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Medina. But in the villages and in the tents of bedouins,
such a moment is determined by people being capable of
distinguishing between a white string from a black string
at a time when this would be very difficult to do.
Before dawn, the believers would eat three dates and
drink some water and then they partake of a pre-dawn
meal called “suhoor”. Sleeping during the day would
compensate for the sleepless hours at night. Working days
are officially shortened during the month of fasting; they
begin late and end early at schools. Most women would
have a siesta and then they get up in order to prepare
the “beak-fast” meal. During this period, the appetizing
smells fill the streets and alleys, which would be totally
empty. This would be a real test of patience for the rare
passer-by who smell the inviting odors or for those who
do the cooking.
As the evening draws near and upon sunset, the voice
of the muezzin is heard. Soon he is joined by another and
another and another until all of them form a solemn chorus
that fills the atmosphere, which gradually becomes darker
and darker. Soon people emerge and cars start racing
towards the mosques and people hurry to perform the
sunset prayer and invoke God’s blessings and glorify His
name. This is followed by the distribution of charity and
the partaking of a few dates to be followed by the evening
meal which consists of various dishes that are exchanged
by people so that they all can partake of one another’s
cooking and offer same to passers-by, who may be total
strangers and yet are close in spirit and religious belief.
Thus another day of fasting comes to an end. In the
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next day, before the sun rises, the voice of the muezzin
is heard again announcing the advent of dawn and
cautioning people that the fasting has begun and calling
them to perform the dawn prayer. In this manner the days
pass one after another in fasting, prayer, charity work and
payment of Zakat and other donations. This is because in
this month in particular, as the Holy Quran says, the soul
is utterly purified.
It is well known that Zakat is one of Islam’s five pillars.
The population of the Kingdom voluntarily pay 2.5% of
surplus income that has been lying unspent for a whole
year to those who are needy. If a worker in a company
knows no needy persons to whom to pay Zakat, he can
entrust such money to the management of his company,
who would be obligated to see to it that the money reaches
those who need it and to inform the donor of the identity
of the receivers.
The family members of my friend, Saeeda, meet
together behind a table and put in an envelope money, the
amount of which would have been previously determined
by the head of the family. This takes place joyfully and
creates an atmosphere of holy festivity. Subsequently,
the envelopes are distributed among the families of the
driver, the janitor and the school cleaner. I am certain that,
thanks to the teachings of Islam, this contributes to the
creation of good human relations, which are implanted
in the souls of Muslims and create feelings of love and
fraternity. The children will treasure these memories of
domestic harmony.
During the day time, in Ramadan, the stores and shops
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would be closed, except those that deal with food items.
But as of ten p.m. to two or three a.m., they would be open
and full of life and movement, and lights would be shining
brightly, transforming night into day time. Throughout the
month, and particularly during the Id, the cities are adorned
and business flourishes, as this would be the season of sales,
when people buy a great many presents for their families
and friends. During the Id, many families travel to Mecca,
where the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, together
with the heads of many Islamic states, perform Umra (the
minor pilgrimage). This represents the end of the Holy
month and the whole country looks forward to the next
Ramadan, which is the holiest of months, at the end of
which Id is celebrated, preparations are made, prayers are
offered in mosques, articles are published in newspapers
and magazines, and television stations prepare special
programs in honor of this month. I was lucky enough to
participate in such occasions.
Saudis show a great interest in the Islamic countries of
the former Soviet Union, of which they had no knowledge
previously. They are also interested in the people, the
natural characteristics and, of course, in the customs and
all that has to do with Ramadan in our country. During
our stay in the Kingdom, a number of films were shown
on our country, during which I talked on the manner in
which such occasion is celebrated and on some typical
Azerbaijan dishes that are usually offered to relatives
and friends during the Id. The Saudi people refer to
their country as an island, and just like the island which
is surrounded with water, the Kingdom protects itself
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against foreign influences by adhering strictly to its own
traditions for fear that the defects and negative aspects
of foreigners might impinge on their society. The major
traditions relate to the strict observance of all the teachings
and moral, religious, civil, political and legal rules that
are derived from the Holy Quran, which has dominated
the life, thinking, hearts and minds of whole peoples, the
beginning of whose revelation took place in this blessed
month of Ramadan.
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