Sometimes it's already end of January and Christmas decorations are still hanging. I found some decorations of Ramadan time in my camera (which, by the way, fell down and it's broken now). And I thought that, although Ramadan is over, it wouldn't be bad to share these with you. ;-)
Now, after one month writing almost daily I needed a pause. But Loonie Lou is back and she's loads of things to write about.
For instance, did you notice that demonstrations have become popular all around the world? Japan, Spain, South Africa, not to mention all the Arab World. Just thought it worthy of mention...
Today is the last entry I'm writing about Ramadan. Because the month of fasting ends today.
Tomorrow - and after tomorrow - is going to be holiday here (remember, weekend here is Friday). The holiday is called Eid ul-Fitr. It means something like "Festivity for the end of Fasting". I've been told people are going to be celebrating in the streets and having fun. Unfortunately, I have read in the newspapers, that harassment of women increases considerably during Eid. It seems so serious that a local feminist movement is going to promote patrols in metro stations.
I thought that a good thing to prayer about is to ask for end of sexual harassment. And, because it's not going to end suddenly, to ask that we, ladies, may learn to speak up against it and that we may not feel guilty or devalued because of it.
The following short film tackles the issue. It's in Arabic, but I'm sure you can understand it: the harassment, the inside voice blaming herself, the shame, suffering, and a final point when she SPEAKs UP. There'll be a period. A full stop.
As it is stated in the end of the video:
you are not flattering
you are harassing
your silence allows it. speak up
That's my prayer and celebration for Eid.
You can read Wikipedia's article for the Eid HERE.
PS: I was planning to write about Eid, telling about all the yummie biscuits that appeared recently in the baker's and crowded supermarkets. But how could I when I open the [e-]newspapers and article after article is talking about what I actually wrote? Definitely, I am not the one who is going to keep quiet, right?
PS2: a bomb in Herat, Afghanistan, kills 12 civilians. Taliban saying Eid Karim! (generous Eid) - they said the killings in the last days are their Eid's message. Not that I am going to reason about this, but I guess I'm feeling a bit like John Lenon today. Eid Mubarak (Happy Eid), War is not Over.
There is a place I really like here. It's the immigration office. How different it is from the other parts of the city. Although women still take part in the public life here - as singers, TV stars, evening news' presenters and cashiers - public offices are the most friendly work-places for women. In this places, women usually don't have lower incomes than men and they are more welcome then in the private enterprises.
So, it's always a pleasure to go to the immigration office. All those veiled women laughing loud during their breakfast time, shouting to men on the other side of their desks and telling everybody else to obey them. Talk about empowerment of women. There is a spot in their lives where they have power - and better still, they know it.
How different was to apply to a visa during Ramadan. No bad humour, but no breakfast together, to start with. Try to picture yourself: office hours are from 8:00 to 14:00, but be sure that at eight, they're sipping their teas and eating aish baladi with something: it can be feta cheese, beans, cucumber or eggs. They're waiting for the officials to bring the documents they are going to work with, with laughter and chitchat. Not during Ramadan, of course.
Then you have a pretty silent office. All civil workers are there waiting for their papers and they don't have much to talk to each other. No smiles. The woman who attends me is even polite this time. Justice be done, it seems the ex-pats are more polite to her as well - it is as though everybody's energy went out.
Hopefully, next time, the place will be alive again. ;-)
Today I'll write the gloomiest post of this Ramadan's series. Not about something that has happened to me. And, actually, probably doesn't have to do with Ramadan per si - any big national event would probably have the same consequences. But how can one read all this news about countries in the same region and don't feel moved? Particularly in a time where, in spite of the bad humour of people because of a strict fasting in ages when Narcisism is the law, believers are supposed to be more generous, more supportive.
Iran faces an earthquake tragedy. Not only the government response is slow... (as most of things get slow in Ramadan) but all those who are hurt need blood infusion. But how to give blood if you are fasting?
And Afghani people, who had their quota of sufferings in the past decades, now are targeted in the craziest of attacks. It seems it become fashionable to explode bombs in crowded markets, with people spending the little they have to celebrate the Eid (the day after Ramadan ends).
Isn't it to cry and tremble?
The news were published by Al Jazeera. You can read about Iran here and about Afghanistan here.
In the Wikipedia entry about Ramadan is stated that fasting doesn't pose any risk to healthy individuals. On the contrary, there is even a reduction of cholesterol in the blood of those observing Ramadan.
I decided I wanted to be healthier in Ramadan too. Because during Iftar the traffic is a bit lighter and even virtually in-existent in certain areas, it makes an ideal time to go jogging. Not because I'm jogging amid the cars, but because of pollution levels. I have looked and looked for a running track or a jogging place. There is none nearby. Jogging isn't popular here as it is in other places. And clubs' membership are very expensive, so that's out of question.
So a local friend suggested to go to a certain avenue, which is a safe place, and run there in the pavement. It's not the best way, but until something better comes up, I won't stop. Every time I run I wonder why I stayed such a long time without doing it.
Ramadan karim - generous Ramadan to my health and my sleepless nights.
It may give an impression that Ramadan is all about fasting. And to a certain extent, as a non believer, my life is affected - if I can be bold enough to say it is affected - because of the fasting and it's consequences to the traffic or public transportation.
However, it certainly isn't all about food. If you are to observe Ramadan, you should increase the number of your prayers and also the reading/reciting of the Koran.
[SIDE COMMENT:] [I know there are lots of discussion about prayers in Islamism, but I am the last person in the world who would discuss the differences between Sunnis, Shi'as, etc.]
Muslims have five mandatory prayer times. It is really a prayer time, because you should pray in pre-determined hours of the day. They are:
1st - Fajr, from dawn to sunrise;
2nd - Zuhr, after noon, until Asr, which is the next prayer time;
3rd - Asr, in the afternoon;
4th - Maghrib, after sunset or dusk;
5th - Isha, from dusk until dawn.
Now, prayer, it's not only to close your eyes or quietly recite some poem or verses. You have a whole prescription for prayer, including preparation, stance and place.
What does this have to do with Ramadan? In Ramadan you should pray more. So, people add another prayer time: the Tarawih, an extra congregational prayer at night. So, after breaking the fast, you'll see lots of people heading to the mosques.
Tarawih is an interesting way of accomplishing two things at once. During this prayers 1/30 of the Koran is recited. That means that in the end of Ramadan, you'll have recited the whole Koran plus prayed a lot more.
If you want to know details or go deeper in the subject, check the Wikipedia entry for worship practices in Islam.
