Alhabib is from the Tuareg people in Libya and sent us this fascinating
insight into the Islamic festival of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is during this
month that Muslims fast and when Muslims concentrate on their faith. It
is a time of worship and contemplation. There are fairly strict rules
about how one can live during the month of Ramadan: during the Fast of Ramadan,
Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink during daylight hours and smoking and
sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of each
day, the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the
evening following the iftar, it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting
family and friends and the fast is resumed the next morning
As the holy time of Ramadan approaches, everyone is very happy and starts to
prepare for it. The women in the home usually prepare special meals for
the month of Ramadan. Everyone is happy and anticipating the coming of
this holy month. Ramadan begins after watching the crescent shaped moon
at midnight or even later. During this period, Muslims start their day
before early dawn and eat a meal, called the Sahour. This is sufficient
for fasting for the day. After that, they begin the worship and call to
God for forgiveness. All Muslims must fast between the hours of
dawn and dusk.
Before sunset the women prepare delicious savoury food. At sunset ,
when the call to prayer to Al Magreb is made, all the family gather round the
feast to eat. They begin with some dates and some milk (this is the sunna
of the prophet Mohamed ) and then begin the Magreb prayer. After praying
they return to eat and drink. There is lots of visiting going on and much
time is spent with friends and all houses are open to receive any guest from
anywhere.
After eating the Iftar (breakfast), much worship and prayers take place
during the month, and at night, when the call to prayer for the evening Aisha
begins, people go to the mosques to pray evening prayers. They pray the
Al Traweh prayer and this continues every night. On the 27th
night, the Greater Night (Alila Alkabira ) which is called (Night of Al Gadr),
the holy Koran begins to descend from heaven to prophet Mohamed. On this
night people recite the Koran all the night until dawn so as to be close to
God.
After the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the holy Bairam comes. In
the Morning of the first day of the lesser Bairam, the people get out to the
Plazas to pray the Feast prayer. It is two bows: after praying, each
person begins to greet each other (Alsalam) happily and to wish him a merry
feast. After the Feast after the holy month, the lesser Bairam continues
for three days, all of it to visit friends and family and everyone is
happy.
If you would like to contact Alhabib about Ramaddan or Libya, he can be
reached by e-mail on: tenerecotour@yahoo.com