In Agadir, this month, as in the entire Islamic world, we're experiencing Ramadan.
I'd like to give you a brief explacation of Ramadan and its origin.
The prophet Mohamed every year would go off into a cave to pray and meditate.
And , as his grandfather before him, he chose the ninth month of the year, the month of Ramadan for his retreat. It was near the end of the month of Ramadan, when he was around 40 years of age, that he was first visited by the angel Gabriel, and Gabriel revealed to him the mission God had chosen for him.
In memory of this "revelation" as it is called, each year , during the month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world, fast(niether eat nor drink ) from sun up till sunset.
The Coran specifies "eat and drink until the first threads of dawn seperate the day from the night.
Ramadan is also a time of conviviality and festivities. A time when friends exchange invitations for the 'f'tor", the moment of breaking the fast.(for which there are a mountain of recipes of wonderful soups, breads and pasteries etc.!!)
But Ramadan is about more than fasting all day long. One must also abstain from "bad "actions and thoughts. One must meditate, pray, practice charity and reconciliation.
Every night during Ramadan , Muslims, stay awake late and pray. In the mosques, a special service called"tarâwîh", is celebrated. The "Imam" who officiates at this services reads two chapters of the Coran every night. During the 30 days of Ramadan, the entire Coran is recited.
The eve of the 27th day of Ramadan, (The Night of Destiny) , is the night in which the revelation was given to Mohamed, by Gabriel. It is the holiest night of the Muslim calender. Even the children make an effort to fast on the 26th day out of respect. The mosques are full and the chanting of prayers can be heard for long hours into the night.
To add to the festive spirit, the minerats are outlined by colored strings of electric lights. In homes women prepare cous cous and chicken tajine, the traditionnel dishes for the Night of Destiny. It is a very special, holy night.
Some of the changes we notice during the month of Ramadan:
-the full mosques( we live just beside one of the biggest central mosques in town and the big plaza next to the mosque is filled with an overflow of faithful during this month)
-the reduced working hours (because the entire population is fasting, except of course for the children, the very elderly and the sick who are exempt)
-many articles and pictures in the papers and reports on tv showing the different charitable acts of different foundations, entreprises and government envers the poor and needy,
-the appearence in all the bakeries of all the special 'patisseries' unique to Ramadan
-and an air of excitment that goes with the preparations and the festivies of a holiday.
-The sirens in the evening and at dawn which accompany the call to prayer to remind the faithful to begin or break the fast.-The empty, absolutely DESERTED STREETS at sunset when the fast is broken.
Ramadan ends with the first new moon of the 10th month chawam, after 29 or 30 days of fasting. The first day of the 10th month is a holiday, "Aïd al- ftir" or "l'Aïd Sghrir"(little fête) . Which this year will be either the 30th of September or the 1st of October, depending on when the first new moon is seen.
Are you still with me??!!!
I hope this wasn't too long....believe me this is a very MINIMUN of information concerning Ramadan, and I felt it necessary to tell you a bit.
Now I want to post a few pictures to show you a few of the lovely pastries, crêpes, soupes foods in general , that we're tempted with during Ramardan. I've been trying for two days to download some pics onto my blog page, but the connection is so poor I've not yet succeded...hopefully this am, I will. Blessings to all, for a wonderful day!!
