RAWALPINDI:
A 150-year-old custom within the subcontinent of waking folks up for Sehri in the course of the holy month of Ramazan by banging empty tin cans and drums is now steadily fading away within the nation. Instead, social media and phone alerts have taken over.
A century in the past, the apply of waking folks up earlier than Sehri by banging tin cans and drums on the doorways of homes and streets appeared efficient, however now, after scientific developments, if drums are crushed close to homes or streets even an hour earlier than Sehri, folks, who quick, now get upset and irritated.
Each Muslim nation has its personal methodology of waking folks up for Sehri. When fasting was made compulsory within the 2nd Hijrah yr, Hazrat Bilal bin Rabah (RA) would roam the streets of Madinah, calling out in his stunning voice to wake folks for Sehri. Just a few years later, extra companions of the Prophet (SAW), younger folks and youngsters, joined him. Inside a couple of years, this apply unfold to Makkah after which to all Islamic states.
Within the early days of Islam, since there have been no loudspeakers, mosque imams would mild crimson lanterns or lamps on the minarets, chimney tops, or excessive locations two hours earlier than Sehri. The Muslims would get up upon seeing the sunshine. Round one and a half centuries in the past within the subcontinent, Muslims started utilizing giant empty tin cans to wake folks up for Sehri.
Quickly after, drums have been added to the apply, and the rhythmic beating of the tin cans and drums would announce, “Rozedaro utho Sehri ka waqt ho gia ha” (Rise, O fasting ones, it’s time for Sehri). Individuals would get up upon listening to it.
After the creation of Pakistan, this custom continued, and teams additionally began roaming the streets reciting naat to wake folks up.
Nevertheless, this apply has now fully vanished. The start of the brand new century in 2001 marked the gradual finish of this tradition. Often, a drum will be heard in some streets throughout Sehri time, however now, it’s met with harsh phrases from the fasting folks.
In at present’s Ramazan, the custom of going to mattress at night time is sort of extinct. In most houses, folks keep awake till Sehri, and youngsters will be seen taking part in cricket on the streets till Sehri time. The apply of sleeping after Sehri is now on the rise. Mosques used to announce “It is time for Sehri ” and likewise sound sirens to wake folks up, and these sirens are nonetheless used for Sehri and iftar occasions.
In Pakistan, the apply of waking folks up with drums throughout Sehri became a enterprise. After waking folks for a month, folks would gather “Eidi” (presents) on the day of Eidul Fitr from all around the metropolis, which would come with money, flour, sugar, wheat, and rice as choices from the folks.
Abdul Shakoor, a 41-year-old man in Rawalpindi who nonetheless wakes folks up with drums, says his grandfather, father, uncle, and different family had been doing this since earlier than his beginning. “We have been doing this because the creation of Pakistan,” he mentioned. Nevertheless, this apply is now close to its finish as a result of folks get upset if drums are performed in some streets. Furthermore, they now not give presents on Eid. Regardless of this, Abdul Shakoor has been persevering with the household enterprise out of necessity and as a method of incomes non secular reward.