Middle East: Ramadan in the Shadow of War

According to local authors, due to the US and Israeli aggression unleashed against Iran and its destructive consequences, “this year’s Ramadan is marred by bombings, displacement, and the suffering of thousands of civilians.”

A fast marred by bombings and displacement

Media reports reflect the sentiments of those fasting these days. For the people of the Gaza Strip, a month that was traditionally a time for family gatherings and iftars (the evening meals breaking the fast) is now spent in displacement camps. There is no reliable electricity to light the nights for those fasting, insufficient water even to meet the most basic needs, and a clear shortage of food, among other things.

Jerusalem, unlike itself

Jerusalem is unlike its usual self during this holy month, when it usually flourishes, its streets, quarters, and alleys filled with visitors and worshippers. Nights, like days, used to be full of life: the faces of passersby, believers, and guests, and the joyful resonance of visitors’ hearts. These days, the city is in a catastrophic state; its alleys are empty, especially inside the Old City, where the Al-Aqsa Mosque is closed. At the entrances, Israeli soldiers are on duty as part of the state of emergency. In the West Bank, Ramadan is filled with raids to reinforce security measures in cities and refugee camps.

People are tired of hardship and long for the return of peace

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes and evacuation warnings have forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes in just over a week, UN sources reported. Over 400 people have died in the country as a result of these raids. Hala Hawila, a 70-year-old refugee sheltering in a school-turned-displacement center near Beirut, says the residents are tired of hardships and long for the return of peace.

In the Gulf countries, which are accustomed to stability, worshippers watch with anxiety as Iranian rockets and drones fly overhead – something Tehran states is a response to the US using bases in these countries against it. According to witnesses who came to their local mosque in Bahrain, the daily routine has been disrupted. As is the case in Bahrain, the streets of Kuwait and the UAE empty as soon as sirens sound, and only the essential obligatory prayers are performed in mosques.

Iranian state media has dubbed the ongoing war between Israel and the US with the Islamic Republic of Iran the “Ramadan War,” as it began during this holy month.

Expanding social role of Ramadan?

The main purpose of fasting, according to theologians, lies in spiritual purification and diligent prayer. It encourages sacrifice and compassion for one’s neighbor. At the same time, a number of authors note the expanding social role of Ramadan, which integrates into the modern, multifaceted reality. For instance, for the fourth consecutive year, the Emirates Blood Donation Society is organizing the annual “Ramadan Together” initiative during the month of fasting, conducted in cooperation with several government agencies and national organizations. Its goal is to promote the values of solidarity and a culture of volunteer work in society.

As the end of Ramadan approaches, in Libya attention is shifting to “political” iftar banquets. These gatherings, which bring together influential figures, tribal chiefs, and commanders of armed groups, have ceased to be merely a traditional custom among the elite. According to observers, they have transformed into platforms for forming alliances and strengthening loyalties.

The Palestinian Information Center states that the month of Ramadan contributes to social cohesion and protects society from upheavals. It affirms that compassion and mercy are stronger than hunger and siege, and that an outstretched helping hand can restore what war has destroyed.

This refers to the attack by the US and Israel on Iran.

Yuriy Zinin, PhD in History, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of International Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

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