Index

Reliving Ramadan traditions

Reliving Ramadan traditions

Reliving Ramadan traditions

Muslims from around the world observe Ramadan in their unique ways. Every community welcomes the holy month with its distinctive traditions and practices. With the holy month coming to an end, we take a look at some interesting Ramadan customs in different parts of the world:

During the dawn hours in Ramadan, the Musaharati is a common sight in many parts of the Arab world, especially in Lebanon. A Musaharati is a drummer, also referred to as a dawn awakener, who beats his drum just before dawn to wake Muslims for sahoor. Thanks to the Musaharati, people are able to sleep peacefully knowing that they will not miss their sahoor meals.

The history of the Musaharati in the Hijaz dates back many centuries. It seems that his function was part of the social life in the Islamic eras, particularly during Mamluk and Ottoman times.

He has a remarkable voice that fills the air at dawn, calling people to get up, partake of sahoor, prepare for the Fajr prayer and start a fresh day of Ramadan.

Fawanees (Ramadan lanterns)

The Fawanees is mainly an Egyptian tradition, which is now practiced in other Muslim countries as well. The custom has origins in legends and ancient folklores. Many tales of the origins of the lanterns have been narrated.

One story articulates that the Fatimid Caliph Al Hakim Bi Amr Allah wanted to illuminate the streets of Cairo during the magnificent Ramadan nights. So, he ordered all mosque imams to hang lanterns from the minarets of every mosque at iftar as an indication to Muslims to break their fasts and to brighten up the streets. Since that day, the Fawanees have become a regular custom.

Ramadan cannon

The firing of a cannon is a beloved Ramadan tradition carried out yearly in Mecca. The cannon is located on a mountain during the month of Ramadan. A canon ball is shot alerting Muslims at dawn to observe the fast and at nightfall to break their fast.

The origins go back to the 15th century. One story traces the custom to the Hijri year 859 (around 1455), when a Mamluk sultan of Egypt wanted to test a new cannon that he had just received. He fired a ball that exactly coincided with Maghreb time during Ramadan. People then thought this was the sultan’s way of telling them it was time to break their fast.

Egg fights

In Afghanistan, the arrival of Eid is rejoiced in a rather distinctive way. Muslim men and boys gather in parks on the last day of Ramadan and indulge in the game of egg fights, where each participant tries to crack other members’ hard-boiled eggs. In recent times, egg-fights have become less popular than they once were.

Source: Agencies

2026-09-01 (Rabi-ul-awwal 1448) №9.


Fire, Ash, Faith: A Tatar Ark in the Land of the Rising Sun

This story begins with silence. With that special, ringing, dense silence that descends only after the final explosions have died down, entire neighborhoods have burned to the ground, and the wind has begun to lazily blow ash flakes across the scorched earth, like black, mournful...


The German Kaiser on Salahuddin: A Knight Without Fear or Reproach

On Mount Zollernberg, 50 kilometres from Stuttgart, rises the enormous castle of the Hohenzollerns, a dynasty that once ruled Germany for many years. One of the most famous representatives of this family, Emperor Wilhelm II, once visited the tomb of the famous Salahuddin al-Ayubi in...


Valuable Advice How to Raise Children

In one of our previous issues, based on the work of renowned Arab child-rearing expert Dr Mustafa Abu Saad, we discussed three types of parents. Firefighters, animal trainers and positive educators – this is the classification Mustafa Abu Saad uses in his works.   I would like to...


The Importance of Studying

the Biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ From the book “Understanding the Life of the Prophet ﷺ” by Dr. Muhammad Said Ramadan al-Buti   Studying and understanding the life of the Prophet ﷺ is not simply an introduction to historical events and interesting or beautiful stories,...


Healthy Sleep Habits: How to Get Enough Sleep in Seven Hours

Healthy sleep is the key to well-being and the foundation for maintaining health and beauty. With stress and overwork unfortunately becoming the norm these days, many of us face problems with insomnia and poor sleep. Let us look at a few simple habits that will help us get 7 hours of sleep and...