Women juggle jobs, chores during Ramadan
For many Muslim women across the world, Ramadan means not just a month of spirituality but also a lot of extra work - with constant juggling between one's job, household chores, preparing feasts, and observing religious rituals which include fasting during the day and praying through the night.
Cairo, September 28, 2006

When Omniyah Mohammed comes home from her day job as a teacher in Cairo, she is glad that at least the school day is over early. Still ahead of the middle-aged mother of four is the job of cooking the sumptuous evening feast. Following Muslim tradition, her family often invites relatives and friends to share it.

The challenge for Omniyah, she explains, is to get closer to god during Ramadan amid all this clamour.

"I love reading the Quran, it really raises my spirit. I really love going to the Tarawih prayers (prayers of comfort) every night," she says. But throughout the month, she has to struggle to pray as much as she wants or take "spiritual quality time" for herself.

"I really wish they would give us a break during the month, so we (women) can fully abide by the religious ritual," she says.

During Ramadan, the woman is usually the unsung hero. And cooking for the whole family is often not even her only concern. Doing good for others - for Muslims an act greatly rewarded by god especially during Ramadan - is usually a task also handled mostly by women.

Many women, often with their children in tow, attend to visitors in mosques in poor areas. Others enlist in charity activities and community work in hope "of gaining more thawab", the reward of blessing for doing good.

Noora Khorshid, in her early 20's, has both a day job and a community service duty during Ramadan. She, along with her friends, has set up a "food bank for the poor".

Beginning weeks before Ramadan, they set up a plan for the holy month and began to collect money and other donations.

"We distribute food every day among the fasters in poor areas, and in the streets. We do it ourselves and sometimes we have to rent a small truck to carry the food for us," says Noora.

Despite the vast amount of pressure and the responsibility of performing various tasks in a day, Noora says: "We laugh as we work together. It's fun."

Basma, a mother of two and a pharmacy owner, gets no help during Ramadan. She manages to cook for everyone including several of the poor in her area.

"I start preparing before Ramadan, because for me what is important is not just to feed those close to me but also to feed the needy."

Heba Hassan, a 23-year-old housewife, says her duties during Ramadan have changed dramatically since she got married less than a year ago. Earlier, she would spend most of her day studying, watching television and occasionally helping with setting the Ramadan table.

"Now my routine is different. I am in charge of a household, so I take care of everything," says Heba. Being on her own most of the day, she gives more attention to worship and to the kitchen.

"I wake up at noon, after spending most of the night and dawn praying and reading the Koran, and go straight to the kitchen. During Ramadan, I have the Koran on all the time (on radio) especially while I'm working."

Many women agree that - despite the extra commitments, the running-around, and the sleepless nights - Ramadan is a unique experience for them.

"Despite the endless work, no one can imagine how thrilled I am during Ramadan," says Noora, the active charity volunteer. "I feel peaceful. I focus on people and on making them feel good during Ramadan.

"The worship of Ramadan is what gives me the spiritual push for the months to come," says Heba.