Is Ramadan Becoming Commercialized?
In recent years, there seems to be an increased media emphasis on Ramadan sales, Ramadan TV programming, and Ramadan travel. It seems to have become a month of consumption rather than a month of sacrifice.
This is particularly apparent on the Arabic satellite channels, which offer special Ramadan programming. In past years, these shows largely consisted of historical dramas, documentaries, and talk shows. Last year I remember watching a daily program where a young man traveled the Arab world and pointed out vices -- prejudice, dishonesty, even littering -- and encouraged people to change bad habits.
This year, however, the programming seems largely focused on soap operas and commercials. One program I watched yesterday had over 12 minutes (!) of commercials in a half-hour show: for such items as soda pop, tea, jewelry, clothing, and mobile phone service. The most memorable was a commercial which showed a man breaking his fast with a huge buffet of food around him. He ate so much that he got sick. You can guess -- the commercial was for antacid medicine.
What do you think? Has Ramadan commercialism gone too far?
Comments
i dont its gone to far..in usa they do the same when it comes to christmas
salaam ….i just stumbled onto one of your articles ,juz one 1 of the quran ,i didn’t knw how to contact so i am writing here..u have mentioned there that surah fatihah contains 8 verses,but as for as my little knowledge is considered , i think there is no disagreement among scholars that al fatihah contains 7 verses..there is differnce only in the counting ,one group of scholoars including abu hanifa [rahmatullahi allah ] says bismillah is not the first verse of the quan and they say last ayah is actually two verses..THE other group of scholars & this is what tafsir ibn kathir writes …
The Companions started the Book of Allah with Bismillah:
﴿بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴾
(1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)
The scholars also agree that Bismillah is a part of an Ayah in Surat An-Naml (chapter 27). They disagree over whether it is a separate Ayah before every Surah, or if it is an Ayah, or a part of an Ayah, included in every Surah where the Bismillah appears in its beginning. Ad-Daraqutni also recorded a Hadith from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet that supports this Hadith by Ibn Khuzaymah. Also, similar statements were attributed to `Ali, Ibn `Abbas and others.
The opinion that Bismillah is an Ayah of every Surah, except Al-Bara’ah (chapter 9), was attributed to (the Companions) Ibn `Abbas, Ibn `Umar, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Abu Hurayrah and `Ali. This opinion was also attributed to the Tabi`in: `Ata’, Tawus, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Makhul and Az-Zuhri. This is also the view of `Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak, Ash-Shafi`i, Ahmad bin Hanbal, (in one report from him) Ishaq bin Rahwayh and Abu `Ubayd Al-Qasim bin Salam. On the other hand, Malik, Abu Hanifah and their followers said that Bismillah is not an Ayah in Al-Fatihah or any other Surah. Dawud said that it is a separate Ayah in the beginning of every Surah, not part of the Surah itself, and this opinion was also attributed to Ahmad bin Hanbal.
Thank you for the article. We must not allow a month of pious behaviour and abstinence from bad acts be turned into a business opportunity for corporations.
Hi,
I am not Muslim. I am a Black Republican. I saw on CNN today Sunday an interview with a news reporter and a voter of the Muslim faith. I did not get the names because I had not paid close attention. What was said confused me a little. I am new to all the politics. I vote but really getting involved and understanding the whole process was really foreign to me. I have learned so much these past few months. The question to the muslim voter was, Why is Obama keeping his distance from the Muslim community and not seeking out your vote. I thought that it was obvious. Since it was not, I wanted to say what I know that Senator Obama would say if he could. He is for Americans period. All of us. The same way he is not siding with only blacks or only Democrats. He is for us all. I know you understand about 9/11.
