{"id":14397,"date":"2017-06-01T15:59:07","date_gmt":"2017-06-01T15:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/arabic\/?p=14397"},"modified":"2017-06-01T15:59:07","modified_gmt":"2017-06-01T15:59:07","slug":"arabs-routine-in-ramadhan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/arabic\/arabs-routine-in-ramadhan\/","title":{"rendered":"Arab\u2019s Routine in Ramadhan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arabs always await the Holy Month of Ramadhan<\/strong> eagerly. Besides its religious status, it is when they work less and sleep more during daytime<\/strong>, eat a wider variety of food, and enjoy watching special and diverse drama series on television.<\/p>\n

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Image by Khalil-ur-Rehman Waleed on flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Religiously, Arabs are more observant during Ramadhan for it is termed the month of mercy<\/strong> and forgiveness<\/strong>. They pray in congregati1on and at the regular prayer times<\/strong>. Also, they, particularly the Sunnis<\/strong>, pray Tarawih prayers (\u0635\u064e\u0644\u0627\u0629\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0651\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0627\u0648\u0650\u064a\u0652\u062d<\/strong>)\u2014 voluntary extra congregational prayers<\/strong> performed after Isha\u2019a Prayer (\u0635\u064e\u0644\u0627\u0629\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0650\u0634\u064e\u0627\u0621<\/strong>). During the last ten days of Ramadhan, some pray Tahajjud Prayers (\u0635\u064e\u0644\u0627\u0629\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0651\u064e\u0647\u064e\u062c\u0651\u064f\u062f<\/strong>)\u2014other voluntary extra congregational prayers performed after mid night. Besides fasting<\/strong> and praying<\/strong>, they strive to read as many chapters of the Quran and as many times as they could. What\u2019s more, they give alms<\/strong> and seek to help those in need as often as they could.<\/p>\n

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Image by issam zarrok on flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Normally, working<\/strong> hours<\/strong> are reduced to half compared to regular non-Ramadhan days. For example, in Yemen, the average working hours during other months of the years are seven hours, whereas in Ramadhan they are reduced to three and a half hours, between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm.<\/p>\n

Since night time, from sunset<\/strong> to dawn<\/strong>, is spent on various religious, social and entertainment activities, they sleep more during the day, especially early mornings and later afternoons. Many people take Ramadhan off, and as a result, they sleep from dawn till early afternoon. For this reason, it is not surprising to see the streets of Sana\u2019a, Amman, Cairo, or Rabat completely empty till midday and vibrant from the afternoon till dawn.<\/p>\n

A great deal of attention and money is dedicated to food during Ramadhan. Most Arabs start financial planning for Ramadhan months ahead. For instance, in some Arab countries, especially Gulf<\/strong> States<\/strong>, 20% of average family income is dedicated to Ramadhan. At the call to prayer, Maghreb Prayer (\u0635\u064e\u0644\u0627\u0629\u064f<\/strong> \u0627\u0644\u0645\u064e\u063a\u0652\u0631\u0650\u0628<\/strong>), people usually break their fast with dates and water or milk in mosques. Following Maghreb Prayer, or Isha\u2019a in some countries, they have their heavy dinner which is, nutritionally speaking, high in fat, sugar, carbohydrate, and protein.<\/p>\n

Take the case of Morocco. Moroccans start with harirah \u062d\u064e\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0629<\/strong>, soup made up of chickpeas<\/strong>, lentils<\/strong>, ground beef<\/strong> or chicken<\/strong>, parsley<\/strong>, coriander<\/strong>, tomato paste, celery<\/strong>, and some rice grains. Ramadhan dessert includes al-shibbakiyah \u0627\u0644\u0634\u0651\u0650\u0628\u064e\u0627\u0643\u0650\u064a\u0629<\/strong> or al-sifoof \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0651\u0650\u0641\u064f\u0648\u0641<\/strong>, both of which are pastry. The main dish includes Tagine \u0637\u064e\u0627\u062c\u0650\u064a\u0652\u0646<\/strong> of meat, fish, or chicken and couscous \u0643\u064f\u0633\u0652\u0643\u064f\u0633<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Image by lala moulati on flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Following Isha\u2019a or Tarawih prayers, families across the Arab World<\/strong> spend the night watching dramas till pre-dawn meal \u0633\u064e\u062d\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0631<\/strong> time. With free access to satellite channels<\/strong>, they can watch any series they are interested in. Egyptian and Syrian dramas are by far the most popular. They are watched in almost every home.<\/p>\n

So, what is a typical Ramadhan like for men?<\/p>\n

Successively, starting at sunset:<\/p>\n