Ramadan is ESEA-er than you think!
In 2021, 12 April marks the start of Ramadan in the UK (though time zones and different hemispheres mean that the moon sighting may be on a different day in other countries). We invited friend of besea.n, Joy Muhammad Arrow, to tell us more about this period in the Islamic calendar.
That time of year is here again for the Muslim communities across the world. It’s the Islamic holy month of Ramadan! Islam is the most practised religion in South East Asia with its majority of followers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and smaller communities in surrounding countries. There are also notable Muslim societies in China and growing Muslim communities in Japan and Korea.
For most of the outside world looking in, Ramadan means their Muslim friends/neighbours/colleagues/loved ones trying to conceal the hunger pangs of fasting followed by awkward silences. For the Muslim world it is so much more.
1. Ramadan is once a year and indeed does involve fasting. For thirty days, from dawn till sunset, Muslims are expected to refrain from eating, drinking water, vices such as smoking and chewing tobacco/herbs and toxic speech like swearing and gossip.
2. In place of the above, Muslims during the month in Ramadan are expected to amplify more charitable efforts. A compulsory tax called Zakat is imposed on the head of each family, with proceeds going to the poor. You’ll find a lot more charity drives run by Islamic associations in this holy season. Muslims also use this month read more Quranic scriptures and hold extra prayer sessions called Taraweeh, which are performed every evening during the fasting month.
3. Fasting during Ramadan is considered one of the most important aspects of the Islamic faith. Reasons range from empathising on how the poor and starving feel, improving on spiritual deeds to following divine commandment. Whatever the reason may be, it brings many Muslims of varied beliefs together. Especially when breaking fast through food. Us Muslims love our food.
4. Onto the food. Expect pictures absolutely everywhere of a dish called Ketupak if you’re in a Malay Muslim area. It’s a cute and chunky block of rice cleverly wrapped in a chequered pattern in banana leaves and is almost exclusively saved for this holy season. Other food for hungry bellies to break fast with includes quite a menu. It ranges from street snacks like giant prawn fritters, chicken skewers, squid nuggets and fish cake skewers, potato/meat curry puffs, potato donuts, meat pancakes, fried bananas, peanut butter pancakes with sweetcorn, endless bags of samosas, coconut jellies and boxes and boxes of dates. Drinks are non alcoholic, with options of rose water (no, not the one you find in make up kits), iced milky tea, iced chocolate drink and gallons of soft drinks. Home cooked meals or takeouts include those large boxes of dates again and hand pulled noodles in beef broth, satay (braised meat on skewers), Sambal (chilli paste), shredded chicken and rice cubes in meat soup, sambal , vermicelli noodles with bean cubes, cabbage, chilli in curry, sambal, coconut beef curry and rice, sambal, tapioca giant pancakes with different flavours and curries, sambal, shredded fish and noodles, sambal, fish head curry and rice, sambal, prawn curry and noodles, sambal, pickled vegetables, squid and chilli sambal, steamed chicken with rice and chicken soup and...sambal. And that’s just the leftovers for our early breakfast.
Photo by Naim Benjelloun from Pexels
We’re allowed to eat food until the wee hours of the morning or have an extra early breakfast. This is called Sahur. The exact time does range and it’s common to have a timetable to keep track. Expect lots of sleepy faces this season or even worse the overly energetic person who’s been up since 4am running on adrenaline to shame a pack of Duracell. I FEEL JUST FINE I COULD GO TO THE GYM!! WHEEEEEE.
5. The Islamic faith is flexible when it comes to accommodating its followers. Exempt from fasting include those who are in ill health, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, those travelling long distances, young children and menstruating individuals. Alternative options to fasting for ones who still wish to participate but can’t include feeding large amounts of meals or donating extra money to the poor.
6. At the end of Ramadan is the festival of Eid Ul Fitr, which lasts two days. Usually this means splashing out on traditional costumes in the brightest colours and fine fabrics, sometimes with some sparkly bling and glitter threads. Costumes vary depending on the culture but modesty in terms of covering flesh is key for everyone, where clothes cover the full body, arms, legs and either a headscarf or skullcap/black velvet square hat is worn. Muslims gather together in the mosque for prayers. Then we would visit all our relatives within possible journey distance which means...more food. We also visit our relatives and friends who have passed on, trips to the graveyards are quite common.
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
7. Kids usually end up quite rich during Eid, as it’s traditional for adults to give out packets of money to children.
8. No Eid or Ramadan season occurs on the same day each year. Their dates are based on sightings of the moon and a lunar calendar. Both events move ten days earlier each year. Which means that the average Muslim will get to experience various fasting hours when living in a country with four seasons. Winter fasting is literally having breakfast at teatime. Summer fasting...well there’s a reason why people still argue on whether to follow the hours of the Holy City of Mecca instead, where people consistently fast shorter hours compared to those who have to wait past late evening for the sun to set.
9. Please note that there’s no need to hide eating your lunch in front of a Muslim. We know you are being nice but it is our obligation to fast and not yours. That said, if you’re going to guzzle coffee in front of us when we’ve been losing sleep because of extra early breakfasts, expect emotional and longing stares at drinking mugs.
If you are celebrating Ramadan and Eid this year, let us know on Instagram or Twitter.
Thank you to Joy for providing her insight into this important period in the Islamic calendar. To read more from Joy check out her spot.light post she wrote for us on being ESEAly Queer and Muslim.