Region-wide survey reveals that an overwhelming 98% of Muslim Arabs are observing the Ramadan fast this year
Second annual survey on Ramadan traditions and practices throws up interesting results
A recent region-wide survey conducted by Maktoob Research on the attitudes and perceptions of the faithful vis-à-vis Ramadan traditions and practices revealed that an overwhelming 98% of Muslim Arabs are observing the Ramadan fast this year. The survey also revealed that compared to 44% of respondents who replied in the affirmative last year, a vast majority of this year’s respondents (89%) prefer to celebrate Iftar with their families at home.
The survey, conducted during the month of August, just prior to the beginning of the Holy Month, canvassed the opinions of 4,335 adult Muslims from across the Arab world.
“We set out on this study to determine what residents in the Middle East felt about the Holy Month of Ramadan,” said Tamara Deprez, General Manager of Maktoob Research. “The survey’s findings have clearly displayed that the Arab world retains a strong bond with the rich traditions and practices associated with the Holy Month. Respondents also look forward to this special time of the year to forge stronger ties with loved ones and share in the spirit of Ramadan with fellow Muslims.”
“A significant difference that has come to light in this year’s survey is the fact that many more people are choosing to celebrate Iftar at home as compared to last year, which could possibly one of the far-reaching effects of the current economic downturn,” Deprez added.
Among the key findings of the survey are:
o 98% of Muslim Arabs are observing the Ramadan fast this year. Major reasons given for non-observance of the fast this year were ill-health, travel and pregnancy.
o All respondents from Saudi Arabia (782), Morocco (443), Oman (257) and Bahrain (231) replied in the affirmative when asked if they intend to observe fasting during Ramadan this year, while 99% of Muslims in Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and 97% of Muslims in Jordan and UAE said they would take to fasting during the Holy Month.
o An overwhelming majority (52%) of respondents relied on mosques for the Imsak (fasting) timings. Other sources of this information were television, newspapers, internet and radio.
o A majority of respondents (89%) preferred to celebrate Iftar with family at home, others preferred to break fast alongside friends or by attending a religious ceremony.
o 89% view Ramadan as a yearly lesson in self-restraint and discipline, 67% believe the Holy Month allows them to feel a sense of solidarity and brotherhood with fellow Muslims, 63% feel that Ramadan is becoming a bit too commercial while majority of the respondents believe that the spirit of Ramadan should be shared by people all over the world and not restricted to the Arab region alone.
o 61% of respondents were of the view that non-Muslims living in Arab countries should not eat or drink in public during Ramadan, while 53% held that all restaurants should be closed during the day - even to non-Muslims - to respect the observance of Ramadan. 76% of respondents said they read the entire Quran during the month of Ramadan, while 66% attend nightly Tarawih prayers during the Holy Month.
o 77% of respondents intend to do something special for their loved ones during Ramadan or Eid al-Fitr, compared to 83% of last year’s respondents who responded in the affirmative. A majority of respondents said the gesture would likely involve giving away of money (Eidyeh) and send greetings by sms and phone calls.
o In regards to the methodology employed to determine the commencement of the Holy Month, 57% of respondents favored the time-honored tradition of moon-sighting by the naked eye, while 54% approved of declaration by scholars.
o Interestingly, 73% of respondents (down from 79% of respondents from the 2008 survey) said they are keen to receive Islamic content on their mobile phones during the month of Ramadan, with Duas, Hadith, prayer timings and Quran verses emerging as the most preferred content choices.
