Diplomats and embassy staff share their insights on Ramadan and their noteworthy experiences during the holy month.
The Kingdom is awaiting one of the most special months of the year, the holy month of Ramadan, when our Muslim brothers and sisters are fasting, praying, studying the Quran, and observing their faith, culture, and tradition. Both Muslims and non-Muslims in the Kingdom have fond memories of this special occasion. Here are some of the insights and experiences of Ramadan shared by diplomats and staff of embassies:
HE CARLOS ZAPATA
Ambassador, Embassy of Peru
Ambassador Zapata learned about Ramadan during his first visit to the Kingdom. The people’s eagerness and happiness in welcoming the holy month impressed him. Muslims celebrate it to be closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. Ramadan is a time to detach from worldly pleasures and focus on one’s inner self. One of the many remarkable traditions that drew his attention is the feeling of kindness & generosity amongst the people especially during the holy month like seeing those spreads in mosque courts where people of different nationalities can just walk in and enjoy a filling free meal with others and sometimes you see the Sheikh sitting with them.
The Ambassador had the opportunity to attend invitations from Saudi families to share ‘Iftar’ and it has been a beautiful experience of sharing moments of friendship and kindness — those were unforgettable moments. For him, you experience a new life during Ramadan. He likes to see how the special traditions significant to the month are celebrated across the Kingdom. It is not only about the diversity of food, but also fashion and decorations are also another way to celebrate; popular Ramadan lanterns and accessories painted with colorful traditional red-themed patterns providing an oriental theme to celebrations in the Kingdom.
The Ambassador hopes that this coming Ramadan, Muslims around the world will be able to perform it in the best way they desire and look forward to. He wishes Saudi Arabians good health & prosperity.
RANIA HAMAD
National Visa Officer, Embassy of Germany
Rania is an Austrian with Egyptian roots who lived in Vienna until she got married in 2020 and moved to Riyadh. For her, the month of Ramadan is the part of the year that she loves the most as it teaches self-discipline and self-control, and shows people’s care, generosity, and empathy to those less fortunate.
Back in Vienna, they had a small Muslim community so her mother always tried her best to make them feel the spirit of Ramadan. They had a “Ramadan corner” where they placed a small table and filled it with nuts, dried fruits, dates, and a small fanoos. Because of their busy schedule due to school and work, iftars were special to them as they got to eat together and had conversations. When she came to Riyadh, she noticed how beautiful it is to celebrate Ramadan in an Arabic speaking and a Muslim country. Every restaurant or supermarket has Ramadan offers and here, they encourage people to eat together, do more charity work, and to come closer to God.
Every Ramadan is special for Rania as she’s always fascinated with how she observed it as she grows up. For this year, she will try her best to be a good Muslim who does more charity work and she will try to spend her time with the people who are close to her to share the best moments with them.
MUAMMAR HASSAN
Protocol Officer and Executive Assistant, Embassy of the Philippines
For Muammar, Ramadan is a time for self-discipline, sacrifice, and a chance to empathize with those who are underprivileged. It is also a time where we get the opportunity to get closer to Allah (subhanahu wa ta-ala) through fasting, prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Muammar feels the spirit of Ramadan more intensely here in the Kingdom than in his home country, the Philippines, which is predominantly Christian Catholic. It’s challenging there as there are many temptations to break your fast and also difficult to get access to halal food. However, Muslims in the Philippines see this as an opportunity to strengthen their devotion to their faith.
A Ramadan that will forever be etched in his memory would be the one in 2020 when he was just deployed to the embassy in Saudi Arabia and he left his family in the Philippines as his wife just gave birth to their third child in December 2019, then COVID-19 pandemic happened and a nationwide lockdown was implemented. He considered it as a life-changing moment as his mettle and faith were tested. He realized that he had to be strong to survive, not only for himself, but for his loved ones as well. He saw the lockdown not in a negative way, but as an opportunity to take time for himself and strengthen his faith in Allah (SWT). It was a time for prayer and reflection. He saw the hardships the rest of the world was experiencing. He became more grateful to the life that was given to him and to the blessings that he and his family continue to receive during those difficult times.
Muammar looks forward to the upcoming Ramadan this year as, Insha Allah, he and his family, together with some friends, will be performing Umrah and will be visiting holy places in Medina, such as the Al Masjid An Nabawi, and Masjid Quba, among others.
RANDA JEBROUNE
Administrative Assistant, Embassy of Spain
Ramadan is a very special month for Randa as it brings back childhood memories when she’s together with her family celebrating and sharing precious moments. For her, the purpose of Ramadan is to work on the spiritual plane of self-knowledge and self-discipline that makes people see that if a person commits to something, he or she can achieve it.
One of her favorite traditions in her country, Morocco, is that of the 26th of Ramadan being the night chosen to be Leilat Qadr, where the littles ones who wish to start fasting will do so on this day. They receive special treatment and at the time of breaking the fast, they are dressed in traditional clothes — jellaba for boys and caftan for girls — and are offered dates and milk to break their fast.
The first time she celebrated Ramadan in Saudi Arabia really impressed her as she saw how elaborate the preparation and celebration were. So, this coming Ramadan, she’s excited to be able to observe it with her parents, who for the first time have been able to visit the Kingdom to perform Umrah. She wants to show the traditions of this beautiful country that is slowly beginning to be a part of her.
