Ramadam in Saudi Arabia: Article 2

Well one week of the fasting month gone and I’ve only gained half a kilo in weight!

Saudi is known as “the cradle of Islam” and the “custodian of the 2 holy mosques”, and as such is very conservatively Islamic. The holy month of Ramadam, the 9th month in the Umm al-Qura calendar, started on the 22nd of August with the sighting of the new moon. (The 22nd of August 2009 is therefore the 1st of Ramadam 1430 in the Saudi calendar. The months are based on the lunar cycle and the official year is around 10 days shorter than our Gregorian year – just to add confusion to official paperwork.)

 During Ramadam several of life’s pleasures are banned during the daylight hours, these include (but are not limited to) eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing gum. There are exceptions due to medical conditions, and drinking water is allowed to avoid dehydration; the daytime temperature is still between 43 and 49C in the shade this week here in Jubail, dropping to 31C minimum at night.

The same restrictions apply to non-muslims in public, including whilst in a car, the penalty being a fine, and 24 hours in jail with a possible flogging! In Saudi the religious police, the “Muttawa”, (or “Enforcers”) patrol regularly to ensure the religious laws are rigorously enforced! Their full title is “The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice”. In public places the plain clothed Muttawa are usually recognizable as having the longest beards and the shortest thobes.

To cope with the daylight fasting here generally night replaces day. As far as possible the locals sleep through the day, and eat, and party, all night, it is as commercial as Christmas in the UK with the shops having special offers, special soaps from other arab countries on the tv, etc. Muslims are only required to work 6 hours a hour day during Ramadam, which causes chaos when you are trying to run a factory 24 hours a day, especially with the absenteeism which is generally tolerated during Ramadam.

Having fasted all day the breaking of the fast, the Iftar, is a big social occasion here at sunset, lavish parties are held throughout the month. In the evenings the shops, most of which open only from 8:00pm to 2:00am, are packed with families out enjoying the evening and stocking up for the next party. So far from losing weight during the fasting month, many of the Saudis I know, and some of the expats, actually put on weight!

Sunset is currently just after 6:00pm, and our expat muslim workers bring their Iftar meals into work and take pride in inviting the 2 English managers to join them. To make matters worse the Indian office workers (not to miss the opportunity of a celebration – I believe India has the greatest number of bank holidays in a year) also buy samozas and other deep fried specialities from the local restaurants, as they open for the Iftar rush. Again the English managers feel obliged to contribute to the festivities.

At the end of Ramadam we have one of two, 4 day holidays: Eid al Fitr. The second is the Eid al Adha – 2 months later. Although government departments, ports etc will take up to 10 days off on each occasion. I will take a couple of weeks vacation before the Eid to reduce my exposure to the extreme sport of driving on Saudi’s roads just before Iftar! and to preserve my figure and visit my family. Regards, Tony Nunn

Also include a little: do you remember snippet: -

I was asked by a member of the younger generation which fast food restaurants I frequented as a teenager. I explained that we didn’t have McDonalds etc in those days. My mother used to prepare the evening meal every day, from fresh vegetables etc, and serve it 30 minutes after my father came home from work. We all sat together at the dining table, no tv, and discussed our day at school etc. When I went on to say that if any of us didn’t like the meal, we would be invited to wait until we did like it, the youngster was sure I was having him on!

What a great idea! If our members don't like our club meals then they should be invited to remain seated until they do!! (Web master)

 Best regards  Tony Nunn