Ramadan tent

Last updated
An upscale Ramadan tent in Doha Doha Ramadan Tent.jpg
An upscale Ramadan tent in Doha

A Ramadan tent is a venue erected during the month of Ramadan for people to eat the daily Iftar meal. They are common across the Middle East and can be found anywhere there are communities of Muslims. Ramadan tents provide a place for people to meet with friends and family after the daily fast is broken at sunset. People gather there to eat Iftar, drink tea, and smoke shisha. Ramadan tents are traditionally a family or neighborhood affair in the Middle East. [1] [2] A Jordanian journalist described a typical Ramadan tent thus in 2008: [3] :66

Under the fluffy colorful ceiling of the big tent, you can treat yourself and friends to various types of sweets, entertainment and distraction until the very early hours of the morning, while playing game after game of cards. A musical band with a leading singer can play classical pieces of Arab music. ... Waiters are dressed in special 19th- or 18th-century attire with the red cylinder-shaped hat better known as " tarboush ." They offer you, in addition to the very popular argeelah , a rich assortment of little snacks.

Salim Ayoub Quna

In recent years, restaurants and hotels have begun running Ramadan tents to attract customers. Most luxury hotels (4- or 5-star) hotels in Jordan, the UAE, and other countries set up Ramadan tents. [3] These for-profit Ramadan tents typically charge an entrance fee of $10 to $15, [3] :63 though more expensive ones at nice hotels will charge $36 or more. [4] More upscale Ramadan tents also often have music or other entertainment. [5] The highly commercial and materialistic nature of these Ramadan tents has led many in the Middle East to criticize them for cheapening the holiday and in particular for associating "corporate-sponsored materialism with morality." [3] :63,66–7 However, some do not share this negative opinion of Ramadan tents; the aforementioned Jordanian journalist writes that: [3] :66

Maybe the tent is a symbol of open space and freedom of movement that our modern way of life in the city is stripped of ... Living in peace, quiet, and close to nature makes you feel closer to God and religion, and since I miss these things in my real life out there, being here under this tent restores part of the harsh imbalance.

Salim Ayoub Quna
A small Ramadan tent inside Bahrain International Airport Guests inside the Ramadan tent at the airport (7739178690).jpg
A small Ramadan tent inside Bahrain International Airport

In contrast to this materialism, some charitable organizations and individuals host free Ramadan tents that are open to strangers, especially the poor and those who otherwise have nowhere to go for Iftar. [2] These charitable Ramadan tents are rarer than the lavish, commercial kind, although they can be found in countries with Muslim populations around the world. [6] One such organization, the Ramadan Tent Project (RTP), hosts free Iftar dinners in open Ramadan tents that have served more than 50,000 people on four continents. [1] These open Ramadan tents have been in operation since RTP was founded in 2011 by a graduate student at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. [7] The open Iftar dinners of the RTP are open to people of all faiths. [8]

History

Ramadan tents are a relatively recent tradition, and they do not date back to the origins of the holiday. [9] Ramadan tents are believed to have their origin in Egyptian "saradek," tents set up in Cairo for people to offer their condolences. Over time, organizations and merchants began to use these saradek. Saradek became venues for providing food and shelter to the needy, particularly during the winter months. This marked the beginning of its transition to becoming the Ramadan tent that is well-known today. Soon, the saradek merged with the preexisting traditions of Arab hospitality and lavish Iftar dinners to create the modern Ramadan tent. However, Ramadan tents only became popular in the Levant following the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 1990, when they were introduced to Lebanon by a prominent businessman from the Tabbara family. [6] Because Ramadan tents are a recent tradition, they are considered bid‘ah (Arabic : بدعة, innovation or heresy), by certain sects of Sunni Islam such as Salafism. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramadan</span> Month-long fasting event in Islam

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), reflection, and community. A commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakfast</span> Meal eaten in the morning

