These Are the Musical Preferences of Muslims Worldwide in Ramadan

The customs and traditions of celebrating the month of Ramadan differ in each country, but they all encompass the basic elements of praying, reading the Qur’an, helping the poor, and organizing collective Iftar with relatives and friends. However, the Swedish listening platform, Spotify revealed that Ramadan re-shapes the Muslims' Musical preferences as well.

Spotify’s report highlighted what Muslims hear during Ramadan, as Muslims' habits change during this month. New musical styles oust the pop and rap songs and festivals that prime during the other months.

Every year, the song Ramadan by the Lebanese-Swedish artist Maher Zain becomes very popular. It achieves high levels of listening in its various dialects in Egypt, Jordan, the Emirates, Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

 

Musical Choices

Concerning the Middle East and North Africa, the Spotify report says that Arabs usually tend to listen to spiritual songs, especially during fasting times. Also, after breakfast, family and friends gather to watch their favorite Ramadan series. The series' sequences and songs achieve success.

In Pakistan, listening to music during Ramadan declines significantly, especially in the first ten days of Ramadan. After this period, Pakistanis resort to mystical content. Perhaps the most famous work during this period was the song Tajdar e-Haram performed by Atef Aslam.

In Turkiye Ramadan-themed television programs start before breakfast, which directs the choices of Turkish people so that their favorite songs become those inspired by works on the small screen.

In Singapore and Malaysia Raya (a South Asian way) hits homes and bazaars in Singapore in the first week of Ramadan.

Ramadan Taiba by Indonesian artist OBEK, and Suasana Di Hari Raya by Malaysian Anwar and Elena, appear on the popular lists of Spotify early on the first day of Ramadan.

In Indonesia, Television and radio stations tend to play Islamic songs associated with Ramadan. Some artists also release new songs of a Ramadan and meditative nature during this period.

 

Ramadan Atmosphere

The shift in musical preferences is not the only manifestation of celebrating Ramadan in all countries. In the west particularly Muslims attempt to celebrate Ramadan in different ways.

Hamza el-Guenouni expert in sociology and researcher at Kent University in Turkiye told Al-Estiklal: that “Fasting as a religious ritual and an element of worship is obviously not part of the culture of Western society, thus the Muslim community of immigrant origins is keen, as much as possible, to create Ramadan’s atmosphere as a way to preserve its customs and traditions.”

He added: “Muslims carry their cultural heritage with them from various countries of origin to the West. They try to live all the religious rituals and to create Ramadan’s atmosphere and pass it on to their children and the new generations so that they preserve their identity and origins despite the difficulties and obstacles they may encounter.”

The atmosphere and rituals of the month of fasting and the social customs and religious rituals associated with it are absent in countries where Islamic culture does not prevail, which makes the practice of Ramadan rituals limited to what is going on inside homes, mosques, and Islamic centers.

Hamid el-Azzouzi, an engineer in architecture and environment in a large company in Switzerland said: “I am supervising a department on the German-Swiss side consisting of more than 30 engineers. To manage this department, I must make a great effort during Ramadan.”

He explained that this holy month has special worships such as fasting, Tarawih, and reading the Qur’an, the most difficult challenge for him remains the lack of sleep hours.

Hamid added: “Here, the atmosphere of Ramadan is only at home or in mosques. We miss the atmosphere of Ramadan in our home country Morocco with family and friends, family visits, Tarawih prayers in mosques, and meeting friends in cafes.”

 

Celebrating Ramadan in the US

Muslims in the United States of America are keen to host their non-Muslim friends and neighbors, to eat Iftar with them during the month of Ramadan, similar to the gatherings that take place in Arab countries. They are also keen to decorate their homes with Ramadan decorations, with the participation of children and young family members.

Muslim families around the world set up Iftar tables and host various Muslim and non-Muslim friends, to strengthen relations between them. They don’t miss the chance to prepare various Arab foods and sweets and distribute them with dates that are considered among the basic foods on the table during the Iftar meals.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims in America are keen to go to mosques, to perform the prayers on time, while being keen to read the Qur’an, and attend religious lessons that are held in mosques. They are also keen to go to the mosque, especially during the last ten days, to get closer to God.

To mark the start of Ramadan on April 2, hundreds of people gathered in Times Square in New York state, to celebrate the beginning of the month of Ramadan, and held Tarawih prayers.

One organizer of the gathering, known as SQ, explained to CBS News: "For Muslims, it's not just about fasting so that we understand how those who are food insecure feel. We actually are doing this so that we can become closer and more contentious of our creator, our Lord, Allah.”

He pointed out that he wants this special prayer to be recited in the heart of the city for a reason," adding: "We are here to explain our religion to all those who do not know what Islam is... Islam is the religion of peace."

According to CBS News, unity and the call for nonviolence were a message shared by all the people who spoke to it.

During the last ten days of Ramadan, Muslim families start preparing Eid bakery to celebrate the end of Ramadan.