Arabs and foreigners who have had the chance to visit Egypt during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan know that Ramadan in Cairo is "unique" compared to other parts of the Islamic world. Ramadan is basically a time of the year for devotion, spirituality and benevolence. This spirit is manifested in longer hours of worship, compassion for the poor, and closer family ties. Yet ironically, as much as spirituality is augmented during Ramadan, opposite trend that has nothing to do with the fundamental and profound meaning of the month makes indeed Ramadan "unique" in this country. TV stations bombard viewers with an avalanche of soap operas, sitcoms, and frivolous talk shows that take people away from prayers and other religious duties. As for the sohour (the last meal before the dawn prayer), coffee shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets race to lure patrons by setting up shisha corners and singing shows, which again are “unique” Egyptian Ramadan treats. The spirit of Ramadan is being abused this year above all at the hands of parliamentary candidates vying to win in elections next November. Candidates have started to give away bags of food to the poor, an act that has become a feature of Ramadan in Egypt in the past few years, in the hope of winning a reward not only from God but also from potential voters. Some of the bags have the picture of the "benevolent" candidate printed on them. Some others have sponsored ma'edat al-rahman in their districts, large tables where the poor and passers-by are offered iftar (the evening meal to break the fast) free of charge, not forgetting to hang up large banners mentioning their names as candidates. It seems that politicians, whatever their orientation, have their ways of taking advantage of the holy month to get to voters.
