Ramazan in Iran (4)

As a reminder, it was said that Muslims try to participate in religious gatherings in the blessed month of Ramazan to attain more spirituality.

It is noteworthy that the climate of spirituality in this month naturally reduces sins, crimes and corruption in the society. That’s why the society gains a sort of calm and there is a wave among people for doing good deeds and charity. It is highly recommended that even those who cannot fast, due to different reasons, should observe the respect of this month and avoid eating and drinking in public.

During the month of Ramazan some of the offices and government centers make changes in the shifts of their personnel. Some employees and workers are free to come to work later than ordinary days; while some others are allowed to leave their office earlier. The hour of working for restaurants and fast-food shops also change to fit the general atmosphere of the society. These centers usually serve after Iftar. Sports gyms, especially pools, are open from Iftar till dawn because a fasting person cannot put his head in water as it will nullify his fast.

It is interesting to note that children are impacted by the atmosphere of fasting. Some children try to imitate their elderly and keep fast for a few hours. They are encouraged by their parents to wake up and eat suhur. Then they usually keep fast till midday. Such children are usually given gifts by their parents, grandparents and other relatives. In Ardakan, a small city in Yazd province, the elderly make sure to buy a present for a child or teenager who fasts for a part of the day. Those who have a fruit garden send some fresh fruit for their children.

Special customs were common among children and teenagers of some regions in Iran. Humbabai was one of these customs. From the third till the 15^th night of Ramazan, the children and teenagers of Kashan would go to the doors of people while a child was reading surah Shams of the Qur’an. Then they would pray for the inhabitants of the house and go to the other house. Some poems were also read by children. This custom is still observed with little differences in some regions. It is called Alam Taraani in Saveh and Allah Ramzun in Khorasan.

When the blessed month of Ramazan ends the blessed day of Eid al-Fitr comes. It is one of the most important feasts of Muslims. Muslims throughout the world celebrate this great day as a sign of thanksgiving as God invited them to his banquet and helped them fast for one month. Eid al-Fitr is indeed a sort of seeing off the blessed moth of Ramazan. Fitr literally means breaking the fast. It also means returning to one’s genuine essence and what God has created. This is very significant as the faithful, after one month of fighting his carnal desires and abstaining from sins, becomes a purified person just as God has created him.

Spotting the new crescent of the month of Shawwal was common in many regions of Iran. But today in the cities like Tehran, due to the air pollution, it is impossible to see the crescent. Hence, people listen attentively to the mass media to announce the seeing of the new crescent as the sign of the end of Ramazan.

People of the regions like Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan province, call the last day of Ramazan as brother of Eid, and try to clean their houses and buy new clothes to be prepared for reception of guests.

On the eve of Eid al-Fitr, many families put aside a specific amount of money called Zakat Fitreh or Fitriyeh which is equal to the price of 3 kilograms of wheat or rice for each family member. Then this money is given to the needy. In some regions like Urumiyeh, people go to the mosques and stay there reading Qur’an and prayers till dawn.

In the morning of Eid, people swarm to Musallas or mosques to perform congregational prayer of Eid al-Fitr. In Tehran, people try to participate in the million-strong prayer of Musalla which is led by Ayatollah Khamenei. People wear clean clothes and put perfume while they smile to other brothers and sisters in faith. They congratulate the coming of Eid. After performing the prayer and listening to the two sermons, they disperse while reciting Salawat (saluting the Prophet and his infallible progeny) in loud voice. After the Eid prayer, it is very common to go to the houses of the elderly and the bereaved families.

RM/ME