Skopje, 21 April 2023 (MIA) – Islamic believers in North Macedonia and all across the world celebrate Ramadan Bayram, the end of the holy month of fasting, on Friday.

Ramadan, a term which literally means “scorching” in Arabic, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During this period, Muslims refrain from food, drink and sexual activities from sunup to sundown. They can eat and drink after sunset, except for pork and alcohol, which they are not supposed to consume anyway.

Ramadan was established as a Holy Month for Muslims after the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in 610 AD on the occasion known as Laylat al-Qadr, frequently translated as “the Night of Power.” Observance of Ramadan is mandated in the Quran.

The very day of Bayram celebration begins with a Ramadan-Bayram prayer, followed by a visit to the cemetery, where people pay respect to deceased ancestors and relatives. Congratulations on the holy day begin afterwards, firstly to the eldest (kissing the hand). Younger people always pay the visit to older ones. There are traditional dishes for the festivity (Bayram meat, alanditi and baklava). The celebration lasts for three days.

Ramadan Bayram is a day of reconciliation and re-uniting. It is also a day when the power of rich people meets the weakness of the poor in love, mercy and justice.

Head of the Islamic Religious Community (IRC), Reisul-Ulema Shaqir Fetai extended on Thursday Ramadan Bayram greetings to all Muslim faithful.

“The School of Ramadan has taught us not to forget our people who need us: the poor, the orphaned, the disabled, as well as our Islamic institutions. Eid al-Fitr has become our obligation, because it is how we purify our fasting,” Fetai said.

Eid al-Fitr, he noted, is a celebration of good versus evil, the spiritual versus the passionate, the moral versus the immoral, patience versus impatience, the divine versus the satanic.

“In these joyous days, we turn to Merciful Allah to give us strength in our faith, to turn away from our sins, the courage to forgive and reconcile, to laugh with others, nurture our present and future, create better opportunities and conditions in our society so that we stop the trend of economic migration,” he said.

The first day of Ramadan Bayram is a state holiday in North Macedonia.

Photo: MIA archive