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Culture

Ramadan in Madrid: A Spiritual Fervor Shapes Mosque Life

Tuesday 26 March 2024 - 16:15

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In Madrid and its region, the advent of the sacred month of Ramadan infuses a distinct ambiance into mosques and Islamic centers. Each evening, worshippers flock in numbers to perform the voluntary Tarawih prayers and deeply immerse themselves in the spirituality of this blessed period.

Ramadan is a time for reunion, sharing, and joyful meals, yet it also signifies solemnity for Madrid's Muslim community. They throng to the 140 mosques across the region, some arriving even before sunset for the Maghrib prayer and collective Iftars, followed by the Isha prayer and Tarawih.

In cities with a strong Moroccan community such as Fuenlabrada, Parla, Getafe, or Leganés, the Ramadan atmosphere resembles that experienced in Morocco. It was within this context that the Federation of the Union of Mosques in Spain welcomed a delegation of 28 imams and female religious guides from the Kingdom to officiate in various places of worship in Madrid, on the eve of Ramadan.

Before sunset, enthusiasm is palpable in the major mosques of the capital, such as M-30, the Central Mosque, and those of Al Sunna and Al Ouma in Fuenlabrada, where the Moroccan community congregates massively. Thirsty to relive the Ramadan ambiance of their origins and reconnect with Muslim traditions, worshippers fill the mosques, infused with the fraternity experienced during the Tarawih prayer, a symbol of devotion during this sacred month.

At 7 p.m., both young and old are bustling in a room at the Al Sunna Mosque in Fuenlabrada, preparing the iftar meals. "We offer iftars to all who come," explains Mohamed Kharchich, head of the Islamic cultural center. By preserving these traditions, "we aim to strengthen the attachment of Moroccans in Spain to their roots, instilling in them the virtues of Ramadan and its spiritual significance."

Collective iftars add to other community activities, such as teaching Arabic language and Islamic principles. This is evident at the Annour Mosque in Mejorada del Campo, which provides daily iftar meals. "We sustain this ritual through the generosity of donors and the dedication of volunteers," emphasizes Taleb Alami, its manager.

Beyond being merely a place of worship, the mosque plays a social role by becoming a space for socializing where networks of solidarity emerge, especially on Fridays and during Ramadan. This dimension underscores the symbolic importance of the mosque as a venue for camaraderie and mutual support, reinforcing the sense of belonging to a community of shared values.