French Impressed by Ramadan Aura

By Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent

PARIS, October 11, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – For the French, the holy fasting month of Ramadan conjures up images of the delicious Moroccan soup and attractive slim bodies as Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during the dawn-to-dusk month.

In a survey undertaken by IslamOnline.net’s correspondent in Paris, the overwhelming majority of some 100 people interviewed also admired the ability of Muslims to put a curb on their desires during the day-long fast.

Sixty-eight of the respondents said that they have become addicted to the spicy Moroccan soap known as “harira.”

Others wondered how Muslims can abstain from drinking, eating and having sex daylong.

“It is really amazing that my Muslim friends stop frequenting cafes and night clubs during Ramadan,” Escafi, 28, told IOL.

He said he is enjoying himself in joining Muslim friends during Ramadanian nights in Saint Denis, in north Paris.

Saint Denis has a Muslim population of 500,000 out of 1,200 million people, making it the largest Muslim residential area in the country.

Giel, 54, said he what he likes most during Ramadan is the lantern-lightened shops that line the Moroccan-dominated Bellville district in Paris, which sells the traditional Ramadanian stuff like kunafa (a dessert spun out of shredded wheat and topped with raisins, nuts and cream), and qataiyf (a pastry stuffed with almonds and raisins, and drenched in a syrup of sugar).

Healthy

Of the surveyed, 88 percent said that Ramadan stands a golden opportunity to lose weight and keep fit.

“Fast undoubtedly is very healthy irrespective of its religious significance,” Stephanie, 41, said.

“I’m myself keen on fasting yearlong, not out of religiosity but I follow a regime prescribed by my doctor and I managed to lose 10 kilograms.”

But Roget, an engineer, said he abhors that the productivity of his Moroccan colleagues during Ramadan sharply decreases and they do not usually make punctual appearance at work.

Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar, when the Noble Qur`an was revealed upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

It a time when Muslims fast to learn discipline, reflect and reconnect spiritually. Extensive worship and charity also are components of the month.