We are in the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar-Ramazan (or Ramadan). According to the five pillars in Islam (the manifest of faith (i.e there is no god except God), ritual prayer five times a day, pilgrimage to Mecca, fasting and self control during the blessed month and giving your savings to the poor and needy) the Muslims fully abstain from eating, drinking and smoking in the bright part of the twenty four hour period. The keeper of the Banya Bashi Mosque in Sofia Zahri Dormushev is to tell you more about the physical and the spiritual side of this fasting and how Muslims keep to the fasting.

“The Muslims fast from dawn till dusk. They do not eat, drink or smoke during the whole day. Some people think that we drink water during the day, but this is not allowed at all. We also try to avoid peoples’ eyes which could bring wrongful thoughts, words and actions. In fact, the fasting does not only mean to abstain from eating and drinking. It is a more complex term. For example, if I slander someone, this could also spoil my fasting. If I manage to abstain from doing these things for one whole month, later I can easily deal with the everyday challenges. The main instinct of self-preservation is linked with life which depends on food and water. If we learn how to control the physical and the physiological hunger inside ourselves, we would control life easily. In other words, we are learning within one whole month to take control over our stomach, instead of letting hunger guide us. The poorly, the little children, the pregnant women and the ones on a trip are excused during the Ramazan feast. People start eating and drinking water after the evening meal, says Zahri and adds:

“The management of the mosque tries to organize an Iftar meal. This is the evening meal the Muslims eat when they end their fast at the time of sunset. Each evening we manage to provide supper to everyone who comes here to pray. Besides, at least 50 people are waiting at the front gates. These are mainly poor homeless people who dine with us. Do Bulgarian Muslims abide by the fast as a whole?”

“Yes, they do, but faith depends on the particular individual. However, the fasting is regarded by the Bulgarian Muslims as a holy thing, inherited by traditions and past generations. Even those who drink alcohol and do not go to prayers very often keep the fast, because this is a sacred thing”

What do Bulgarian Christians know about Ramazan? Here are some opinions of people who participated in a Radio Bulgaria survey:

“Well, I know that it is some kind of a feast and people fast during that time, but I am not quite sure when, says Elena Nikolova from the town of Vratsa (Northwestern Bulgaria). The Muslims adhere to the fasting without imposing this fact on other people. This feast is also on the news. At the end of the day, the number of the Muslims in Bulgaria is not that small. People should be aware of this feast for the sake of their general knowledge.”

“This is a feast which is celebrated just like Christmas and Easter in Christianity. They do not stand in the way of anyone”, contends Vyara Ivanova from Sofia.

“According to my general impressions, most Bulgarians have no idea what Ramazan is”, says Ventsi Vasilev who used to live in Egypt. “To me, every fasting is good, but unfortunately, my Muslim friends here do not abide by the fast. Each faith is good, as long as you do not go too far. There are many people who call themselves Christians, but they do not know anything about our Christian traditions. When I studied in Egypt, there were only several Christians in our university. However, the canteen was preparing meatless dishes for around twenty people in expression of their respect towards the Christians. A special table was also launched for us.”

This year the holy Muslim month of Ramazan started on June 28 and is to continue until July 27 when the end of the fasting is marked with the so-called Sheker Bayram. On the eve of Sheker Bayram people give alms and the Muslims greet each other on this day with Mubarek Olsun (have a happy and blessed feast).

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: Gergana Tsekovska