At an Iftar gathering last Sunday, I met a British-Pakistani woman who had come to live in Pakistan, her parents’ country of origin. She said that the month of Ramadan and Eid had become somewhat similar to Advent and Christmas. She remembered Ramadan and Christmas from her childhood in the Manchester area of the UK as being quieter than they are today, before the commercialisation of these seasons had fully begun. Ramadan and the daily Iftar gatherings at that time were quite simple, she said, with little attention given to elaborate parties and expensive food. Today, she thinks there is too much focus on fancy Iftar gatherings, and Ramadan has become a shopping season for Eid, when everyone must buy a new shalwar kameez and other clothes, whether they need them or not.

She felt that the commercialisation we experience today takes away some of the purpose of Ramadan and Eid for Muslims, just as it has already done for Christmas for Christians, especially in Europe and the West. December, leading up to Christmas, has become a hectic shopping month and the most important business month of the year for shops and restaurants. Because of this, the focus on quiet reflection and prayer has become less prominent. Still, there are some positive aspects to the buying and exchanging of gifts, and certainly to helping those with lower incomes who cannot follow the commercialisation hype. At this time of year, we should remember that many people need help, especially with the ever-increasing prices of everyday items, now also affected by the US–Israeli war in Iran and rising global oil prices that influence........

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