Assalamu Alaikum and Ramadhan Mubarak,
The blessed month of Ramadhan has many different identities depending on where it is being welcomed, the traditions, habits and foods may also differ according to the region or country.
Where I come from, Makkah Al Mukarramah, Ramadhan has a very unique sense, in this month people from all over the globe come to the holy land to have a taste of what Ramadhan tastes like over there. Weeks before the month starts, people start marching to Makkah, either from within Saudi Arabia, or from far far away, either to spend the whole month there, or for just few days with Umrah. Makkah becomes very crowded and its streets are filled with nonstop traffic. Makkah becomes sleepless.
Minutes before Maghrib, you see queues of people lining up to get there share of some of the most delicious Hijazi cuisines, these dishes are available the whole year, but some of them only get popular during Ramadhan as a crucial Iftar meal, the Iftar table is not complete without: Foul and Tamees bread, Shorba, Soobya, Sambosa .. and a lot lot more I can't even think of. Zamzam water is a must to break the fast.
It is a habit to share Iftar food in Ramadhan between neighbors, you give your neighbor a dish and they give you theirs. This how love and compassion is spread and shared, also food.
During Taraweeh prayer time, the air is filled with beautiful recitations of the Qur'an, there are many Masjids in Makkah, if you drive a distance you'll see at least 3 or 4 Masjids on your way .. so imagine how amazing it is when every single of these Masjids sound their speakers high for everyone to hear.
Taraweeh in Al Masjid Al Haram is sensational, the number of people attending there is magnificent, the lines may sometimes reach outside to the streets! Subhanallah, so coming early like after Asr is recommended, and let's not forget the beautiful recitations by famous Imams like As-Sudais and Maher Al Muaiqly,
The blessed month of Ramadhan has many different identities depending on where it is being welcomed, the traditions, habits and foods may also differ according to the region or country.
Where I come from, Makkah Al Mukarramah, Ramadhan has a very unique sense, in this month people from all over the globe come to the holy land to have a taste of what Ramadhan tastes like over there. Weeks before the month starts, people start marching to Makkah, either from within Saudi Arabia, or from far far away, either to spend the whole month there, or for just few days with Umrah. Makkah becomes very crowded and its streets are filled with nonstop traffic. Makkah becomes sleepless.
Minutes before Maghrib, you see queues of people lining up to get there share of some of the most delicious Hijazi cuisines, these dishes are available the whole year, but some of them only get popular during Ramadhan as a crucial Iftar meal, the Iftar table is not complete without: Foul and Tamees bread, Shorba, Soobya, Sambosa .. and a lot lot more I can't even think of. Zamzam water is a must to break the fast.
It is a habit to share Iftar food in Ramadhan between neighbors, you give your neighbor a dish and they give you theirs. This how love and compassion is spread and shared, also food.
"Shurek Bread"
Shurek or Sherek: Hijazi style bread. Made with special dough, it is eaten with yogurt or dates, dipped in Foul (a dip made with Fava beans), with "Dugga" (a powder made out of many spices), or just eat right away.
"Foul"
"Tamees"
Tamees according to many is Hijazi originally, but migrants from Afghanistan and Yemen has mastered is making. You see a lot of "Foul n Tamees" shops around Makkah. Tamees bread is usually big, around 40cm in diameter. It has many varieties, like cheesy, buttery or crispy.
"Shorba"
Shorba is a famous Hijazi cereal soup, the texture is more to a stew then a soup sometimes. Contains delicious lamp chunks, which gives it that unique taste.
"Sambosa"
Made out of wrapping dough flake, filled only with a generous amount of cooked ground beef.
"Soobya"
Soobya is the drink of all drinks during Ramadhan, this very delicious drink is made of malt and raising mix (dried grapes). The most popular of all is made by 'ammu Sa'eed Al Khudari, everyone in Makkah know this guy.
"Kibda"
Kibda literally means "liver", this dish is basically made of fresh lamb liver, cut into pieces and cooked with onions, tomatoes and spices, Kibda is eaten usually with flatbread. Sometimes besides liver, lamb gut is added (stomach, intestines) hearts and also kidneys .. believe me it's delicious i'm drooling right now!
"Basbosa"
Basbosa is a famous desert in the middle east, it's get popular during Ramadhan and Eid.
Taraweeh in Al Masjid Al Haram is sensational, the number of people attending there is magnificent, the lines may sometimes reach outside to the streets! Subhanallah, so coming early like after Asr is recommended, and let's not forget the beautiful recitations by famous Imams like As-Sudais and Maher Al Muaiqly,
During Ramadhan tailor shops get really busy, everyone is pre-ordering there Eid thobes (Jubbah), clothe shops are also crowded. Hijazi people have their own unique fashion.
Indeed, Ramadhan in Makkah is like no other, Makkah has a special place in the hearts of every single Muslim, Muslims across the centuries have been migrating there to have the honor of living there, even before the beginning of Saudi era. That's why Hijaz (the west side of the Arabian Peninsula) is made of many cultures. E.g Bukharies from central asia, Malays from southeast Asia, Yemenis and Africans, which have influence everything you see now in Makkah.
By Majid Maetalong
SCIENCESS Exco - International Students Affairs Bureau.
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