62 CultureShock! Egypt
of Ramadan each year. Children are not required to
fast until they reach a certain age; however, they are
encouraged to fast when feasible. Certain people and
people living under certain circumstances are excused
from fasting, although some situations require that the
individual make up for time missed fasting at a later
time. As a general rule of thumb, the following people
are excused: travellers; the insane, handicapped or
mentally impaired; invalids; and pregnant women and
nursing mothers.
One of two religious celebrations (Eid) occurs at the end
of the month of Ramadan—the Eid of Fast-Breaking (Eid
el-Fitr). The second major celebration, the Eid of Sacrifice
(Eid el-Adha), commemorates the Prophet Abraham’s
willingness to sacrifice everything for God, even his
son Ishmael.
The month of Ramadan shifts each year with respect
to the Gregorian (civil) calendar. This is due to the fact
that the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar based on
354 days. Leap years have 355 days with the extra day
added to the last month. The Islamic calendar began in
the ‘year of the Hejira’, or AH 1, which was the year the
Prophet Mohammad moved from Mecca (Makkah) to
Medina to escape religious persecution. AH 1 corresponds
with the year AD 622 of the Gregorian calendar. In the
30 years of the Islamic calendar’s cycle, 11 years are leap
years. With the exception of leap years, the 12 months
beginning with the New Year have alternately 30 and
29 days.
Almsgiving, a tax or gift (zakat)
It is the responsibility of all Muslims to give not less
than 2.5 per cent of their earnings, savings and gold and
silver jewellery (or its cash equivalent) to the community
each year to help the poor. A different rate is levied for
agricultural produce and cattle.
Pilgrimage (hajj)
Each Muslim is required to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca
at least once in a lifetime if means are available.