Celebrating Ramadan: Fasting and Breaking the Fast
The month of Ramadan is upon us once again. Marked by the sighting of the new moon and celebrated by millions around the world, this deeply sacred month means so much to so many people. To those who practice, Ramadan is about community, prayer, charity, honest introspection and self-restraint. It’s about being the best we can be. But most of all, Ramadan is about love and respect.
Ramadan, from the Arabic word al-ramad which means scorching heat, falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It was during this time, many hundreds of years ago, that the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet, and it is in honor of this event that Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan each year. It is in honor of this major milestone in Islamic history that millions of people spend one month each year in devotion to their faith, expressed through prayer, charitable giving, and of course, fasting.
Fasting, or seyam in Arabic, is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with prayer, charity, pilgrimage and the shahada, a declaration of faith. But fasting is about so much more than just refraining from eating and drinking. True seyam is about restraint and about staying away from any impure thoughts and actions. It’s about removing external distractions and temptations in order to focus on the self and strengthen the relationship with God.
Fasting has existed across cultures since early human civilization and each culture has their own way of doing things. In Islam, fasting, which means refraining from not only food and water, but anything else that might be considered a temptation, takes place each day during the month of Ramadan from sunrise, fajr, to sunset, maghreb.
Just before sunrise, people prepare for the fast ahead with a pre-dawn meal called sohour, consisting usually of something light like yoghurt, fruit, cheese and bread, although some go all out with dishes like ful and eggs. Light food with a low-salt content is usually best though if you want to avoid being dehydrated the following day.
Once the sun has set, an event signaled by the azan or madfaa’, people gather to break their fast together over a meal called iftar (breakfast). The traditional way to break one’s fast is with dates and water, as was done by the Prophet centuries ago, and while today the tradition still holds true, we break our fast a little differently now.
What people eat for iftar will, unsurprisingly, depend on where you are in the world. Here in Egypt people like to break their fast with the traditional dates and water, but a hearty soup is most people’s favorite way to start the meal. Even when Ramadan falls in the middle of summer, most Egyptians will still enjoy a nice hot bowl of soup for iftar.
Soup is usually followed by a lavish spread of dishes, both local and international, that will include everything from salads, vegetables, rice or pasta, and at least one kind of protein. And we must not forget dessert, the highlight of the meal for many, if not most. Ramadan desserts have almost taken on a life of their own and the number of sweet dishes served will often outnumber the savory dishes. Iftar is a communal meal and the more people we have around us the better; it’s all about sharing the experience with those you love, from family and friends to neighbours and colleagues. And in true Middle Eastern fashion, that means A LOT of food.
If you walk through the streets of Egypt’s cities, both big and small, you’ll find long tables set up especially for iftar. The food is all donated by members of the community who are able to do so; anyone who can’t afford a meal can always find one here. You’ll also find people in the streets handing out free water and snacks for anyone who might find themselves stuck on the road during iftar, another beautiful expression of the altruistic ethos of Ramadan. It is precisely this kind of togetherness and community support that makes the month so special for so many people.
Ramadan Kareem everyone!