TRADITIONAL cannon fire across Bahrain will herald the beginning of Ramadan.
Bahrain’s moon-sighting committee will meet today to receive testimonies on the sighting of the crescent moon which will herald the start of the Holy Month.
The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has urged the public to take part in the moon-sighting efforts and report their testimonies.
From the first day of Ramadan, cannons will be fired every day throughout the month to signal the beginning and end of the fasting period.
An Interior Ministry official confirmed yesterday that cannons will be set up at three locations – Arad Fort in Muharraq, Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort, commonly known as Riffa Fort, and The Avenues – Bahrain.
The firing of the cannon will also be broadcast live on Bahrain Television.
The tradition has become a popular event with hordes of families visiting the sites to witness the spectacle.
In view of this, additional patrols will be deployed, particularly to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
Some historians believe that the custom of firing the Ramadan cannon dates back as far as 10th Century when one of the Fatimid caliphs in Egypt ordered a cannon to be placed on Cairo’s Muqatam Hill so that all Muslims could hear the signal to break their fasts.
Although it no longer serves its purpose, the cannon is still used in many Arab cultures, though as a symbolic tradition.
The practice was adopted in Saudi Arabia, specifically in Mecca and Madina during the 1920s, and ultimately made its way to Bahrain and other Gulf countries.
During Ramadan, Muslims are supposed to abstain from food, drink, sex and smoking during daylight hours to cleanse their bodies and minds, bringing them closer to God.
Anyone caught eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight faces arrest and prosecution – with sentences of up to a year in jail and BD100 fines.
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