Ramadan Celebrations 2

Ramadan in Turkey
With happiness, the Turkish people welcome Ramadan. In fact, this great people still proving steadfastness and love for this great religion that encompasses all aspects of life.
"Ramadan has come, light the minarets and feel joy." This is what occurs at the advent of Ramadan in Turkey from the Maghrib prayer till the early hours in the morning. The Chief of the Authority of Religious Affairs in Turkey says: "We have about 77 thousand mosques in Turkey, for we cannot live without mosques or minarets."
Taraweeh, reciting the Holy Qur'an and making Religious Book Fair in the Olo Jami`(Turkey's Greatest Mosque) in Ankara and Sultan Ahmad Mosque in Istanbul are among the signs of welcoming the month.
After Traweeh is finished, candy is distributed to children who participated in prayer as a way of encouraging them to repeat the deed.
In ordinary days, the local radio and TV known as TRT1-TV broadcasts a religious program of a quarter of an hour. In Ramadan, two religious programs are broadcast before Iftar and Suhoor in addition to many TV serials in various times of the day as a way of celebrating the blessed month.

Ramadan in Tanzania
In Tanzania, the month of Ramadan has a special place in the minds of people as they prepare for Ramadan right from the middle of Sha`ban, as they bedeck the streets with decorations and electric lights, and also beautify the mosque and all the neighboring shops. Then they exchange visits and gifts between families.
As preparation for the month of Ramadan, most Muslims fast on Mondays and Thursdays in the month of Sha`ban until Ramadan comes when all of them will fast, starting from children of twelve years up to the old people. Those who do not pray are called atheists, pagans and unbelievers. It is regarded as an enormity and punishable under the law for a Muslim to eat during the day in Ramadan and to be seen on the street eating. All the shops are always closed in the daytime. Even the cafeterias in the hotels are not to be opened except after the sunset prayer, and even a non-Muslim is ashamed of eating in the daytime during Ramadan.
Some of the foods used to break fast are dates, water sweetened with sugar, coffee, rice, fish and vegetables.

Ramadan in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is one of the hottest spots in the world with the temperature reaching more than 40° C (104° F) in summer. Even when it falls in summer, Ramadan is still one of the most beloved seasons in the country.
After the Communist Revolution, a fierce attack was waged against religion.
Mosques were closed, prayer was banned, and Muslims could no longer fast or make Hajj due to the strict reign of the Communist authorities.
Now with the coming of leniency and the end of oppression, Muslims have regained their joy in their religion and seize the chance of the holy month to gather for iftar.
Each gathering starts with reciting the Qur'an and supplicating Allah to bless the host and his family. After they have finished eating, the guests and host rush to the mosque to perform `Isha Prayer and Taraweeh. What a great feeling to be free

Ramadan in Japan
Muslims of Japan share their brothers all over the Muslim world the happiness of receiving Ramadan.
Muslims in Japan prepare themselves for receiving Ramadan long time before its coming. A permanent committee called "the Committee of Ramadan and the two Feasts" has been formed in the Islamic center for discussing preparation for Ramadan. The committee starts its work with sighting the new moon. Mostly, it is too overcast to be seen. In such case, we follow Malaysia, the nearest Islamic country to us. Then, when it's confirmed that the new moon has been sighted, the center declares that to the public. The center takes on its shoulder answering questions of Japanese Muslims concerning the new moon, times of Prayers, Fasting, etc.
On this occasion, they always publish a calendar showing times of prayers and the approximate times for refraining from eating and drinking at dawn and breaking fast at sunset during Ramadan. The center distributes this calendar to mosques, and various Islamic gatherings and meetings all over Japan. Another calendars are distributed to restaurants that sell Halal (lawful) food. Obviously, the center as well as all the other Islamic gatherings makes the necessary preparations for receiving this blessed month properly. Working for Islam is activated during this month which is the best of months and one of the distinctive features of the Muslim Ummah

Ramadan in Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the greatest Muslim countries. The Malaysian Muslims receive the month of Ramadan with great joy and unequalled happiness. They change their style of living during this honorable month. Reciting the Ever-Glorious Qur'an, remembering Allah and staying at mosques are their main concern. On the few last days of Sha`ban, Muslims of Malaysia prepare themselves for receiving Ramadan. They prepare mosques for prayer and buy their necessities of food. On the 29th night of Sha`ban, the Ministry of Religious Affairs tries to sight the new moon. When the sighting is established, the ministry declares it via mass media. Muslims exchange congratulations due to the advent of Ramadan. On this great occasion, the local authorities sprinkle streets with water, clean yards and public squares and hang electric lamps in the main streets.
As for the way of receiving Ramadan in the countryside, Muslims there celebrate the occasion through gathering at mosques and congratulating one another. Also, they exchange meals of breaking the fast.
The rich and well-to-do traders normally establish feasts for providing meals of the breaking of the fast at mosques and in the streets.
Truly, the Malaysian community is distinguished with special kinds of meals.
Mostly, all family members attend prayer in the mosque regularly. Schools for teaching the Qur'an are widespread all over the country. The government encourages these schools which intensify their courses during this month. They teach Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), Tafsir (Exegesis of the Qur'an), the Islamic Creed, the Arabic language besides the Ever-Glorious Qur'an. The Malaysians conclude the month of Ramadan with completing reciting the Honorable Qur'an in mosques, schools, TV, Radio, etc. Then, they make other celebrations for receiving the blessed `Eid Al-Fitr.

Ramadan in Morocco
In Morocco as well as in other Muslim countries, Ramadan has a special taste. During weekends, Moroccans residing in big cities travel to the countryside to enjoy fresh air and practice joyful sports.
Civil servants are permitted to leave work as soon as they hear "Allahu Akbar," Allah is the Greatest. In addition, it is dominant to see people treating one another kindly and an atmosphere of compassion, forsaking the fake glory of this worldly life encompasses all.
In Morocco, the Night of Qadr, is characterized by a special occasion. The father accompanies his male children after breaking the fast to the Mosque in order to pray `Isha and Taraweeh in congregation. Female children, on the other hand remain in the house rejoicing with neighbors until the father comes back home. Upon the father's return, all rejoice and go sightseeing in the city's capital.

Ramadan in Cairo
By every dawn and every sunset, the Egyptian citizens hear the boom of an old canon, declaring the time for breaking the fast (Iftar) and the time for stopping eating (Imsaak).
The canon known as "Hajjah Fatimah" is an inheritance from the old day of Muhammad Ali Pasha or, according to some traditions, goes back to the days of an Ottoman governor called Khosh Qadam.
Though the canon itself has been changed and replaced with a new one, the name remained unchanged. Now the canon is placed on the plateau of Moqattam near to the Citadel. Four men are there to take care of the canon and use it to alarm people that it is time for Iftar or Imsaak

Ramadan in Mauritania
At the beginning of Ramadan, Mauritanians especially the youth hasten to perform regular prayers at their appointed times in Mosques. It is worth stressing here that Mauritanians start celebrating the month of Ramadan as soon as the month of Rajab draws to a close.
In Mauritania, it is no wonder to see the haves, especially the stingy, showing sympathy towards the have-nots during Ramadan. The sense of solidarity and backing the poor is widely spread.
During the nights of Ramadan, the `Isha and Taraweeh prayers are aired live from the Two Holy Shrines of Makkah and Al-Madinah. After prayer people usually set at ease to listen to religious lessons and heart softeners from the reliable scholars and Imams in addition to reciting the Qur'an and listening to it.
After prayer, it is easier to see people visiting one another and drinking Green Tea, which is a common drink in Mauritania.