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Iraqi communities observe Ramadan in Sweden

The rhythm of life becomes faster in Ramadan than in other months. I have to go shopping on my way home then prepare the Iftar (fast-breaking meal)…,

Iraqi families in Sweden have celebrated the advent of the holy month of Ramadan with a great demand for Iraqi food and desserts and other items that distinguish the blessed month.
Abu Ghada, an Iraqi owner of a Middle Eastern dessert shop who arrived in Sweden in 1983, told Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI) that the selling rates are always on the rise during the blessed month of Ramadan.
“The shop becomes crowded with Iraqi, Arab and Muslim families throughout the month,” he explained.
Middle Eastern dessert shops in Sweden, mostly owned by Middle Easterners, compete to provide a variety of dessert choices to its customers.
Abu Ghada, 50, said that he is always keen to offer all types of foodstuffs that Iraqi immigrants look for in Ramadan.

When asked how she spends her day in Ramadan, Umm Hanan, 55, a nurse working for a Swedish hospital, said that she finishes her work at 05:00 p.m. and arrives home after 06:00 p.m.
“The rhythm of life becomes faster in Ramadan than in other months. I have to go shopping on my way home then prepare the Iftar (fast-breaking meal)…,” she said.
Salma Haydar, 28, said that she spends a lot of time in front of TV to watch drama series with her family.
“It is difficult for Iraqi families to visit each other or have Iftar together due to the different patterns of life and work, which occupies most of our time. But many families make their visits on the weekend,” Salma added.
According to Swedish statistics and newspapers, the Muslim community in the country is estimated at 400,000.
Sweden’s Iraqi immigrant community is the second largest after the Finnish. An estimated 16,000 Iraqis arrived in the Scandinavian country last year, of which over 8,000 have gained residence permits.
Ramadan is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, believed to be the month in which the Qur’an began to be revealed. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which Muslims do not eat or drink anything from dawn until sunset. Fasting is meant to teach the person patience and humility. Ramadan is a time to fast for the sake of God, to offer even more prayer than normal and ask forgiveness for the sins of your past and ask for guidance in the future. To refrain from every day evils and try to purify oneself through self-restraint and good deeds.

Source: Aswat Aliraq English | Iraqi communities observe Ramadan in Sweden Editor’s note: The Arabic text is posted here: رمضان في السويد، أكلات عراقية ومحلات مكتظة بالمتبضعين