Rabat – As Ramadan draws near, a warm, familiar feeling begins to settle in weeks before its arrival. It’s the one month of the year when Muslims shift their routines completely, fasting from dawn to sunset.
Preparations start long before the month itself. Neighbors gather to help each other make chebakia, bechnikha, and sellou, while pastry shops begin preparing bastilla leaves for sale.
Even the air seems different. The scent of Ramadan fills the streets, the malls, and every home. It’s not just a month of worship, it’s a whole vibe wrapped in one experience.
For Muslims, during Ramadan, everything changes: our sleep schedules, morning routines, eating habits, and even working hours. More importantly, it’s a time when we try to reconnect with God and strengthen our spirituality.
A Ramadan day begins with Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal eaten before the Fajr adhan. Once the call to prayer sounds, Muslims abstain from food until sunset, marking a rhythm that defines the day and shapes the month’s unique feeling.
What makes this time even more special, beyond its spiritual significance, is the way Moroccans wake up for Suhoor. In some areas, a long-standing tradition is still alive: about an hour before the adhan, a man known as the “neffar” walks through neighborhoods, using a drum or a bugle to wake everyone for the pre-dawn meal.
After Suhoor and Fajr prayer, the streets are quiet. Many people go back to sleep for a while, while others start their work or school day adjusted to Ramadan hours. In homes, kitchens stay quiet, but in some neighborhoods, the aroma of harira cooking slowly begins to fill the air.
As the day moves toward evening, anticipation builds. Children peek at the clock, families prepare the table, and the sound of the Maghrib adhan signals that the long-awaited moment to break the fast has arrived. Dates and water come first, followed by the rich flavors of harira, chebakia, and the other Ramadan staples that turn every Moroccan table into a celebration.
After breaking the fast with ftour, Moroccans often relax by watching the special Ramadan TV series while waiting for the Isha prayer. Once the call to prayer sounds, families head to the nearest mosque to perform Isha and Taraweeh, the long nightly prayers unique to Ramadan.
This glimpse only scratches the surface of Moroccan and Muslim traditions during Ramadan. To truly feel the essence of the month, you need to experience it firsthand – immerse yourself in its spirituality, let the calm and reflection wash over you, and embrace the sense of peace that comes with it.