I am an insider to the Republican thought process and until I looked at both candidates did I see such a difference in what I want for my furture and the future of my grandson. It should not matter the religion but is does. My party would make people who already have fears about Senator Obama and his connections because of his muslim Dad, they would not let it go. So I understand why. Americans many of us still even though in the back of our minds and some always in the forefront of our minds are still afraid. You have been all lumped together good and bad. You saw how they reacted to Pastor Wright. I heard the gentleman say “that it does not make a difference who they vote for both are against us”. I felt his hopelessness come though the screen and I almost wanted to cry. I have been hopeless. I want to say this to your community. Even though Senator Obama does not appear to be embracing your community, he is. I said I am a Republican. I am mot voting Republican this time. Why? Because Obama is for the 95%, if you are the 1% then vote for McCain but if you want your children to dream bigger than ever before, to see someone that looks more like them than not and who truely wants to support us all then don’t be disheartened. Obama is for you, people from my party would make so much of a friendship with you right now it would probably keep him out of office for sure. Pray and trust him and God, that is what I did.
Thank you,
Tanya Haye
Assalam Alykom:
Yes I feel the same, its too much disappointing to see that Ramadan this year (as the recent years)in Arabic channels is all about commercials and drama TV shows, those satellite channels in my opinion don’t really care about the taste of the viewers or the quality of the displayed media, all they care about is to provide some kind of cheap excitement to attract teenagers in order to get high viewing rates which encourages the companies to promote at that channel this means more commercials, more money. and this is what matters to them.
It is so simple. More viewers mean more commercials. But fortunately, if you don’t like what is on TV, you can turn it off.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with watching a TV series during Ramadan. Just don’t let it take all of your time and prevent you from doing your obligations during this month.
What bugs me more is the lack of productivity. I realized that some Muslims tend to be much more lazy or passive during Ramadan. Hunger and thirst are factors in this for sure, but one should be able to withstand hunger and thirst for some hours and still do his usual work as if it was a normal day.
yes i do agree about Ramadan being commercialized not just on tv but all over…more advertising in restaurants,grocery stores advertising more Ramadan related items…..even here in the US if there are Muslim customers they are starting to compete with other ethnic stores who cater to Muslims. In economics it can be a good thing but we all have to realize that we have a choice of watching it or not. I believe everything should have its place and a balance should be placed on your daily activities. This can help in preventing a burnout feeling and completing your prayers and good deeds with more emphasis.
I believe that commerce has always been integral part of muslim societies. There is NOTHING wrong in commercializaition of Ramadaan as long as we do not loose the actual spirit of this month. Fast/Pray and also sell and buy. Remeber, even during Hajj sell/buy is allowed, even after Jummah prayer commerce is allowed. Allah wants us to pray him and also enjoy his bounties through trade.
I think that it is an unfair, if not a somewhat elitist-sounding assumption that the major holidays of other religions have become commercialized. And it’s an even greater assumption to say that the commercialization has taken away the spiritual meaning for all of the followers of the said religion.
Yes, Christmas and Easter have become commercialized, but I know a great many Christians who still find great spirituality in them, and would be offended at someone telling them that Ramadan is more meaningful because Hallmark hasn’t gotten to it yet. To them, Easter (for example) is a deeply spiritual time.
And there are a great many holidays – Yom Kippur in Judaism comes to mind (the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish year)- that carry the same spiritual weight as Ramadan and have not become commercialized.
Conversely, I know many Muslims who barely remember when Ramadan starts and most certainly do little more than the bare minimum (fasting) and little else. To them, there is very little about the month that is “deeply spiritual.”
These assumptions here, Huda, while perhaps not intended, ring of superiority, and can come off as offensive. There is an implied “my holiday is better than yours” because of some greater “purity” or less commercialization. Such comparisons do nothing to foster cross-faith relations, and can offend those whose holidays *are* spiritual to them, regardless of the outside commercial factor.
Please take more care in the future to think things through and not just jump on stereotypes. You don’t want Muslims judged by them, why by a hypocrite and judge others by stereotypes?
Who cares if it is commercialized on television? Why not just shut the T.V.off and read the Qu’ran as I do during Ramadan? The whole world is commercialized now-there is no avoiding it. But don’t let the beautiful Muslim Religion which I’m proud to be a part of get ruined by all of this. Stick to traditional values and teach you’re children to do the same. If not we will fail as a brother and sisterhood as all the other Religions are doing!
