Ramadan Daily Reminder

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri calendar and the fasting month for Muslims, starts today. What have Ramadan and fasting got anything to do with travel? Plenty. Ramadan may affect Muslim and non-Muslim travellers alike. Whenever a Muslim travels during Ramadan, s/he may and may not fast, based on certain terms and conditions. For non-Muslim travellers, depending on how they prefer to see it, they might be affected either positively or negatively, especially if they are travelling in a Muslim or Muslim majority country.

In Malaysia for example, it’s mostly business as usual and visitors and tourists are hardly affected. In some other countries like the UAE, restaurants are closed throughout the day until around 4 p.m. Not only Muslims are not allowed to eat and drink from dawn to dusk, non-Muslims are not allowed to do the same thing too in the open and in public. So different countries could give a totally different Ramadan experience to any travellers, regardless whether or not one is a Muslim.

In general however, and in most countries where Ramadan is observed, the breaking of fast time tends to be quite festive with special meals and traditional dishes not usually found and served outside of Ramadan. Ramadan bazaars and iftaar (breaking of fast) buffets are some of the things that most travellers, Muslim and non-Muslims alike, would look forward to. But beyond that, what is the story behind Ramadan? What are the beliefs behind Ramadan, the why’s and the how’s?

That’s what this entry is all about.

For the past 2 years, I have personally come up with a ‘Ramadan Daily Reminder’ series during the month of Ramadan which I previously shared with my family and friends on Facebook. This year however I have decided to share the series with everyone through Ramble and Wander Facebook page.

What is ‘Ramadan Daily Reminder’ series though?

It’s just a daily photo sharing that includes a selection of verses from the Quran and verified narrated hadith which are related to fasting and the month of Ramadan. So in essence, it’s just a small compilation of basis and reasons for observing the month of Ramadan, which I hope could be beneficial especially to Muslims. However, much like when I learn about people, other cultures and religions whenever I travel to foreign lands, e.g. Christian Protestant and Catholic throughout Europe, Sufism and Dervishes in Turkey, the Druze in Lebanon, Christian Orthodox in Greece and Russia, the Copts in Egypt, and so on, I hope this series would also appeal to travellers (and non-travellers) who profess to other beliefs, especially those who would like to know more about Ramadan. After all, as one popular travel quote goes, “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.” (James Michener).

The above photo is just one example from the series. If you’re interested in this, you may just check out the whole series in this album on Ramble and Wander's Facebook page. 

Thank you, and Ramadan Kareem to everyone.