International Marketing Review – Getting In Touch With Ramadan
Earlier this week, a friend on Twitter asked me if I had any information on how Ramadan effects international business practices. Most of the business world knows how the celebration of Christmas effects business in their own country. But most people only learn about Ramadan when doing business with the countries in question even though Ramadan lasts much longer.
Here are a few articles I came across this week on the holy month of Ramadan. Although these are not business focused articles, they do highlight the different lifestyles. The Islamic lunar calendar started on 21 August. Muslims, throughout this month, will observe a dawn-to-dusk fast by abstaining from all kind of food, drink and even smoking.
The month-long fasting culminates in the celebration of what is called Eid on the first day of the following month. Eid is a day of great feasting and fun.
The fasting of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid are the two most important religious events in the life of Muslims.
Shelina Zahra Janmohamed presents Keeping Real Spirit of Ramadan Alive posted at Khaleej Times saying “The Muslim world goes topsy-turvy in Ramadan. Eating, sleeping and socialising routines are turned back to front — the first meal is eaten as the sunsets. The initial morsel of food into our mouths will usually be a sweet, succulent date, according to the Islamic tradition. But are the hours that follow really that religious? Contemporary changes to the Ramadan culture mean that the spiritual significance of Ramadan is slowly being lost. Abstaining from physical intake during daylight hours — which means food, drink, and sex — with the intention of getting closer to the Divine, has a myriad of philosophies and meanings.”
Ad Sheik presents Ramadan In France Now Big Business – TV Ads Break New Ground On 4 Billion Euro Market Value posted at Ad Sheik saying “The ad shows a young couple with north African features shopping at the supermarket, putting ‘halal’ certified lasagne and paella in their trolley. “Yes, we eat halal and it is really delicious” he says. The first television ad for Muslim customers made an appearance on French TV in recent days, at the start of Ramadan in France. The potential audience is five million consumers (the country has the largest Muslim community in Europe), who observe the fast in ever greater numbers: 70% of France’s Muslims fast.”
US Post Today presents Better Health Through Fasting, month of Ramadan posted at US Post Today saying “With the sighting of the crescent moon, the holy month of Ramadan has begun this year, marking the start of a spiritual boot camp in which Muslims fast without any food or water from sunup to sundown. To many, the rigor may seem too tasking, but, as a veteran scientist of clinical nutrition and as a 76-year-old Muslim man who has fasted since I was a boy, growing up in India, I can say that fasting can be a healthy practice not just for God but for you. Fasting can be healthy for people of all faiths from Christians to Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and others who fast as a part of their spiritual practice. But it’s got to be done right.”
Saud Abu Ramadan & Emad Drimly present Ramadan SMS messages flourish in Gaza posted at Sina saying “Gaza resident Khalil Mheisen, who has not visited his relatives abroad for more than two years due to the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, has sent dozens of SMS messages to their cellular phones to congratulate them on the occasion of Ramadan.
Since the 30-day fasting month of Ramadan began on Saturday, Mheisen, in his mid forties in Zeitoon neighborhood in southern Gaza city, has sent and received dozens of messages on his cellular phone to and from his friends and relatives living either in the Gaza Strip or in other Arab countries.
“The technology has enabled me to carry out my social life and overcome some obstacles, which disabled me from communicating with my friends and relatives living in the West Bank and Egypt. I haven’t seen them for more than two years,” said Mheisen.”
Ummah Films presents Ramadan Reruns saying “The point of the video is to make people more conscious of these silly actions so they will think twice before they do it during the next Ramadan. Reminding myself before anyone else, Ramadan is a blessing so let’s try not to take it for granted but rather take advantage of it by increasing our Iman (faith) so we can become better Muslims, even after Ramadan is over InshAllah.”
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Indo Asian News Service presents Price rise hits Ramadan observance in Kerala posted at India Interacts saying “The high prices of fruits, especialy dry fruits, and other popular Iftar items in Kerala have left this year’s Ramadan an expensive affair, say traders and devotees.
The Muslims in Kerala, the second largest community in the state after Hindus, started their month-long Ramadan fast Saturday morning.
Traders in Kozhikode Veliyanagadi, a major market in northern Kerala, said popular Iftar items like dates have come from the Middle Eastern countries, but this year the prices are very high.”
Abdiaziz Hassan & Sahra Abdi present Somali president calls for Ramadan ceasefire posted at Washington Post saying “President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, a former Islamist rebel, said the ceasefire call was motivated by the need for peace during the religiously significant month.
“The president made this call since it is necessary to not stop people going to Islamic centers, worship Allah any time without fear, and we hope the opposition will accept it without condition,” Abdulkadir Osman told Reuters by telephone.
Opposition groups said they would discuss the ceasefire call.”
What have these inspired in you? I would love to hear your comments.
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