True. Its got commercialised, and with it comes attached fitnah. One has to probe one’s actions with the Qur’anic guidelines and the ahadith. We are just becoming stupid to take it as standard and follow what the nonreligious westerners are doing. Let us wake up to the right Islamic faith by reading the scriptures, understanding it and most obviously implementing it, which is the what Allah intends from us to do.
Yes, You are right Ramadhan has becom commercialize now a days. How can we bring this notice to the people to stop commercializing Ramadhan?. Pls advise.
Regards
Akbar
Dear Mr Huda,
Its really nice to c that there are people like you who can bring this important topic of commmercialization of Ramaza into light. One more thing which is noticeable is, instead of giving discounts they asking premium prices of goods, which make the month harder to spent by poor people.
Allah ham sab ko samajh ata farmai…Aamin.
i’m greatly disadpointed by the attitude of these shameless corporate bodies,intead of exploring the virtue of the best month(ramadan)to be more practically oriented and focus on the welfare of the muslim colleuges all they do is exploiting them and expose them to vices.the best is to abide by the provision of Quran and hadith of the holy prophet on how to observe ramadan so that we can free ourself from fitnah.ma-salaam
yea i think it is people cant wait for the arabic soap opras when ramadan comes. But when you tell them they have to give up food they get all grouchy
In the U.S., Ramadan is not really “celebrated”. What I mean is that it is seriously observed. Some Muslims do overindulge, but most of the Muslims I know, American and foreign-born, focus on observing the fast, having good conduct, reading Quran and saying the prescribed and tarawih prayers, either at home or in the masjid. Our approach is focused on doing charitable activities, increasing good deeds and getting enough rest, since most of us still work a regular work week without an afternoon break. Many of us are actually sad when Ramadan ends. For many of us Ramadan helps us to understand our ability to be more disciplined and focused on pleasing Allah. Although many Americans treat Christmas like a gift-giving, partying event, there is absolutely no comparison as to how the Muslims treat Ramadan and the Eid.
Aslamu Alaikum!
You are 100% right that we are not practising what we are supposed to. If you are in middle east see how girls and women dress that too in ramadan season, why only in ramadan? I consider it is a sacred place of earth the middle east. Allah had given them everything but they shouldnt forget what they were earlier. Now Allah is testing them by giving them more and more wealth. I can see the prophecies of Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) is coming true. See the native people of middle east, they are getting spoiled or spoiled already, and not to talk about the next generation. Where are we going to? What are we following? Where is the humanity? Why the disparity in treating humans here…. Are we a true muslim? This is not what i had been taught by my great parents. Allah give us the strength to follow your true religion and save us from hell fire.
Salam im getting to know more about muslim or Islam and Ramadan and just for the fact that we are in America im glad its bein comercialized you dont know how hard it is that my life is about to change or is changing and my family may think im going crazy because of the fact of me changing religion and im not just talking about me because i know other people too, how hard it is that they say “look nobody even knows about ramadan or how you are thinking yes your going to say how ignorant they are but some of those people are your parents and one thing i have learn is to respect our parents and i love mine and the change is hard!!! as a muslim and the faith you have for god its what matters but lets look around us america sees things in a different way and if this is the way to guide them to god then why not try it, “look” like i said im learning about islam so knowing that other people know and dont trip because they see me fasting and think im crazy then i guess let it be we all learn in differnt ways so if the commercials dont work for you then turn of the TV or close your eyes but i do want commercials so the rest of the world can see that Santa is NOT the ONE!!!!!
It is apparently clear the Holy month of Ramadan in which according to the Sunnah, is supposed to be a sacred month in which all the 7 doors of Al-jannah(heaven) are open for the Pius, and all the gates/doors of Hell Fire (jahnnam) are closed but to everybody’s dismay, it is the month in which most prices of essential commodities skyrocket.