Suhoor: a meal you shouldn’t miss during Ramadan

By Larbi Arbaoui

Morocco World News

Taroudant, July 14, 2013

Muslims have been fasting throughout Ramadan for more than 14 centuries. Ever since, it is an ultimate spiritual experience that adult and sound Muslims have to go through every ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Despite being characterized as the month of fast, reports show that people consume more and prepare more varied dishes and food on this holy month. Yet, in Morocco, only two meals are principle, namely Lftour and Suhoor.

During Lftour to Suhoor many varied food and drinks are served. Most Moroccan families stay up late during Ramadan and after the Taraweeh prayers, a set of prayers performed collectively right after the compulsory Isha prayer, family members gather again at home or at their relatives to share food and talk about their concerns. Among the food usually served during these family gatherings, is tea along with Sellu (Zmita) or Shebakia, one of the most artistic manifestations of Moroccan cuisine. Any time family or friends visit is a suitable time to sit around the table for delicious food amid entertaining familial talk.

As soon as the sun sets, Athan (call prayer) is recited from the minarets, and in some cities a traditional "Ramadan Cannon" is fired from the highest tour in every city as a signal to start eating the Lftour.

Lftour, a meal taken right after the Maghreb prayer at sun set to break the fast, is a rich meal where many kinds of bread, pastries, dates and fresh drinks are served. Moroccan women spend considerable hours in the heat of the kitchen to furnish the Lftour table with all that pleases the eye.

Religiously, before Muslims break the fast, they say certain prayers like, “Allahuma inni laka sumtu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu” (O Allah! for thy sake I have fasted and now I break the fast with the food that comes from thee).

Suhoor refers to the meal eaten early in the morning before the Fajr prayer. Since the Suhoor is intended to last throughout the day (from dawn until sundown), it tends to be a heavy and hearty meal. This year in Morocco, that means over 16 hours of not eating, drinking, smoking, or having sex during those long hours.

For Suhoor time, some people prefer to have a light meal while others intend to make it very rich, but taking in to account the long tough hours of fast, one shouldn’t really miss it. Most Moroccan families serve a hearty tagine for the Suhoor meal. In accordance with the Prophets saying, “Tasaharu fa ina fi Assuhoori Baraka,” (do have Suhoor for there are blessings in it), Muslim devotees never deliberately miss such blessing meal.

Traditionally, there is a person whose job is to wake people up at Suhoor time to make sure no one skips this essential meal. Locally, called in Amazigh language Adouab, the man whose main job is to guard the gate of Ighrem (small village) is assigned also to wake people at Suhoor time during Ramadan. Bou Damdoum in Amazigh or D’kak in Moroccan Arabic,(the drummer), uses his drums or N’ffar (a long horn that makes buzzing sound) in some Moroccan cities, along with some rhyming lyrics to guarantee that everyone in the neighborhood enjoys their delicious Suhoor meal.

Ramadan is no doubt a religious opportunity for Muslims to increase their faith and get closer to God. Yet, in Morocco, like in any other Muslim nations all over the world, preparing special meals during the holy month is necessary to keep fasters healthy, and Suhoor is the meal no one wants to skip.