Ramadan: Conquering the Darkness of the Soul?

2014 Vol. 4: July/Aug

Ahmad shuffles through the deserted streets of his village in the dead of night echoing over and over the summons, “Get up, O faithful believers! Arise, for this is the blessed festival of Ramadan. Get out of bed and cook, eat and pray — for prayer is better than sleep.” The 3 a.m. “caller” implores the faithful, shouting through his tattered megaphone, “Eat and drink now before the sun comes up. Dine and drink now, then exercise discipline and self-control during daylight hours.”