Tariq Abela from Holland
With the dawn of the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan, people and members of the Muslim community went to their work while fasting, after the Moroccan mosques in Holland announced yesterday the confirmation of the beginning of the holy month, following the sighting of the crescent according to the Moroccan religious reference, and Taraweeh prayers were held immediately after the Isha prayer in an atmosphere of faith filled with reverence and tranquility.
Since early morning, the features of the holy month have been clear in the neighborhoods known for Moroccan population density, where the usual movement lessened, and special atmospheres reflecting the spirit of fasting and discipline were drawn. In a field tour conducted by HIBAPRESS this morning, on the first days of Ramadan, it observed the presence of some members of the Arab community, including Syrians and others of different nationalities, who were smoking in the street during the day. After a short chat with a number of them, they explained that their reliance on determining the beginning of the month is based on pages and religious references they follow through social media, which announced that the first day of Ramadan would be Thursday, not today. This discrepancy in announcing the beginning of the month had appeared clearly since last night and this morning, as multiple Islamic pages and centers circulated varying statements regarding the confirmation of the crescent, which led to a difference in fasting among the components of the Muslim community in Holland. Despite this difference in vision, the month of Ramadan remains a unifying occasion that reflects the diversity of references within Muslim communities in Europe, but what is noticeable in the scene is the keenness of Moroccans in Holland to unify the day of fasting and adhere to what their mosques announce, in an image that reflects the depth of their connection to their religious reference, and confirms that Ramadan has a special place in their conscience, the features of which are evident from the first hours of the blessed day.
