Nur ar-Ramadan

Ramadan Tastes Special in Morocco
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By Abdul Hafez Al-Seretti, IOL Correspondent

RABAT, IslamOnline.net

Ramadan tastes special in Morocco, as the bliss of Islam’s holiest month extends to include all walks of life in the Arab Maghreb country.

The well-established tradition of inviting Muslim scholars from across the Arab and Islamic countries to Morocco during the month leaves mosques teeming with attentive worshippers and brings in a unique spiritual atmosphere.

During the dawn-to-dusk fasting month, mosques receive large numbers of worshippers for the Night Prayer and Tarawih, reciting Qur'an and getting religious lessons.

The scholars give series of lectures on Islamic teachings, allowing many Moroccans to beef up their knowledge during the holy month.

“We hope the mosques would carry out their main roles, as was the case at the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as a place for getting lessons on science and making consultations by Muslims, not just for performing prayers,” said one worshipper.

This aspired-for role of mosques, another citizen said, could also affect Moroccan youths by boosting their morality.

“If the mosques continued to play their role during the whole year, there would be no vice among Muslim youth,” he said.Traditional Wear

Markets in Morocco also witness an unusual vitality, with many Moroccans seeking to buy dates and other dry fruits such as almond, usually eaten during the fasting month.

 

Moroccan families also spare no efforts in preparing the most delicious banquets such as “Al Harira” for Ramadan. The meal could take as many as three hours for housewives to make.

Many Moroccans are also keen to wear traditional clothes during the holy month, with men preferring to be in Jalabiya and tarboosh and women in traditional wear.

Cloth shops are usually packed with visitors choosing their preferable clothes.

A Moroccan cloth maker said they do their best to meet the demands of all Moroccan customers.Tolerance

Many charities also offer aid to thousands of poor families during the holy month, another indicator of social integration in the country.

They set up Mawa'ed Al-Rahman (Iftar dinner occasions) in which food is given for free to poor Muslims and passersby to break their fast.

The charities also distribute food supplies to the poor and needy in a demonstration of tolerance among Muslims during Ramadan.

Ramadan is also marked by the appearance of the Musaharati, a man charged with waking people up for suhur -- a meal Muslims have before they fast every day.

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