Soapbox: The culture of Ramadan By Azza Heikal Culture differs from one place to another as well as from one era to another. As we are living in an age of diversity, many values are changing and principles evolving. Culture diversity demands not only accepting and respecting the other. It also entails examining one's own culture and evaluating change. Ramadan is supposed to be a religious month. The origin of the word Ramadan comes from the classical Arabic ramdaa, which means extreme heat and ordeal. In other words, Ramadan is a month meant to purify the body of toxins and the soul of the lavish desires of life, such as greediness, hatred and malice. Fasting does not mean the absence of food and desire -- it implies a social system that encourages the person to share his food and feelings with others. Following the oil era much changed. Consequently, Ramadan has become a month of consumption and hypocrisy, as well as being a month of rituals and entertainment. Egyptians adopted the culture of the oil rich countries with their contradictions and extravagances. Besides fasting during daytime, people pray Al-Taraweeh at the mosque and in the streets. Then another phase of life begins entailing nights spent in open-air tents smoking shisha, eating, dancing and singing while waiting for the pre-dawn meal, Sohour. Life during daylight differs from that at night. Egyptians appear as worshipping two gods: one of ritual and another of recreation and fun. Despite the fact that Egypt is facing economic woes, many Egyptians borrow money and travel in debt to Mecca for the minor pilgrimage, or omra. Moreover, people spend a lot of money buying excessive food and seasonal specialties. Then there are the trading price rises wielded without religious or social constraint. In all, it is high time for intellectuals and enlightened men of letters to draw people back to the real essence of the holy month of Ramadan. Nowadays, the culture of Ramadan in Egypt has become a culture of hypocrisy and vanity while Ramadan is the month that ought to assert social solidarity and spiritual purity. This week's Soapbox speaker is a professor of English literature at Ain Shams University.
