Ramadan in Pakistan
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia
Ramadan in Iran
Ramadan in UAE
Ramadan in Turkey
Ramadan in Indonesia
The month of April marked the beginning of Ramadan this year. More than 2 billion Muslims around the world are observing it with great religious fervour.
During the entire month of Ramadan, after having a pre-dawn meal known as ‘Suhoor,’ people keep fast (sawm) until the sun shines and break their fast with a hearty feast known as ‘Iftar’ at the time of Maghrib (right after the sunset).
This month, restaurants are mostly closed in a majority of Muslim countries during the daytime. The real Ramadan celebrations begin after the sunset. It is when people head out, with their friends and families, for iftar meals, dinners and shopping.
Charity in Ramadan
The tradition of giving charity in Ramadan in the form of Sadaqah and Zakat also reaches its zenith. Zakat calculation and payment is a very important matter that must be dealt with proper care and attention. The spirit of Ramadan, according to Islam, emphasizes the act of giving so that everyone living in a society can equally enjoy the season of festivities.
Ramadan Celebration in Muslim Countries around the World
The duration of fasting in Ramadan 2022 may vary from region to region. People in Russia observe fast for over 20 hours a day, which is the longest interval from dawn to dusk. On the other hand, Argentina has the shortest duration of fast in the world, which is around 11 hours.
In this blog, we will find out how Muslim living in different countries celebrate Ramadan.
Ramadan in Pakistan
In Pakistan, Ramadan celebrations are carried out by making special arrangements not only for prayers but also for Suhoor and Iftar, which are the two most important meals of the day.
Tradition breakfast and food items like Khajla and Phelni dipped in a bowl of milk are usually enjoyed in Sehri throughout Ramadan. Whereas, Iftars are enjoyed with pakoras, samosas, sharbat, khajoor and fruit chaat.
In Pakistan, different rituals are followed during Ramadan. For example, after Isha prayers every night, men usually stay at the mosque till late at night to perform Taraweeh and some additional prayers.
On a side note, don’t forget to read these blogs to learn more about the best Sehri and Iftar deals in Lahore and Islamabad. If you live in Karachi, you would definitely want to check out these delicious and hearty Ramadan buffets served by some famous restaurants around the city.
Duration of Fast: The average fasting duration in Pakistan this Ramadan is 15 hours.
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a country that offers the most beautiful experience of Ramadan celebration to Muslims, as it is home to two of Muslim’s holiest sites: Masjid Al-Haram with Khana Ka’ba in Makkah and Masjid-e-Nabawi in Madina.
Now that COVID-19 restrictions have finally been lifted, the Grand Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram) in Makkah will again host some of the world’s largest Suhoor and Iftar gatherings throughout Ramadan. Similar Ramadan spreads are organized every day at Masjid-e-Nabawi in Madina. A large group of pilgrims, both in Makkah and Madina, feast suhoor and iftar together at these holy sites. In addition, Saudis, as well as people from across the world, perform Umrah during this month. The blessings of performing Umrah in Ramadan are widely believed to be equivalent to those received during Hajj.
The bazaars and local markets in Saudi Arabia, especially in the holy cities of Makkah and Madina remain open all through the night. Spending Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is surely a beautiful experience for many.
Duration of Fast: The average fasting duration in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan 2022 ranges from 14 to 15 hours.
Ramadan in Iran
In Iran, Ramadan celebration is carried out with full religious fervour and devotion. Apart from religious affairs, the love for food among the people of Iran in Ramadan also reaches its zenith.
Mashhad is a popular Iranian city among tourists. Shashlik Kebab, Shole Mashhadi and Dizi are some of the most famous dishes of Mashhad that people like to have in Ramadan.
The Iranian city of Mashhad is also famous for hosting the biggest iftar every year. The shrine of Imam Reza is the venue of this iftar arrangement. Iftar meals here are prepared for a staggering 12,000 people every day during Ramadan.
Duration of Fast: The average fasting duration during Ramadan 2022 in Iran will be around 15 to 16 hours.
Ramadan in United Arab Emirates
Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are the three major emirates in the United Arab Emirates. A majority of locals and expatriates celebrate Ramadan in these cities.
As usual, like in other countries, people fast all day long following different Islamic rituals. At night, the families here usually gather to have hearty feasts and spend time cherishing the blissful moments of Ramadan.
Harees, threed and gars, which are favourite sweet dishes of Emiratis, are usually enjoyed during the meals of iftar and dinner.
Apart from household Ramadan celebrations, events like Bazaar Ramadan, Salam Ramadan Art Exhibition, Ramadan Majlis, Ramadan Mair and Ramadan and Eid Festival are also organized in the UAE during the holy month.
Ramadan Cannon is fired at iftar time in Dubai throughout Ramadan. Firing a cannon at sunset is an age-old tradition in this region
Duration of Fast: The average fasting duration in the UAE during Ramadan 2022 will be around 15 hours.
Ramadan in Turkey
Turkey has its own unique and colourful traditions to celebrate Ramadan. The streets and alleyways across Turkey during the darkest hours of the night echo with the sounds of thudding drums. This is how Muslims wake up for Suhoor in Turkey.
Life in Istanbul, which is one of Turkey’s most famous tourist destinations in the world, is very busy. People here fast and work all day long.
Thanks to the regional climate that never gets too hot, people don’t feel strained while undergoing their daily routines during Ramadan.
As the sun begins to set, the arrangement of communal iftars is made all around the country. The nightlife of Turkey during Ramadan becomes more festive.
Popular Turkish food items for Ramadan include Kuzu Tandir, Musakka, Kavurma Kaymak and Gullac.
Highlight: Hagia Sophia — the Grand Mosque in Istanbul — is one of the most iconic landmarks in Turkey. The place was converted into a museum in 1934. Well, now almost 9 decades later, it has been reinstated as a place of worship by the current Turkish government.
Also, for the first time in 88 years, the mosque is hosting Taraweeh prayers this Ramadan. It is certainly welcoming news for the entire Muslim Ummah.
Duration of Fast: The average fasting duration in Turkey during Ramadan 2022 will be around 16 hours.
Ramadan in Indonesia
Being a part of the South East Asian region, Indonesian Muslims have developed unique and colourful traditions of celebrating Ramadan.
Parades of people carrying torches displaying different colours along with activities like cleaning up the graves of relatives; are among many ways how Indonesian Muslims welcome Ramadan.
Like other Muslim countries, the practice of sharing a meal in the form of communal iftar arrangements is followed in multiple cities of Indonesia.
Redang is a dish that is cooked in households and enjoyed by the whole family. It is a very important Indonesian culinary tradition for the holy month of Ramadan.
Duration of Fast: The average fasting duration in Indonesia during Ramadan 2022 is between 13 and 14 hours per day.
Similar traditions and religious practices are observed during Ramadan each year in many other countries and parts of the world where there are Muslims. The holy month brings a new routine with it, which means you have to adjust to Ramadan timings to smoothly carry out your day-to-day tasks.
To plan out your routine in a more effective way, you can download and use these Ramadan Mobile Apps for free in Pakistan. Most of these applications not only provide you with daily alerts on the prayer schedule and Suhoor and Iftar timings but you can also use them to read and learn different types of duas and religious scriptures for Ramadan.
If you found this piece informative and interesting, please share it with your family and friends, so they would also find out more about how Muslims observe the holy month and celebrate its related festivities around the world, depending on their culture and traditions.
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