Egypt Prepares for Holiest Month

July 19, 2012

Ramadan, the holiest month of the year for the world's 1 billion Muslims, begins with the new moon expected in most of the world on July 20. It marks the start of a month of fasting, reflective prayer and helping the poor.

In Egypt, observers have their own take on the centuries-old customs, including the traditional daily fast from sunrise to sunset as an expression of self-sacrifice.

Islamic scholar Sheikh Mahmoud Ashour explains that Ramadan is much more than just abstaining from food and drink.

"In between fasting and praying we read the Quran, and they are the words of God Almighty," Ashour said. "And the Prophet Muhammad said whoever wants God to talk to him, let him read the Quran, so throughout Ramadan we do nothing but talk to God and God talks to us."

Many Muslims break their fast with dates and water.

At a bustling market in the Cairo district of Al Sayeda Zeinab, date sellers like Ahmed hope to attract customers by naming the varieties for sale after belly dancers, movie stars and more recently, political movements and figures.

"Last year we called them [Hosni] Mubarak, Habib al Adli, Alaa Mubarak, Suzanne Mubarak," he said. "This year we named them [President Mohamed] Morsi, the 25th of January, the Revolution, Tahrir [Square], demonstrators, according to the events we are going through."

He said the names do not always help sales.