Breakfast is the first meal of the day usually eaten in the morning. The word in English refers to breaking the fasting period of the previous night. Various "typical" or "traditional" breakfast menus exist, with food choices varying by regions and traditions worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eid al-Fitr</span> Islamic holiday at the end of Ramadan, first day of Shawwal

Eid al-Fitr is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated within Islam. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar; this does not always fall on the same Gregorian day, as the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on when the new moon is sighted by local religious authorities. The holiday is known under various other names in different languages and countries around the world. The day is also known as the First Eid or as the Lesser Eid by some Muslim communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public holidays in Qatar</span>

Qatar observes several public holidays. The two weekend days are Friday and Saturday, similarly to other Islamic countries. Annual public holidays include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haleem</span> Type of stew

Haleem is a type of stew that is widely consumed in South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia. Although the dish varies from region to region, it optionally includes wheat or barley, meat and lentils. It is made by slow cooking the meat in lentils and spices. It is served hot with flat breads or on its own. Popular variations of haleem include keşkek in Turkey, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and northern Iraq; harisa in the Arab world and Armenia; halim in Afghanistan, Iran, West Bengal, in Mauritius, Pakistan and Bangladesh; and khichra in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iftar</span> Meal ending the daily fast during Ramadan

Iftar is the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan at the time of adhan of the Maghrib prayer.

<i>Suhur</i> Islamic meal eaten at dawn time during Ramadan

Suhur, Sahur, or Suhoor, also called Sahari, Sahri, or Sehri is the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before fasting (sawm), before dawn during or outside the Islamic month of Ramadan. The meal is eaten before fajr prayer. Suhur corresponds to iftar, the evening meal during Ramadan, replacing the traditional three meals a day, although in some places dinner is also consumed after iftar later during the night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Arab people

Arab cuisine collectively refers to the regional culinary traditions of the Arab world, consisting of the Maghreb and the Mashriq. These cuisines are centuries old and reflect the culture of trading in ingredients, spices, herbs, and commodities among the Arabs. The regions have many similarities, but also unique traditions. They have also been influenced by climate, cultivation, and mutual commerce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Jordan</span>

The culture of Jordan is based on Arabic and Islamic elements. Jordan stands at the intersection of the three continents of the ancient world, lending it geographic and population diversity. Notable aspects of the culture include the traditional music and clothing of Jordan and interest in sports. These include football and basketball as well as other sports such as equestrianism, fencing, karate, swimming, and table tennis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egyptian cuisine</span> National cuisine of Egypt

Egyptian cuisine makes heavy use of poultry, legumes, vegetables and fruit from Egypt's rich Nile Valley and Delta. Examples of Egyptian dishes include rice-stuffed vegetables and grape leaves, hummus, falafel, shawarma, kebab and kofta. Others include ful medames, mashed fava beans; koshary, lentils and pasta; and molokhiyya, bush okra stew. A local type of pita bread known as eish baladi is a staple of Egyptian cuisine, and cheesemaking in Egypt dates back to the First Dynasty of Egypt, with Domiati being the most popular type of cheese consumed today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestinian cuisine</span> Types of food in Palestine culture

Palestinian cuisine consists of foods from or commonly eaten by Palestinians or in the region of Palestine, whether in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, or refugee camps in nearby countries, or by the Palestinian diaspora. The cuisine is a diffusion of the cultures of civilizations that settled in the region of Palestine, particularly during and after the Islamic era beginning with the Arab Ummayad conquest, then the eventual Persian-influenced Abbasids and ending with the strong influences of Turkish cuisine, resulting from the coming of the Ottoman Turks. It is similar to other Levantine cuisines, including Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi Arabian cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian cuisine varies according to the diverse landscapes and regions of the country. The environmental, geographic, and cultural diversity within this vast area has led to a wide variety of dishes. Saudi Arabia encompasses different regions, resulting in cuisines from the Central region, Eastern, Southern and Western regions. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia's position along global trade routes has led to the introduction of various spices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlton Hotels & Suites</span> Hotel Chain in the Middle East

