Ramadan in Cairo

Cairo, Egypt.
Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic or Hegira calendar, is when the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed and is thus considered the ‘Holy Month’. A time of spiritual reflection, Muslims fast for the entire month from daybreak to sundown, eschewing even drinking-water. If for some reason you cannot fast for the entire month, the days are to be made up elsewhere or you must volunteer and feed someone or do other charitable deeds. This year Ramadan began September 24 and will end October 23, after which a three day feast/holiday called Eid al-Fitr begins. It is perhaps the equivalent of the Christian Christmas since it is a time of exchanging gifts, and buying new clothes. The Islamic calendar is lunar and it moves eleven days ahead each Gregorian calendar year. So when Ramadan falls in summer, the heat and long daylight hours make fasting a not inconsiderable undertaking for a whole month. And yet most Muslims view it as a time of celebration. The meal breaking the fast called iftar, starts around 1730 and the last meal before the fast called suhour, takes place anywhere from 0100 until daybreak which according to the Koran is defined, “until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn.” The times change every day and obviously are different throughout the world. (I have never asked what a Muslim living in Iceland does when Ramadan falls within Summer - conversely in winter it is hardly a challenge.) .......