so Ramadan falls during a different time each year. In July or August when the burning heat of summer comes, it was stated that it is a great hardship on the farmers (fellahin) who must work in the fields all day without food and water. Many old and sick died in El Nahra during a Summer Ramadan, but if this happens, souls are assured of immediate entrance to heaven, for death has occurred when the believer was fasting and therefore in a state of blessing (105, 1958).
             Ramadan begins when the new moon appears. The mullahs (Muslim religious teachers) in their respective holy shrines from town watch the sky for several days before and when the chief mullah sees the new full moon forming, even briefly, the beginning of the month is declared and the news travels quickly through the town. The night Elizabeth and Bob received the news that Ramadan had begun, it was a rocky night, to say the least. Their doorbell rang constantly from a short circuit due to the rain. Then about thirty minutes later, drumbeats, rifle shots, and shouts could be heard throughout El Nahra village. An old man then knocked on their door. By the time Mohammed (the servant the Sheik assigned to them) announced to them it was Ramadan, Bob and Elizabeth had already figured it out that all of these noises heard throughout the town was a huge deal and the noise indicated that Ramadan had begun.
             During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to Mosque (Masjid) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran. Since El Nahra was not a l
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