Upholding Ramadan traditions in tough economic times
Egyptian teacher learns how to trim budget without losing spirit of the fasting month
Two hours before iftar time, Hamed Ahmad picked a copy of the Quran from a bedside table. Clad in a flowing comfortable jalabiya, the schoolteacher started reciting verses from the holy book, a tradition he keeps in the time-down of each day in the month of Ramadan.
One hour later, he headed to the kitchen of his third-floor apartment and scrutinised the contents of the iftar meal his wife was briskly making. The aroma of rice-stuffed cabbage and mulukhiyah soup, popular dishes in Egypt, filled the place.
For Ahmad, juicy drinks are a must for breaking the dawn-to-dusk fast in the scorching summer of Egypt. “As soon as the cannon sound booms, signalling the time for iftar, I break my fast with some dates and then gulp down a cup of tamarind,” said the 33-year-old.
Afterwards, Ahmad would take a short break to perform the Maghrib prayers. He would lead his wife and three children in the prayer. “This what my father used to practise when I was a child. Now, it’s my turn to do the same with my children,” he told Gulf News.
After the prayer, the family gathers again at the table for the iftar meal — all cooked at home. “These days, who can afford the food deliveries and restaurant meals with expensive price tags?” said Ahmad. “We have not only stopped ordering meals from restaurants, but we have reduced the quantity of food we consume. This is good for both the health and the budget,” he added on a humorous note.
However, his children aged eight, six and five, do not like the austerity. “In the beginning, they protested and cried. I tried to overcome their resistance by occasionally buying them their favourite chocolate and telling them about the health benefits of avoiding gluttony,” he explained. “Also, the recipes of my wife, including home-made sweets, are irresistible,” he added. His wife is a homemaker.
Traditionally, Egyptian families stock up on food in the run-up to Ramadan when consumption rises.
“A week before the start of Ramadan, my wife and I sat down and listed our food needs for the blessed month. Then, we went to a major supermarket famous for offering discounts on groceries and bought just what we needed,” Ahmad said.
“Of course, we did not dare to walk into the yamish department because their prices are no longer affordable,” he added, referring to dried fruits including apricots, figs and raisins.
And, despite his cost-cutting, Ahmad also bought each of his three children a fanoos or a lantern to play with.