Ramazan in Iran (1)

In the name of God. This is the first episode of a four-part series on the traditions and customs of Iranians in the blessed month of Ramazan.

A few days before the blessed month of Ramazan, Iranians, like Muslims in other countries, make special preparations to welcome this month. Houses are cleaned and streets are adorned with beautiful items and sayings of the Prophet and infallible Imams of his progeny to make the atmosphere of the country more suitable for the sacred air of Ramazan.

The mosques are cleaned in the third part of the month of Sha’ban and are decorated with hangings and scripts pertaining to the month of Ramazan. Before the coming of Ramazan, some people cater to the needs of poor families and prepare items like rice, legumes, dates, meat, and other items containing protein.

In Urumiyeh, center of West Azarbaijan province, women make various kinds of bread and cookies with rice flour.

Having adorned the cities and houses, some people make themselves ready for the coming of the month of God. They fast the three last days of Sha’ban to welcome the blessed month of Ramazan. Indeed, they try to stick to the hadith of the Prophet which says, “He who fasts the three last days of Sha’ban God will give him the reward of fasting two months of Sha’ban and Ramazan.”

In the past, when radio and TV were not that prevalent among families, there were special ceremonies in many cities and villages of Iran to inform people of the coming of Ramazan. In the waning hours of Sha’ban, some people would go atop the minarets of mosques and hills to spot the new crescent. When a trustworthy person or the local clergyman confirmed the seeing of the crescent, the start of Ramazan would be announced and people would rejoice the news. In some regions this used to be done by Azaan or public call to prayer.

One of the nice traditions in the blessed month of Ramazan is making peace among those who are not in good terms with each other. This is often done by the elderly of the families to turn hostilities to friendship and amity. This is usually done because, as per the remarks of the Prophet and the infallible Imams, Muslims know that they shouldn’t have any grudge or spite against their brothers-in-faith let alone their relatives. They know that this negative characteristic will prevent their acts of worship to be accepted by God.

Another pleasant tradition is that if a person is sick some of the friends and relatives go to him with some presents and ask God to cure him.

Iranians have used various methods for knowing the time of dawn to wake up and eat Suhur (special food eaten before dawn). Some of these methods are no more in use but a few of them are still practiced. Since old times, one of the ways to distinguish the time of dawn has been the place of stars in the sky. In the central regions of Iran like Yazd, Kerman and Isfahan, where the sky is clear and stars shine brightly, this was a common method. Another method was the sound of roosters or drums, trumpets and naqareh (long-necked trumpet). The sound of naqareh is still used in the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashahd.

When canons came to Iran, they were used to awaken people up at dawns of Ramazan. However, with the prevalence of radio and TV this duty is carried out by these media. Some people also wind their alarm clock or mobile phone to wake up.

RM/SS