May 6, 2019
Image: Ramadan's crescent moon - clipartpanda.com
Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion, but for many non-Muslims, the month-long observance of Ramadan may still seem a little mysterious according to thekitchen.com. This is particularly true in the United States, where, according to data from the Pew Research Center, about one percent of Americans practice the Muslim faith. But Ramadan presents an opportunity for the curious to gain a deeper understanding.
When Is Ramadan?
On the Islamic calendar, Ramadan always begins on the same date each year, but the start date shifts on the Gregorian calendar by about 11 days annually. The disparity exists because the Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon, while the Gregorian calendar is solar-based.
This year, moon rise May 5 is considered to be the start of the holiday based on astronomical calculations, although some Muslims don’t initiate their observance until the crescent moon has been spotted with the naked eye.
The Rules of Fasting and Ramadan
During Ramadan, faithful Muslims forego all food and drink, including water, during daylight hours for 30 days. Fasting is one of the five pillars, or primary obligations, of Islam, along with the declaration of faith, daily prayer, charitable giving, and making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
However, Islam allows for sensible exceptions. Children, the sick or elderly, pregnant women, travelers, and even athletes are not expected to fast. According to Arsalan Bukhari, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for the state of Washington, “The guideline is: Don’t risk your health.”
The Meals of Ramadan: Suhoor and Iftar
Fasting Muslims typically rise before dawn to eat suhoor, a hearty meal designed to power them through the day. Suhoor food choices vary, depending on where you are in the world, but all Muslims try to drink plenty of water before first light.
At sunset, the faithful break their fast with a sip of water and a few dates, just as the Prophet Mohammed is said to have done some 1,400 years ago. Next comes the maghrib (or sunset) prayer, followed by a feast with family and friends known as iftar. Here again, what’s on the menu depends on where you are in the world, but the fare is certain to be nourishing and tasty.
Although Muslims find abstaining from sustenance during the day personally taxing, these evening gatherings bring the community together to socialize and strengthen interpersonal bonds. Again, the foods served vary by region, but everywhere in the world, Muslims invite the poor and people of all faiths to attend the iftar feast as guests. As fortifying as these iftar meals are, events can stretch late into the night, particularly when Ramadan falls during the long days of summer. This means that the faithful contend not only with hunger during the day, but also lack of sleep.
Beyond Fasting and Food
But Ramadan isn’t only about the fast or the food. Muslims consider it a time to focus on their relationship with God, an occasion for intensified worship and reflection. The holy month brings a reminder to eschew bad habits like cursing and smoking, nurture gratitude, and recalibrate both body and soul. For many Muslims, Ramadan also encourages increased charitable giving. According to Bukhari, those who cannot fast may choose to donate especially generously to the poor at this time of year in consolation.
The Final Celebration
As the end of Ramadan draws near, Muslims may pray with even greater fervor. Sometime in the final 10 days, the faithful mark the Laylat al-Qadr, or Night of Destiny, a commemoration of the visit the Angel Gabriel paid on God’s behalf to the Prophet Mohammed to reveal the first verses of the Koran. Laylat al-Qadr is considered an auspicious time for followers to pray for salvation and mercy. Ramadan concludes with a three-day holiday known as Eid al-Fitr, a celebration filled with family activities, gifts for the children, and plenty of daytime eating.
The Food of Ramadan: When and What to Eat
Ramadan (in Arabic: ?????, Ramad?n) is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar . During the whole month, observers of Islam fast from sunrise to sunset. During the fast, no food or drink is consumed, and thoughts must be kept pure. Followers of Islam believe that fasting teaches patience, modesty, and spirituality. Meals are served before sunrise, called suhoor, and after sunset, called iftar, and eaten with family or with the local community.
Who Fasts and Who Doesn’t
The fast is strictly observed, even in higher latitudes, by all adult Muslims. The elderly, sick, and mentally ill are exempt from the fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. In some Muslim communities, people who miss the fasting portion of Ramadan generously feed the poor and unfortunate during the suhoor and iftar meals.
Suhoor and Iftar
During Ramadan, two main meals are served: suhoor, which is served before dawn, and iftar, which is served after sunset. Suhoor should be a hearty, healthy meal to provide needed energy throughout a day of fasting — it ends when the sun rises and the fajr, or morning prayer, begins.
At the end of the day, when the sun sets, the maghrib prayer starts, and the day’s fast is broken with iftar. Many Muslims break their fast by eating dates before beginning the iftar meal. Muslims can continue eating and drinking throughout the night until the next day’s suhoor. At the end of the Ramadan month, Muslims celebrate the Festival of Fast-Breaking, called Eid al-Fitr.
What to Eat
Both of the suhoor and iftar meals contain fresh fruit, vegetables, halal meats, breads, cheeses, and sweets. “I try to keep my Ramadan very light and full of fiber, proteins, and complex carbs. When Ramadan is during hot summer months like it is this year, I also focus on hydrating foods,” says Amanda Saab of the blog Amanda’s Plate. The types of food served vary by region, whether you’re in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, North America, or beyond. The meals are served either at home with family, in the community mosques, or other designated places within the Muslim community.
“During iftar, a series of snacks are cooked. Some people prefer to have a few snacks and opt for having a complete dinner after. It usually includes spicy vegetable or paneer fritters, spicy fruit chaat, dal, dates, and sometimes fruit custard,” says Kaif Khan of the blog Quirk Kitchen. Khan also calls out a special rosy pink syrup called Rooh Afza, made from a mix of ingredients including coriander, orange, pineapple, carrot, rose petals, spinach, and mint. “No Ramadan is complete without a bottle of Rooh Afza. This drink is a staple in our house for iftar. Usually it is prepared with addition of just water and lime — another version is a Rooh Afza lassi,” she says.
10 Ramadan Foods from Around the World
Dahi vadey: Lentil dumplings that are soaked in a spicy yogurt sauce (India)
Haleem: A slow-cooked stew of meat, bulgur wheat, and lentils (Middle East, India, Pakistan, and Central Asia)
Chicken 65: Spicy, bite-sized pieces of chicken that are marinated and deep-fried (India)
Ramazan Kebabi: A dish made with lamb, onions, yogurt, and pita bread (Turkey)
Ful medammes Fava beans cooked with garlic and spread on bread (North Africa)
Paomo: A bread and mutton soup (China)
Chapatis: Unleavened flatbread that is rolled up with vegetables and meats (India and Pakistan)
Fattoush: A salad made of vegetables and pita bread (Lebanon and Arab countries)
Konafah: A pastry made with phyllo dough and cheese (Middle East)
Kolak: A fruit dessert made with palm sugar, coconut milk, and pandanus leaf. Fruits, such as jackfruit or banana, or mung beans are added (Indonesia)
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