’t bother me” is a common refrain. Frayed nerves tend to calm down as fasting days follow one after another.
The weather gets better with each passing Ramadan, which makes the rigors of fasting less demanding. It has already rained in several parts of the Kingdom, bringing the temperatures down.
Rain prayers were held throughout the country yesterday morning and if history is any guide, more rains are certain to come pouring down.
Piety apart, the high point of a day in Ramadan is breakfast (iftar) time, announced traditionally with a booming cannon.
Iftar parties abound in Saudi and expatriate families. Expat areas are abuzz in the evenings with families and friends getting together for iftar parties where an abundance of sumptuous food often goes uneaten.
Iftar over, the whole town is on the move, many of them to Makkah for Taraweeh prayers. Families by the hundreds flock to the Corniche, carting food to break their fast in the open air.
Makeshift stalls selling nuts and dates and fastfoods of all kinds sprout from day one of Ramadan and they do a roaring business until early morning hours.
Free food is supplied to the needy at mosques, which are invariably packed with the faithful at prayer times.
Sensing people’s generosity, beggars of every description and with every alleged disability hang out around the mosques.
Members of the anti-begging squad should be there to keep the beggars at bay, though they will have little success.
