Ramadan, which falls in summer in Germany, makes fasting seem as if it is heavy. Many Muslim migrants choose to return home.
From dawn to sunset, in Germany people fast for 18 hours each day. That is the reality of Ramadan this year. Even so, Ramadan is a wonderful time for Muslims, wherever they are. Ramadan, a challenging month.
"It's hard for me not to drink coffee in the morning," moaned Umm Aziz. He has lived in Germany for 15 years, has two children and has worked in the restaurant for several years.
Many Muslim immigrants work in this line of business. Their work has become heavier because of fasting. Continue to hold back the thirst, when the temperature in the summer makes them tired and weak.
West meets Ramadan
Even so, Muslims in Germany can not escape from their daily duties. Work at home should be taken care of, children's needs must be met. For the employees, there is no four-week holiday Ramadan in Germany.
For Umm Aziz, the longer he lived in Germany, the stronger the Western custom influenced his lifestyle. Therefore, fasting is also increasingly difficult for him.
"This year must be very heavy, I usually arrive at the midday restaurant and have to prepare a variety of dishes for the night, we have many customers who are Arab descendants, every evening they come to break their fast here, so I prepare various dishes.
The number of guests is very profitable for the Arab restaurant located in the city of Köln.
Meanwhile, Umm Aziz often canceled her fast the last few years. He hopes, this year can fast full. "I feel bad at the end of Ramadan, all Muslims celebrate Eid, while I fail."
Stress and hot temperatures
For Haider Omar is certain, this Ramadan he will not fast. He is also the owner of a restaurant. For him fasting can have a bad effect on his efforts: "I have to taste all the dishes prepared, so I do not fast." He does not want to have someone else taste it, worried that the taste of the dish will be different.
But the 40-year-old man also had other problems. He is a smoker. It was too much for him to struggle with the fatigue, the heat and the heat in the kitchen, without smoking. "I used to fast as a smoker, the desire to smoke was all day long, usually when breaking the fast, I would light a cigarette before I started drinking and eating." No wonder, Haider Omar often disrupted his blood circulation.
Back to hometown
Fasting in a country like Germany, also feels more difficult because it is not a common thing done by the people. There is no public support like in Muslim-majority countries.
When everyone fasts, shops close and there is no temptation of Kebab and Coca Cola to Magrib, then fasting feels much lighter. Perhaps this also causes many Muslim immigrants to return home during Ramadan.
Imam Erol Pürlü of the Association of Islamic Cultural Centers in Cologne reminded, "In Islam the basic rules apply, that everyone will be given only the burdens that they can bear by God."
That is, if the person is sick, pregnant or breastfeeding, then he is in the category of people who can not fast. To pay it off, this category of people can pay Fidyah, donate money to the poor.
Umm Aziz recounts that her new son fasted fully when stepping on the age of 15 years. According to Imam Erol Pürlü, this is normal. Mentioned, a child can start fasting when stepping on the age of 13 or 14 years.
However, it is helpful to have a child checked beforehand by a doctor before fasting, as only those who are healthy can cope with the reduction of nutrition and drinking water for four weeks.
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