Brazil Muslims Keep Ramadan Traditions

BRASILIA — Every Ramadan, Zubaida Jomaa, 44, struggles to bring her family together at least once a week for breaking their fast together.

“I like to see my family sitting together during the holy month,� Zubaida, of Lebanese origin, told IslamOnline.net on Saturday, August 29.

“It gives me the sensation that Islam is constantly inside my home.�

The mother of two feels a special joy when she invites relatives and neighbours to iftar during the dawn-to-dusk fasting month.

“Relatives are used to come to break fast with us and even some Brazilian relatives from my mother’s Brazilian’s side, who even without fasting are happy to share with me this so special moment of our lives.�

Despite living in a western society, the Muslim woman is keen to teach her kids the meaning of fasting during Ramadan.

“My children are fasting since they were nine-year-old and despite people around me condemning my attitude for letting children fast, I know that what I have done is seen with good eyes by any Muslim family,� said Zubaida, who was raised in Brazil.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy fasting month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

It is customary for Muslims to spend part of the days during Ramadan studying the Noble Qur'an.

“Ramadan is a blessed moment in the life of any Muslim worldwide,� said Zubaida.

Tradition

The Muslim woman is also keen on passing on the Arabic gastronomy to her children.

“During common days I don’t dedicate to the Arabic culinary as I do during Ramadan,� Zubaida said.

“I feel that we should keep as close as possible to everything around our culture and religion.�

Her iftar banquet often includes the famous Lebanese dishes such as Fatushe, tabule, dolma, rumus, kibbe, baba khanuj, caftan, bariane and yogurt.

In Brazil, families can easily find Arabic condiments with variety and at affordable prices.

“Even being born in Brazil, I have my heart close to any Arabic culture,� said Zubaida.

“Islam moves my life and Ramadan is the moment I get blessed for all that.�

There are a growing number of Muslim families in Brazil who are keen on observing the Ramadan traditions.

“We have observed that although living in a western and modern country, Muslim families in Brazil are struggling to keep their traditions and religion at full practice, special during Ramadan,� said Muhssen Jalil, president of Islamic Brazilian Organisation.

“The surprise is that a large number of the responsible for keeping Ramadan among their families are women who were born in Brazil but have Arabic origin but sometimes such decision could bring headache to them.�

According to a 2001 census, there are 27,239 Muslims in Brazil.

However, the Islamic Brazilian Federation puts the number at around one and a half million.

The majority of Muslims are descendants of Syrian, Palestinians and Lebanese immigrants who settled in Brazil in the nineteenth century during the World War I and in the 1970s.

Many Iraqis have arrived in the country after the 2003 US-led invasion.

Most Muslims live in the states of Parana, Goias, Riod de Janiero and Sao Paulo, but there are also significant communities in Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul.

Fasting Children

But many Brazilian Muslims encounter troubles while trying to teach their children to fast during the holy month.

“Two days ago I had to go with a friend at his son’s school to convince the director that even fating the young boy could act like any other kid at school and he was doing that since he was eight,� said Jalil.

“Some people feel worried when they see a children fasting but we know that it won’t affect their lives but instead bring more hope and benefits.�

Ghassan Ali Abdullah, 39, agrees.

“The first time I fasted in my life I was seven and don’t regret for one second,� he told IOL.

“I remember my father’s friends criticising him but he stood against any accusations and today I have a family, a good job and expect to follow his steps towards my children.

“Ramadan is a moment of reflection, a moment that we feel pure from the impurities present outside home and fasting doesn’t change our way of behaving or towards our friends.

“I love Ramadan and I’m happy to see that my children are sharing the same thoughts too.