- Title: ISRAEL: Arab Christian revives 'Musaharati' Ramadan tradition
- Date: 9th August 2012
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHRISTIAN RAMADAN DRUMMER (MUSAHARATI), MICHAEL AYOUB, SAYING: "For the past six or seven years, I have been waking up people during Ramadan in many towns such as Maker and the old city of Acre. We wake them up to eat their suhour (last meal before starting fast) at dawn. I am very happy and proud of this and it is an honour fXor me." VARIOUS OF AYOUB
- Embargoed: 24th August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA171HPPDJ8YC2YC5IW4U9S4YP3
- Story Text: Ramadan is a busy time for Michael Ayoub -- an Israeli Christian Arab. Even though he does not follow the Muslim faith, he practises an ancient tradition associated with the holy Muslim fasting month of fasting.
Ayoub goes about the Israeli coastal city of Acre, beating his drum at night to wake up people for their last meal of the day before they start their fast.
The Musaharati, as these drummers are known, are fast disappearing as people rely on alarm clocks. But Ayoub is keen to keep alive the tradition dating back many centuries.
"For the past six or seven years, I have been waking up people during Ramadan in many towns such as Maker and the old city of Acre. We wake them up to eat their suhour (last meal before starting fast) at dawn. I am very happy and proud of this and it is an honour for me," Ayoub said during one of his rounds.
A construction worker during the day, Ayoub roams the streets of the old city of Acre and the neighbouring village of Maker just before dawn during Ramadan, banging on a drum and singing religious songs. Muslims start their day-long fast in the early hours of the morning and break it only when the sun sets again.
He wears the traditional outfit that Musaharati drummers wear.
Ayoub, who is 32 years old, says people are often surprised to see a Christian follow a Muslim tradition, but his passion underscores the unity between people of the two faiths in Israeli-Arab towns, where residents are known as Israeli Arabs or Israeli Palestinians.
"Some people say to me: 'You are Christian -- why are you interested in this?' I tell them that there is no difference between a Muslim and a Christian. I am very happy and honoured that I am co-operating with my Muslim brothers in this holy month of Ramadan," he said.
The Musaharati tradition lives on despite technological advances, and is part of the festive spirit of the fasting month of Ramadan.
During Ramadan, adult Muslims fulfil a religious obligation to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations from dawn to dusk.
Ayoub said the spirituality of Ramadan appeals to him.
"I do not get a salary for this because if I did, it will not be in keeping with the spirituality of Ramadan, and will just be a career. In the old days, being a Musaharati was a career, but not to get money. The Musahrati used to get gifts from people. They say that Prophet Muhammad accepted such gifts. If a neighbourhood wants to give me money, I stop coming over to wake them up."
As Ayoub beats his drums across the old city roads, houses light up and people peep from their homes. They shake off their sleep as they prepare for a small meal before a long summer day's fast, which starts around 4:14 am local time andat sunset. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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