Ramadan in South Africa can already be felt from as early as the 15th of Shaban. After the auspicious night of Laylatul Ba'raah - the night in which our old book of deeds is closed and our new books are opened, you can already feel the Ramadan atmosphere approaching amongst the South African Muslim community. Although South Africa is not an Islamic state, we are still extremely privileged regarding the extent of religious freedom that we are able to enjoy. We have masjids in abundance, we can pray salah almost anywhere without being accosted and our fellow South Africans belonging to other religions fully acknowledge this auspicious month of ours.
Major chain stores that have by now realized the commercial value behind crediting the significance of Ramadan usually dress their windows with Ramadan wishes and fresh Medjool dates strewn their fridges and vegetable counters. Common Ramadan ingredients are placed on promotion in all stores as Muslims stock their cupboards up in preparation for the month ahead. There is also an abundance of Islamic schools in South Africa and during Ramadan, to accommodate for the fatigue felt by the students and teachers alike school times are reduced. The schools either start later or the day ends earlier and a designated Quran period is allocated for the recitation of the Quran during the school day. Ramadan will begin around mid-autumn this year in South Africa so the latest that we will be breaking fast will be at around 18:10. Alhamdullilah, most of the major conglomerates are very thoughtful during this month and even if the company is not run or owned by Muslims, managers are still very lenient with their employees and allow them to leave earlier to avoid peak traffic so that they will be in time for iftar.
Image Credit: VD Photography on Unsplash
A common custom in South Africa is Ramadan gifting and as the month approaches many stores and home industries begin advertising gifting options. A very popular gift amongst South Africans are dates but can include anything from date syrup to savory dips to milkshake mix. The Prophet S.A.W. urged gifting as it created love amongst the community and if there's one thing that you will commonly see building up to the days of Ramadan it’s an influx of gifts in your home. Zam zam is also given but the prices of zam zam in South Africa are exorbitant and many who purchase it tend to keep it for themselves or use it when hosting an iftar party.
While Sehri parties (also known as suhoor or sahur) are enjoyed by the people of Saudi, South Africans frequently partake in iftar get-togethers and so very often too, that almost every weekend, you are either hosting an iftar or being invited to one. The guests usually arrive just before iftar is about to set in. They break their fast together with dates, haleem, and savories, pray the Magrib salaah in jamaat, and after salaah have a meal and dessert. In some instances, the guests may leave before Tarawih or stay if it's a close family member or friend. A common tradition after Tarawih is a braai that will begin immediately after Tarawih and will continue until sehri. This time is spent bonding with family and friends and in the past youngsters would even stay awake for the duration of the evening and after having sehri together at a restaurant would go for the Fajr salah and then head home. Unfortunately, due to crime, many of these traditions have withered away but iftar get-togethers are still very common.
Image Credit: Rachid Oucharia on Unsplash
A wonderful feature of South Africa as well is the number of huffaz that graduate annually. These courses are done either part-time, full time, or at school where the boys or girls complete their Hifz in conjunction with their academics. During Ramadan apart from masjids, a multitude of venues pop up for the performance of Tarawih. Many families offer their homes as venues so that the huffaz get an opportunity to perform Tarawih and the Quran is completed in any number of days ranging from 10, 15, 30 to even 1 night in some venues. Yes! The entire Quran is recited in one sitting!
With the advent of social media obviously, the spread of news has become easier but in the past, the approach of Ramadan and the sighting of the moon for Eid was signaled by a siren that would go off from multiple venues. It still exists today however now the news is already known before the Imam even has the opportunity to switch on the siren. However, the siren still rings when iftar sets in even before the azan is called so people still eagerly await this signal for the entire 29 or 30 days of Ramadaan.
Image Credit: Shivangisj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Another very popular custom is the distribution of food. Families will make deghs which are huge pots cooked over an open fire of haleem-an oat soup usually consumed when one breaks their fast- or kheer which is a sweet rice dessert and will distribute it to the community. In most instances, food drives and iftars are sponsored for the poor but these additional gestures of generosity also exist in the community where anyone and everyone can bring their 1-liter container to collect something for their iftar table. The reasoning for this is mostly to fulfill the sunnah of feeding others in Ramadan with the intention of obtaining the reward equal to a fasting person. Neighbors also exchange plates of savories for iftar and share with their neighbors what they may have made for the day.
Alhamdullilah, Ramadaan is a joyous time in South Africa, and sometimes the only thing which places a dampen on it and we hope not to experience it this year is load shedding... A much dreaded time when the electricity is switched off for a few hours to increase the reserve.
Ramadan Mubarak to all and may this month bring us nothing but barakah and success!
Cover Image Credit: Ndumiso Silindza on Unsplash
