Ramadan 2025: fasting and delicious food

Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. In Islam, it is regarded as the holy month of reflection, during which many believers—unless they are exempt—fast between Fajr (dawn well before sunrise) and Maghrib (sunset). A special night in this month is Laylat al-Qadr.  

Meaning

Following the example of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims observe a prescribed daytime fast during this month. This fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. In addition to fasting, extra prayers may be performed voluntarily during the night. Muslims pray more during this month. Besides being a month of reflection, Ramadan is a month in which extra attention is paid to tolerance, generosity, charity, and togetherness. According to Islam, fasting teaches people self-control and can instill qualities such as discipline, endurance, and especially self-restraint, and teaches people to master desires and lusts. Furthermore, fasting is said to strengthen empathy for the poor and increase respect for fellow man and God. Every day that one fasts is seen as a victory. The month of Ramadan is followed by Eid al-Fitr, which is usually celebrated with family and friends.  

Fasting

Fasting is called sawm (saum) or siyam. This entails that many Muslims do not eat, drink, or smoke during these times, and they abstain from sexual intercourse. Additionally, lying, cursing, slandering, and swearing are considered particularly reprehensible during Ramadan. A possible explanation of the fasting can be given as follows:

• Eye: one does not look at what is unlawful.
• Ear: one does not listen to false talk and does not eavesdrop.
• Mouth: one does not gossip and does not use inappropriate language.
• Hand: one does not commit wrong things.
• Footer: one does not visit forbidden places.

An exception is made for the sick, pregnant women, young children (who have not yet reached puberty), travelers, and all others for whom fasting poses a threat to their health or delays recovery from illness. They are not required to fast, although making up for missed fasts (if possible) is encouraged. Some people eat very elaborate meals both early in the morning and late in the evening after sunset. There are people who criticize this, as they believe that Ramadan should be a period of fasting, abstinence, and reflection. The morning meal is called shor, sohor, or suhoor; the meal after fasting is called iftar. Many Muslims greet each other before and during Ramadan with Ramadan Mubarak, Ramadan Karim, or Ramadan Mabrouk, which means Blessed Ramadan. Ramadan returns every year, and fasting is observed by adults and children aged 12 and older. Fasting sometimes makes the period quite impactful on daily life. During Ramadan, people generally try to observe the entire Koran to read. To this end, the Quran is divided into 30 parts (each for a day), called Juz'.  

Reasons for fasting during Ramadan

• Fasting is seen as a form of purification of the soul and obedience to God.
• Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is therefore obligatory.
• It is possible to develop self-discipline through fasting and to work on weaknesses in character.
• Fasting allows one to experience what it is like to be hungry and thereby helps to develop empathy for the less fortunate. However, it is a misconception that this is the main reason.

 

iftar

Iftar is the meal consumed by Muslims immediately after sunset during the fasting month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink anything between dawn (well before sunrise) and sunset. Before the fast begins, a meal called sahoor is often eaten. This is followed by the morning prayer, Fajr. According to tradition, the fast was broken by Muhammad after sunset with an odd number of people. dates and a glass of milk. Many Muslims follow this example. Subsequently, the Maghrib evening prayer is recited, and the so-called iftar is eaten. There are cultural differences regarding the order in which this occurs and what is eaten.

In North Africa, this iftar consists of harira, a thick soup made from chickpeas, lamb, onions, and lentils, among other ingredients. On the Arabian Peninsula, people eat dates and drink coffee. In Turkey, olives are eaten and tea is drunk, while in India, people consume sweet milk drinks and fruit. The breaking of the fast is announced in various ways. For instance, in Indonesia the beduk is drummed, and in Pakistan special iftar bells ring. From sunset onwards, family and acquaintances are visited and people eat together. The generally very sweet pastries (e.g. Baklavaare used to regain energy. The meals sometimes extend over hours, because one must not eat in a hurry due to the empty stomach. In the Netherlands, the iftar is used by various mosques and organizations to bring Muslims together, but also to invite non-Muslims to participate in this communal meal.  

Sugar festival

General

The Sugar Feast, Ramadan Feast, or Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) is an Islamic holiday celebrating the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. In both Belgium and the Netherlands, Sugar Feast is the most commonly used name for the celebration at the end of the Ramadan period. The term originates from the Turkish community. In Turkey, the name "eker Bayram" is common, which is a corruption of "ükür Bayram" used during the Ottoman era. "ükür" means gratitude to Allah. It is factually incorrect to assume that the reference to the sweet foods consumed at the end of the fast is based on this. The Arabic Eid al-Fitr means “feast of breaking (the fast)”. Eid or ied means feast in Arabic. The word is derived from aud (to return). Fitr (breakfast) and iftar are related to breaking the fast. Moroccan Muslims also use the term Eid al-Saghir, Small Feast (the Feast of Sacrifice is also called the Great Feast (Eid al-Kabir)). In the Turkish community, some prefer the term Ramadan Feast (Ramazan Bayram) from a religious perspective, because the term Sugar Feast is said to place too much emphasis on the sweet foods that are widely consumed during the festival.  

Celebration

On the first morning of Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Breaking the Fast), men and women visit the mosque for the special communal prayer for this holiday. The faithful must first pay the obligatory zakat (alms). For the rest of the day, people visit family if possible. On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, festive dishes and (sweet) treats such as baklava are eaten, and gifts are exchanged with one another and with the poor. Many women decorate their hands with henna. Both men and women usually wear new clothes, and the house is made extra tidy for this holiday. Afterwards, people go to the meeting place, a mosque or a hall, and in warm countries an open area, to listen to the imam's sermon, which truly concludes Ramadan. Women and children are usually present as well, as the Prophet Muhammad recommended. Then people embrace one another and forgive each other any quarrels or mistakes from the past year. They wish each other a blessed festival. The festival often lasts several days. Upon his arrival in Medina, the Prophet said: “Allah has given you two better days for this (as holidays): the day of Al-Fitr and the day of Al-Adha.” The special thing about these holidays is that both are connected to important pillars of Islam. Eid al-Fitr is one of these holidays and takes place immediately after Ramadan, and is therefore connected to the pillar of fasting during Ramadan. Because Eid al-Fitr lasts one day, this celebration is also called “the small feast”. The other holiday, Eid al-Adha, is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice or the Feast of Slaughter. This festival lasts three days and is therefore also called the Great Feast. Eid al-Adha is connected to another pillar of Islam: the pilgrimage (Hajj). After the pilgrimage, Eid al-Adha takes place on the tenth day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. The less fortunate often receive food and sometimes clothing from wealthier individuals. It is also a duty to care for the poor. They also pay poor tax throughout the year. That money is then distributed to the less fortunate. This blog was also published in 2024 and is an update.  

<strong> More info: </strong>

100 Ramadan recipes: https://fontaineuitgevers.nl/producten/100-ramadanrecepten-9789464043297   The Ramadan Cookbook: https://www.kosmosuitgevers.nl/boek/het-ramadan-kookboek/