Ramadan — a month of brotherly love

This past holy month of Ramadan revealed the extent of resilience, co-existence and the fraternity between Jordanian Christians and Muslims. 

Ramadan spanned over the months of June and July, the longest days of the year. On average, a fasting Muslim endured at least 18 hours of food and drink deprivation, every day of this lunar month. 

The long days and short nights of summer enlivened Amman nights in mosques and cafés with worshippers and hubble-bubble smokers.

During the daytime, motorists demonstrated unusually couth and good driving behaviour in rush hour traffic. Even aggressive young drivers who love to weave through traffic lanes somehow exhibited less showmanship in this regard. 

In terms of social cohesiveness, a number of excellent voluntary undertakings continued at a larger scale. Surplus, untouched food from iftars at hotel restaurants and other places was collected by young volunteers, packaged and given to needy families in cities and refugee camps. 

Moreover, Ta’adud, a youth movement put together by Walid Abu Dalbouh from the University of Jordan, organised a number of iftars for orphans and children with Down syndrome.

I attended one of those iftars which was held at the Orthodox Church in Sweifieh. The church, which also runs a school, hosted the event in the schoolyard. 

The principal of the school, Edward Smairat, responded promptly and positively to Abu Dalbouh’s request to hold the iftar in the school. Thus, the principal and his staff showed a high communal spirit. 

Another interesting development was the distribution of water bottles and dates at traffic lights about half an hour before sunset. Such gifts were given to drivers and passengers in case the end of fasting at sunset was declared before they reached their respective destinations. 

I was given those token gifts three times and only noticed who the donor was the third time. It was a church in Amman. Many churches took part in this campaign. 

A Christian neighbour of mine insisted on fasting the entire month of Ramadan in solidarity with his Muslim friends and neighbours.

I truly love this Jordanian spirit. There is so much social capital and cohesiveness within the Jordanian society. Many Jordanian Muslim families celebrate Christmas, setting up trees and exchanging gifts. They take New Year’s Day off because it is a national holiday. This country is blessed. 

This Jordanian spirit revealed during Ramadan is not seasonal; it is a year-in year-out phenomenon. I was in Fuheis three nights ago. Our host from the Ziadat family threw the mansaf gala in honour of Samir Kawar, a leading businessman and an ex-minister of water and transportation.

We started counting Christian families in Jordan who call their sons vintage Islamic names. Names like Mustafa, Omar and even Mohammad are used. We cited examples where a Christian and a Muslim got married despite the objections of traditional families on both sides. Such marriages are still frowned upon, but they happen and their rate of survival is above the national average. 

The objections raised mainly stem from familial or tribal pride. If a Muslim boy marries a European or an American Christian girl, there are usually no objections. 

Jordan is graduating away from the strict marry-into-your religion mentality into the wider space, and will become a more open and understanding society. Giving our children the space to practise their preferences is our best way out into a better life and a more promising future.

The writer, a former Royal Court chief and deputy prime minister, is a member of the Senate. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times.