PERSONAL EXPERIENCE DURING RAMADAN IN BANGKOK

I would like to share an interesting story during Ramadan in Bangkok. Mosque becomes a centre for breaking fast in Bangkok. I have the opportunity to spend few years in Bangkok and have experienced such a wonderful event. Typically, all mosques in Bangkok will prepare special food for iftar throughout the month of Ramadan. Every Muslim is welcome to break their fast at the mosque including travelers and the poor. I visited several mosques to join iftar especially at the Islamic Centre and Al Amin Mosque in Kingpetch, located not very far from my residence.

Every mosque has its own kitchen managed by a group of volunteers who are really dedicated to their task for Ramadan. Each day they prepared food and desserts enough for at least 200 people.  I was amazed by the way they organized things.  They were so effective, efficient and dedicated in serving a large number of guests of different background.  The dishes were so nice and wonderful with the different menu everyday.

It was interesting to observe that one hour before each   magrib, Muslims from all walks of life (High ranking police and army officers, teachers, university professors, the professionals, engineers, the rich, students, taxi driver, travelers and laborers) gathered at the mosque waiting for the iftar. While waiting, some people were reading Qur’an or Yasin, discussing about current affairs and/or chatting and greeting with each other since most of them were strangers.

Later, though the PA system, they were cordially invited to be seated freely at the large round table of ten persons at the dinning hall under the mosque. As the bilal announced the azan magrib, the guests take drinks with dates or sweets.  We prayed first, and had dinner later.

The dishes served among others are Chicken or Beef Briyani, Thai Seafood Curry, Keng Pet, Tom Yam Seafood, Keng Keow Wan, Pad Thai, Chicken Curry and Beef Soup. Desserts are Thai Sticky Rice with mango, Khanom Thuay, Khanom Chan, Coconut Custard and Pumpkin Custard.

After the iftar, the MC, on behalf of the Mosque Committee, will thank you for coming to the mosque and having the iftar. More importantly, friends and strangers are invited to join the dinner again the next day.    The foods for the entire month of Ramadan were sponsored by Muslims in nearby area. Before Ramadan started, some thirty generous Muslims will offer to sponsor food for iftar as part of their almsgiving.

The guests dispersed after iftar, while some remained at the mosque for tarawih prayer. However, many left the mosque and rushed for home, due to a long journey and traffic congestion in Bangkok.    In addition, during Ramadan, several radio stations in Bangkok would broadcast special programs nationwide starting before magrib till dawn prayer.

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By Aree Mamat

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RAMADAN IN THAILAND (Part 2)

The Fasting Month of Ramadan is considered a very special event in Thailand’s Muslim community both in its capital city of Bangkok and in southern part of the country where Muslims are majority. Muslims are scattered around the country particularly in southernmost provinces of Patani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkla. Thai Muslims composed of various ethnic groups, having migrated as far as from China, Pakistan, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia. However, as a result of Thailand’s policy of cultural assimilation, all ethnic groups in the country are known as Thai.  Most of Thai Muslims belong to Shafi’i Sunni sect, only certain community like Chinese Muslims in Chiang Mai, following Hanafi school of thought. There are 3,494 mosques scattering in Thailand, 170 of them are in Bangkok, but most of them are located in the south.

Thai’s Muslims who live in the south are predominantly Malay in origin similar to Muslims across the border in Malaysia. There are about 2 million Muslims in the country (4 per cent out of 62.3 million,) while the rest are mainly Buddhist (95 per cent).

While the Islamic religious rituals are similar around the world, there are distinctive differences when come to local cuisines and desserts.  Thai are famous for their spicy and exotic food.  Nonetheless, unlike Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and the like, Thailand does not have large Ramadan bazaar with variety of food and sweets. Only few small food stalls opened in major towns and villages. Local Muslims normally prepared their own food at home normally simple Malay cuisines like nasi kerabu, nasi minyak, ayam/ikan percik, sambal belacan, chicken or beef soup or Thai dishes like tom yam, pad prik, fried rice and fried noodle.

Muslims in the south enjoy having iftar at home with family members, relatives and friends. Mosques also provided iftar but for a limited persons especially for travelers. It is interesting to note that besides family members, friends were also invited to join the meal. It is a tradition to have at least one or two guests at every iftar.  Muslim restaurant will never operate during Ramadan except in big city like Had Yai, in Songkla, where there are many tourists.

Since the violence broke out few years ago, the things have changed drastically especially with regard to night prayer (tarawih) and gathering after the prayer. Now, Thai Muslims prefer praying at home to mosque or surau due to security reason.

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By Aree Mamat

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RAMADHAN IN ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION (Part 1)

Thousands of kilometers away from the cities of Mecca and Medina, minority Muslims in RISEAP Northern Zone (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau) are also observing the holy fasting month of Ramadhan.  During the month, ALLAH commands every able Muslim to fast from sunrises until the last ray of light disappears in the dark of the evening sky.  Each day, every Muslim is obliged to abstain himself from eating and drinking and other specifics that are forbidden during the day. 

Every evening, after iftar (breaking fast) mosques would draws Muslims  from all ages, local and foreigners.  Muslim worshipers fill up mosques and its compound exchanging the “Assalamu Alikum (peace be upon you)” Muslim greeting and committing their spiritual being in praying to ALLAH.  Women in their praying dress (normally white in colour) also come in fair  numbers, sometimes with their children who are left to play in the playground. Nonetheless, while the holy cities  of Mecca and Medina are bustling with tens of thousands of pilgrims from the world over, Muslims in Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Taipei would be praying in small groups in mosques subdued by the rattling of taxis, LRT, buses, and the mundane chores of city dwellers.  Nonetheless, their heart and soul are focused in remembrance of ALLAH through prayers and reading Al-Quran.

Besides 5 times prayers, Taraweeh prayer is the special prayer (eight or twenty rakaaah) observed only during the fasting month.  This prayer will be conducted every night after Isya’.  The Muslims organization and mosque committee also conducts Tadarus Quran (recitation of the holy Quran) in the mosque and some will conduct Solatul Tasbih during the last 10 nights of Ramadhan. 

Most of RISEAP member associations in these countries will contact RISEAP office in Kuala Lumpur during the night of 29 Syaaban to know about the announcement of 1^stRamadhan by the Malaysian Authority.

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By Shafiq Abdullah

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