Carlton Hotels & Suites is a Dubai based multinational hospitality company that manages hotels mostly in the Middle East and across Europe. It was founded 1977 with Carlton Tower Hotel in Deira and was the first 5 star hotel in Dubai. The Hotel chain consists of 9 direct managing hotels & 3 franchise operated hotels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordanian cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Jordan

Jordanian cuisine is a Levantine cuisine developed over time in Jordan. Stuffed vegetables are common, with many different techniques employed in their preparation. Meat is an important component of Jordanian cuisine, most often lamb, beef and chicken but also goat and camel meat. Rice is frequently served as a side dish but there are also one-pot rice dishes such as maqloubah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khayamiya</span> Egyptian decorative art appliqué textile

Khayamiya is a decorative Egyptian art appliqué textile, that dates back to as far as Ancient Egypt. They are now primarily made in Cairo, Egypt, along what is known as the Street of the Tentmakers centered in the Qasaba of Radwan Bey, a historic covered market built in the 17th century. The street is located immediately south of bawabet el metwali, and is located along the historic economic axis of Cairo, in a section within Muizz street.

An Arab television drama or Arab soap opera is a television form of melodramatic serialized fiction. The musalsalat are similar in style to Latin American telenovelas. They are often historical epics about Islamic figures or love stories involving class conflict and intrigue. The word musalsal literally means "chained, continuous".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahi Tukra</span> Mughlai cuisine bread pudding

Shahi Tukra is type of bread pudding which originated in South Asia during the Mughal era in the 1600s. The literal translation of Shahi Tukra is royal piece or bite. Shahi tukre originated in the Mughal Empire when Indian chefs made this dish to present to royal Mughal courts. The white bread is fried in oil/ghee after which milk and sugar is added. The dish is flavored using saffron, cloves, and cardamom.

The Iftar Cannon is an ancient tradition that started in Egypt and spread to several surrounding Muslim countries. Every day minutes before the Maghreb adhan, a cannon would fire a single shot to notify people the time of Iftar in Ramadan, when Muslims get to break their long day fasting as the sun sets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furir Bari Iftari</span> Sylheti Bengali Ramadan tradition

Furir Bari Iftari is the Bengali tradition among Bengali Muslims in the Sylhet region of giving Iftar to the household of one's daughter's in-laws during the month of Ramadan. The term comes from the Sylheti word Furi (daughter).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramadan in the United Arab Emirates</span>

Ramadan in the United Arab Emirates has distinctive customs, traditions and rituals. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Celebrations and preparations for Ramadan begin on the night of the middle of Sha’ban, known as "Haq al-Laila" in the UAE. The month is filled with entertainment, spiritual, and cultural activities and events that tie into the atmosphere of Ramadan.

References

  1. 1 2 Khan, Aina (June 8, 2018). "Open Iftar tent attracts hundreds in the UK". Al-Jazeera . Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 Dajani, Haneen (May 6, 2018). "This man's Ramadan tent has been feeding hundreds a day for 25 years". The National. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Tobin, Sarah A. (2016-02-04). "Making it Meaningful: Ramadan". Everyday Piety: Islam and Economy in Jordan. Cornell University Press. ISBN   9781501704185.
  4. Zaki, Yousra (May 24, 2018). "18 Ramadan tents to try in the UAE". Gulf News. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  5. Hamouda, Nada (May 22, 2018). "Here Are 7 Of New Cairo's Most Stunning Ramadan Tents!". Scoop Empire. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 "The changing face of the Ramadan tent". Morocco World News. Al-Arabiya. July 30, 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  7. Suliman, Adela (June 7, 2018). "Strangers break bread at Ramadan tent in London park". Thomson Reuters Foundation. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  8. Prichep, Deena (June 11, 2017). "This Dinner Party Invites People Of All Faiths To Break Bread Together". NPR. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  9. 1 2 الظاهري, ناصر (July 20, 2014). "خيمة رمضان". الإتحاد. Retrieved 28 June 2018.