Do's and Don't You Dares of Ramadan

The above sign says Ramadan Kareem, which literally means "generous Ramadan," which also happens to be my Arabic name which is Karima (Carrie). The photo is in Mecca, the place where Muslims are required (if they have money) to make a pilgrimage to once in their life. This is located in Saudi Arabia and the entire city is closed to non-Muslims.


Sunday started the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in our country. Since many of you may not be familiar with what all that entails I will make a list do's of don'ts. First of all you should know that Ramadan is a month of fasting and prayer for Muslims. It is during this month they atone for their sins and attempt to get close to God. They give extra money to poor people and hope that by fasting all day they will be able to have compassion for those who are hungry every day.
Fasting starts at day break and lasts until sun down when the call to prayer is heard around the city. Let's start with a list of the things Muslims don't do during the day:

DON'TS
Eat or drink anything
Chew gum
Wear make-up or perfume
Smoke
Have sexual relations
Talk bad about people
Use gel or hair products
Brush teeth

DO'S
Give extra money to poor people
Pray more
Eat TONS of food after sundown and stay up really late
Buy new outfits for the end of the holiday
Go to the public bathhouse late at night
Burn special incense
Work shorter hours
Close all restaurants and coffee shops during fasting hours

Don't you dare get caught eating or drinking in public! People can be arrested in the streets for doing forbidden things in the daylight hours. As a foreigner (and since we are not Muslim), in order to respect them we also do not eat or drink in public.

(I found this picture on the Net of a girl on a prayer rug holding the Koran with her little head covered)

The schedule for an average Muslim around here during Ramadan is that they wake up somewhere between 8-9am, work from 9-3pm straight thru lunch, go home and rest and wait for the sun to set. At sunset, when the call to prayer goes off, they eat something light (soup and candies), drink some juices, and smoke cigarettes. Then they do one of their prayers around 8 pm and then head out on the town or back to the house to have coffee and play cards. At about midnight or 1am they have a hearty meal that would include meats and breads. Many will go to bed around 2am, but many of the younger crowd will stay up until about 5am and eat right before the sun comes up. That younger crowd will sleep most of the day until sunset.