Ramadan Feast

Because of the conference and our trip to Austria, we were gone from Doha for most of Ramadan. As a non-Muslim in Qatar, we were expected to observe Ramadan in public (observation in the privacy of your home is not required.) This means no eating or drinking in public from sunrise to sunset--no drinking in your car, no going to restaurants, no chewing gum. Most grocery stores were still open during the day, but all restaurants were closed. Many businesses also had shorter hours. I have heard that by law you are not suppose to work more than 30 hours a week during Ramadan (but I haven't confirmed that fact.)

During Ramadan many hotels (and private groups) set up large tents for feasts once the sun goes does. On the last night of Ramadan, we went to a dinner at the Sheraton hotel. It was really good and interesting to see all the decorations.

The Tent

The Buffet

The bottles in the picture above are actually sheesha pipes. Sheesha is a very popular water pipe that (mostly) men smoke here. It comes in many different flavors. We (of course) haven't tried it.

McRamadan

A lot of the town was decorated for Ramadan. It was really pretty. The best way for me to describe it is to compare it to the United States at Christmas time. All the stores have big banners and garlands and lights. Even McDonalds was decorated for the month.


A little bit about Ramadan (info from Wikipedia.com)

The fourth pillar of Islam which is fasting is also called Ramadan and it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is considered the most blessed and spiritually-beneficial month of the Islamic year. Prayers, fasting, charity, and self-accountability are especially stressed at this time; religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month. God prescribes daily fasting for all able, adult Muslims during the whole month of Ramadan, beginning with the sighting of the new moon.

Eating, drinking, and smoking are not allowed between dawn and sunset. During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. They are encouraged to read the Qur'an. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the fast is supposed to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, as well as sympathy for those who are less fortunate, intending to make Muslims more generous and charitable.

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Special prayers, called ‘Tarawih’, are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire Qur'an has been completed. These are done in remembrance of the fact that the revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad was begun during Ramadan.

The meal eaten to end the fast is known as Al-Iftar. Many Muslims, break the fast with dates and water before praying, after which they might eat a more wholesome meal.

Eid al-Fitr

The Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast, a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor, everyone has bathed and put on their best, preferably new, clothes, and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends.