Ramadan in Ukraine: Month of Fast and Prayer

In Ukraine, Crimea is the region where Islam is spread the most. Here Ramadan started for thousand Muslims. Throughout thirty days by means of fasting they will strengthen their spirituality and relationships with God.

The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan started. According to Muslim religious canons, in the course of the month the believers are obliged to abstain from food, drinking and intimate relations for the sake of spiritual purification.

In Ukraine, Crimea is the region where Islam is spread the most. Here Ramadan started for thousand Muslims. Throughout thirty days by means of fasting they will strengthen their spirituality and relationships with God.

Ramadan and its Instructions

Ramadan, or in Turkish, Ramazan, is the ninth month of a Muslim calendar. Also, for Muslims it is considered to be the most honorable. Since Friday and within 30 days will go on the Muslim fast or Uraza.

According to religious canons, at this time believers should abstain from food, drinks and intimate relations in the daytime of the month.

In Crimea the majority of Muslims are the Crimean Tatars. According to the official statistics of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars, only 25 % from them observe a strict fast. Most of the Crimean Muslims or simply observe fasting without performing Namaz (a prayer) five times a day, or feed those who fast in the evening, which is also an integral part of Uraza.

Such a small percent of strict admirers of Uraza testifies that nowadays the majority of the Crimean Tatars prefer the so-called "secular Islam", without troubling themselves by following the religious canons.

European Ramadan

There are very few more orthodox Muslims in Crimea. Mainly they live in Turkey and the countries of Asia, the representative of Mejlis of the Crimean-Tatar people and the deputy of the Crimean Parliament Shevket Kaybullaev said. He fasts about 12 years. However, he does not always perform Namaz.

Shevket Kaybullaev, "We are for secular Islam. Which does not force, does not regulate all minutes of your life. For example, to pray five times a day. I do not pray five times. I.e., for us it more than simply mechanical performance of these rituals. We perceive Allah in our souls and we are guided by Islam which develops in Turkey, in Europe".

To spend a day without water and food is not so difficult, as it seems to be, confirms Shevket Kaybullaev. The main thing, he says, is not to yield to temptations in the form of cigarettes or coffee.

"If you correctly accounted your physical abilities - there is no anything difficult. Simply about four o'clock you feel weariness. Especially if you work. As usually you smoke, you drink coffee - and a day passes normally. And here there are no usual things, and strong attraction towards a cigarette or coffee is felt. But - imagine - somewhere in an hour this light day comes to an end, and, very interestingly, these desires vanish".

iop

Members of the Mejlis, according to Shevket Kaybulaev observe Uraza. However several years ago this quantity was very low. "This process is slow. I remember, in the nineties when we returned here, we selected the Mejlis. And out of above 300 members of the Mejlis, apparently, only two observed fast. Then four. And till now there are very few conscious ones, somewhat 16 persons".

Ramadan - Returning to Sources?

Among the Crimean-Tatar youth the quantity of those who observes strict canons of Ramadan is small, too. And it is explained in the Mejlis by following to "secular Islam".

Nevertheless, young people have their own point of view on it. Young businessman Eldar Adamanov confirms, that he fasts for 15 years and teaches it his younger relatives. He asserts that the quantity of the young men respecting traditions of Islam gradually increases. Faith gives the meaning of the life, he says. He gives his friends as an example.

Eldar Adamanov, "I really see, for example, as the simple person that the Crimean Tatars leave the disoriented condition of the Post-Soviet period. I.e. the life starts to get some sense..."

During celebratory suppers the youth, according to Eldar Adamanov, actively discusses religious topics. And the main plus of Uraza consists in unity of people. Even those who did not see each other for many years, these days necessarily meet. "We feel a hand of other Muslims and their partnership in our holiday. A lot of acquaintances, for example, in Turkey, it is a lot of acquaintances in other countries, and during this period we communicate more, constantly we have conversations. In Ramazan in particular. Every day we congratulate each other. There is unification".

"Gender" Ramadan

The month of Ramadan is special and for-Muslim women, too. Sometimes during this period they even have the right not to do their household work within a month, says the assistant of the editor-in-chief of the Crimean-Tatar newspaper "Avdet" Leyla Seit-Arif, "In the course of fast a man has no right to demand from a woman to perform all household works. And it is stated in our books. During fast we are all equal. I do not cook food at all during the time of Uraza. And only in the evening me and my mother can cook something for supper".

However, this loyalty does not concern work, tells Leyla Sait-Arif. Working schedule in the course of Uraza does not differ from the usual.

It is just necessary to refuse from the dinners and coffee. One should devote Ramadan just to oneself. To rethink sense of one's existence and to come closer to Allah.

Leyla Seit-Arif, "You rise early, together with the sun... such a feeling... Probably, the human body is arranged so, as well as the nature: the nature wakes up early, and it is peculiar to a man, together with the sun. Probably, there is some divine revelation in it, when you start to live in the same rhythm, as the nature. Also you start to feel and understand something new".

Uraza, according to Muslim traditions, comes to an end with the holiday of Ramadan-Bayram, which begins with a sunset at the last day of Ramadan. It is celebrated for three days. Muslims prepare a rich meal and treat to it relatives, neighbors and acquaintances, notwithstanding their religion. And also they distribute the charity and visit tombs of the dead.

By BBC Ukrainian

Related Links: