Morocco and Spain 2023

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri calendar (a lunar calendar), is considered the holiest month in the Islamic faith. Through stringent fasting, discipline, introspection, and prayer, Muslims elevate their level of spiritual and physical submission to Allah, express their gratitude, and seek his forgiveness.

It is believed that during this month Allah revealed the holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. As a way of honouring this auspicious period of time, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, any form of violence, anger, and also husband-wife intimacy from the breaking of dawn until the setting of the sun. Reading the Quran and making a charitable donation (Zakat-al-Fitr) are also encouraged.

The beginning of Ramadan is subject to the sighting of the moon.
On the 29th day of Shaban, the moon sighting for Ramadan 2023 took place. The moon sighting date for Ramadan 2023 varies in each country because the Shaban month did not begin on the same day in every country. In Morocco, a moon sighting this year was held on 21 March 2023.

Ramadan in Morocco

A typical day of Ramadan in Morocco begins with the nafar, that is the town crier blowing the horn to wake up families for the pre-dawn meal. After the iftar, the sounding of a cannon marks the start of the day-long fasts, and after sunset, zowaka, an air raid siren alerts Muslims that they may now eat and drink.

Moroccans head out to nearby mosques for the tarawih and tahajjud prayers. During this holy month, extra congregational prayers are also held for people to read the Quran and devote themselves to Allah. 

Laylat al-Qadr, which is celebrated on mostly the 27th night of the month is amongst the holiest events in Islam. Families come together for this special occasion and share traditional dinners. This is also the only time when children who haven’t reached puberty fast during the month. Young girls deck up in fine clothes, gold ornaments and put make-up and henna. Boys too dress festively in brand new djllabas, fez and balgha.

In the days leading up to Ramadan, Moroccan women prepare traditional sweets like sellou and chebakia for the entire month. The iftar, or as it is more commonly called, ftour usually consists of tagine—a meat and vegetable stew, harira—a tomato and lentil soup, fried fish, hard-boiled eggs, khobz—a crusty Moroccan bread, pancakes, flatbreads and different sweet and savoury pastries. Dates, milk, juices, and sweets are also served as accompaniments to provide the sugar and energy required for the day.

Families and friends often come together to break their fasts. Community and social gatherings are also held as a gesture of brotherhood.

On my North Morrocco tour Ramadan started on second last day, our leader observed the fasting. We certainly heard the air raid siren at 3.30 am marking the start of Ramadan!

On the Women's tour Chama was also observing Ramadan. It's not only fasting from food but water too. We were very concerned for our Muslim team's health and well being during hiking days. They found it very tough, it has never been done in Ramadan before. Thankfully the days weren't too hot but apparently the rest of us broke the record for drinking the most water bottles on a tour!!

It was interesting and very special to be allowed to be a part of their Ramadan even in a small way.
Our first and last meal with Charma was the Ftour meal.

Fasting is from sun up to sun down so they get up around 3.30 am and have a big feed and lots of drink, then nothing until around 6.45 or whenever sunset is when they break their fast with the ftour (like a breakfast,) and drink. Then fairly soon after they have a proper meal. Lots of shops are shut during the fasting hours but livens up at night once they've eaten and are "allowed" to do stuff.Read more