In honor of the start of Ramadan on May 15, 2018

This was first published in 2015. I share it today in honor of the start of the month of Ramadan. 

The holy month of Ramadan is seven days old today. The moon is approaching half full out my window. In the month of Ramadan, pious Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day. In places like Egypt this also may mean that people work a shorter work day to preserve their energy during daylight hours. The fast is broken at sunset when the call to prayer comes from the local mosque. I’m told that it’s tradition to break the fast with a glass of water, a date and then your break-fast meal – iftar. Often shops close in the hour or so before sunset so that people can make their way home in time to break their fast with family or friends.

Today Rita, Linda and I headed out to run a couple of errands before dinner. We left the seminary at 6:30 pm forgetting, until we got on the main street, that it was likely the shops where we were headed would be closed. The sun sets just before 7 pm in Cairo these days. Rather than turn around, we decided to make our way to Road 9 just in case they were open. The street, normally bustling with cars and pedestrian traffic during rush hour, was quiet.

As we expected the first shop was closed. We headed to the market, which remained open, though we were the only customers. We made quick business of our shopping to allow the workers to break the fast in peace. But as we walked out of the market and onto the street, we saw workers gathered around an enormous pot of béchamel (in Midwest speak, hotdish with meat and a cheesy cream sauce). We couldn’t help but admire the delicious looking food when suddenly we were invited to join them in breaking the fast.

An enormous helping of béchamel was served and as the call to prayer began we spoke to each other the Ramadan words of greeting.

Ramadan Kareem

Alahu Akram

A generous Ramadan to you!

God is most generous!

Together we broke the fast with delicious food and tamarhindi (a sweet juice made from the tamarind plant). It was delicious. It was generous. It was pure hospitality. It was everything I have come to love about Egypt and Egyptians.

I may not share the same faith as my Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world, but I do share a faith in an ever-generous God who provides us with all life and sustenance. For a brief moment tonight on Road 9 in Ma’adi, we communed with a most generous God and shared one heavenly feast.

Al-hamdulillah! Thanks be to God!