Ramadhan and People in Yemen [Archives:2000/52/Culture]

Our country is celebrating, as any other Arab and Islamic country, the occasion of Ramadhan (the month of mercy and the month in which Qur’an sent down as a mercy for people).
Ramadhan is an occasion during which all Moslems carry out the duty of fasting and almsgiving, following ‘Sonnah’ of our Prophet Mohammed( all peace be upon him).
Islam came to save the Islamic nation from depravity and show the right path for people. It came to change peoples’ lives from illiteracy to religious sciences. Islam came to improve the morality and righteous acts of the people. It came to raise the way of living of the Islamic nations. Ramadhan is a month of worship, mercy and almsgiving in which people have to carry out their religious duties. We have to repent for whatever we have done, deal kindly with others, and follow the religious values. Moslems have to keep themselves away from sins.
Yemeni people are distinguished from any other Arab society during this month in their social, Islamic and humanitarian customs. These customs are a part of daily life of Yemeni people. If we look to the last days of ‘Shab’an'(the month before Ramadhan), we find that the way of living of the Yemeni people takes on distinctive features. You can see people walking here and there to buy whatever they need during this month. They concentrate on beverages, vegetables, milk and other food stuffs. As Moslems carry out their religious duty, their bond with God is strengthened.
During this occasion, Yemeni people adopt social practices. On the eve of Ramadhan, people wait to see the crescent of Ramadhan to confirm the advent of the month. This phenomenon is found in all Arab and Islamic countries.
A committee has been formed in the Ministry of Justice to determine the first and last day of Ramadhan. This committee consists of scientists and jurists. As people hear the declaration of Ramadhan, they become very happy. Then they begin preparation for the month.
You can hear the voices of prayer and worship coming out from mosques in all cities of Yemen. You can also hear what we call ‘Adhan’, which augments our religious feelings. ‘Adhan’ is used to call people to come to mosques to pray.
During the first night of Ramadhan, people celebrate until dawn. Each one goes to his friend to congratulate him on the religious occasion. On this night which is called ‘Qoratt Ramadhan’, all the people gather at mosques to recite the Qur’an and read Prophetic Hadiths until dawn. Then they take their meal which is called ‘Sahoor’. This meal consists of bread, boiled milk and ghee. All these ingredients are put inside pot and are mixed together. Then the people go to bed.
In the beginning of Ramadhan, tranquility reigns throughout cities. Faces of people are submissive and merciful. You can hear spiritual chants coming out from the mosques. Mosques are full of those who come to recite Qur’an. The markets are full of people who come to buy different things, hawkers spread their wares in corners of streets, especially before the time of ‘Ifttar’ (the meal in which people eat by the end of the day of fasting). All members of the family cooperate to prepare food and arrange the home for guests.
People go to the mosque to pray after sunset, and then return to their homes to eat the main meal, ‘Ifttar’.
Saleh Abdubaqi
Yemen Times
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