Holy month begins with reflection

ARABS began the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in reflective mood as violence across much of their world brought reminders from their leaders of true Islam’s tolerant nature - backed by increases in security.

Across the Middle East, most were getting into Ramadan mode for a month of fasting and prayer as well as lavish banquets in Bedouin-style tents and late-night social gatherings.

Just a few countries were still waiting to sight the crescent moon and begin Ramadan yesterday, while in Iraq the Sunnis saw violence usher in the start of the month as their Shi’ite compatriots waited a further 24 hours.

Palestinians too saw Ramadan greeted with continued violence, despite an announcement by the Israelis that their lethal offensive in the northern Gaza Strip was being scaled back, but not ended.

In Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, authorities geared up to receive pilgrims from abroad during the holy month when Muslims fast and abstain from smoking and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk.

An official at the pilgrimage ministry said three million pilgrims were expected for the umra (small pilgrimage), in addition to an anticipated 1.5 million from within the kingdom.

The kingdom’s leaders, King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, said in a joint statement: “Muslims must act ... in keeping with the tolerant Islamic creed, which rejects violence, extremism, terrorism and the intimidation of peaceable people, while advocating ... moderation and centrism.”

Saudi Arabia has been hit by a wave of attacks by suspected Islamist extremists, and the authorities are taking no chances during Ramadan. The government is deploying an estimated 3,000 police to provide security in Mecca.

In Kuwait, the traditional all-male meeting places, diwaniyas, - were ready to receive their first-day customers, making up for what many Kuwaitis see as a weakening of social bonds.

But the increasingly festive Ramadan habits, including lavish banquets, are not without their critics.

In gas-rich Qatar, where a five-star hotel said it had stumped up €60,000 to fix a bedouin-style tent for its customers, some newspaper columnists condemned what they saw as rituals that have little to do with the Ramadan spirit.

Asia’s Muslims, who outnumber those elsewhere in the world, will observe an austere credo of fasting and prayer while enduring conditions from the equatorial heat of Indonesia to the bone-chilling cold of Afghanistan.

Muslims believe Ramadan, which lasts a full cycle of the moon, was the month 14 centuries ago when God began revealing the holy Koran scriptures to the prophet Mohammed.