Ramadan struck before it even started.
Yesterday afternoon: "Hello Ma'am Sonia. Your dentist appointment tomorrow needs to change. Ramadan hours only start at 11am, so you can not come in at 9am [that time we booked only a week ago]. Would 9pm be okay? No? We are open during Ramadan from 11am till 5pm and from 9pm till midnight. Would 2pm be good instead? No? No Ma'am Sonia, you can not come in at 3pm, the dentist is booked then. No, there is nothing free then. No, not then either. Not on that day either. 5pm on Saturday Ma'am? No?"
NO!! 11am is no use when Ramadan hours means school finishes at 1pm (and I need a 2 hour appointment and the dentist is half an hour from the school), and no I can't make it at 2pm in the afternoon because I now have all four kids at home, and the only person I'd consider leaving all four with at once has her own school pick up run at 2pm, and no I don't want to give up my evenings or weekends to spend two hours at the dentist. Grrrrrrr.
So I cut my losses and re-booked my hair cut and colour for this morning at 9am.
Until a few hours later: "Good evening Ma'am Sonia. Your 9am appointment tomorrow will need to change to 10am because of Ramadan hours. Will that still be okay?".
I mean why?? Why does a hairdresser have to change to Ramadan hours? It's not like locals ever go out to get beauty stuff done at 9am anyway, so it's the Westerners that are being scunnered. Will so many locals want a pedicure at 11pm that it's worth changing the hours??
But this is where we live, and Ramadan is gonna be around for the next four weeks, so I suppose "...there is a need for non-Muslims in this community to adopt and maintain an attitude of understanding towards the religious values and local way of life". (I got that in an email. Can't remember from who or which institution though) The main objective of fasting after all is to achieve piety and righteousness and therefore becoming more conscious of our Creator, increasing our awareness of His Majesty, exalting and glorifying His names and attributes, appreciating His greatness, recalling His blessings upon us, and being grateful and thankful for His guidance.
I mean when you put it like that....
Anyway, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and is one of the most important months for Muslims. It rotates as per the lunar calendar, falling at the same time once every 33 years, or roughly moving forward about 10 days per year. The importance of Ramdan lies in the fact that one of the five Acts of Worship in Islam, Syiam (which is fasting) is practised during this holy month. It is also known to be the month during with the Quran was first revealed by Prophet Muhammad.
Fasting during the hold month of Ramadan, however, represents more than an act of worship, as it is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. During this month, Muslims fast from the break of dawn (Fajer - around 4am) until sunset (Maghreb - around 7.15pm) and refrain from food, drink and smoking during fasting hours. Each evening they break their fast with Ifter (a big feast), and Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid-al-Fitr which means Day of celebration and gratitude.
As a result, most schools (and businesses it seems), move to their 'Ramadan timetable'. In our case, the girls will start school at 8am and finish at 1pm rather than do their usual hours of 7.45am-2.45pm, and Lightning will finish half an hour earlier than normal. There will be designated rooms for the children who are not fasting to eat and drink in at certain times, but outside of school we are respectfully asked to refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours in public places, including in our own car, as it is considered offensive. We should also display modesty and ensure that knees and shoulders are covered, and be aware of necklines and wear loose fitting clothes. So basically all the rules Westerners know when they move here but gradually forget because they're surrounded by other Westerners and, well, it's hot.
Anyway, Ramadan Kareem!
Happy (literally 'generous') Ramadan!
No comments:
Post a Comment