Friday, April 21st, was the first day of the ʿEīd al-Fiṭr holiday in Egypt which marks the end of the Ramaḍān fast. The public holiday in Egypt will run through Tuesday, April 25th. Throughout the month, when appropriate, I often asked Egyptians about their experience of the month. As noted in previous newsletters, there are inevitable variations in the way a country of this size observes the month. Even so, it was clear that many Egyptian Muslims approached the month of Ramaḍān as an important spiritual practice. Although elderly and sick individuals are not required by their religion to fast, I was touched when an Egyptian taxi driver informed me that his mother would still be fasting even though she was almost 80 years old. Following an arduous month of fasting, one can feel the positive energy on the streets of Cairo during ʿEīd al-Fiṭr. 

(A banner on the front of a Presbyterian church in Cairo wishes a blessed ʿEīd al-Fiṭr to all Egyptians.)

As the above photo indicates, it is very common for Christians and Muslims to extend warm greetings to one another on the occasion of significant religious holidays. It is also worth noting from the photo that this is a new church that is still under construction. Although the process of building new churches can sometimes encounter administrative or cultural obstacles, it is important to recognize that new churches are routinely built in Egypt. 

Dialogue Across Borders would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Muslim readers a blessed ʿEīd al-Fiṭr.

With best wishes,

Matthew Anderson

Executive Editor

Dialogue Across Borders

April 23, 2023

Additional News/Links 

* A speech by Egyptian President ʿAbd al-Fattāḥ al-Sīsī on the occasion of Laylat al-Qadr.

* A recent podcast conversation between a Christian (Dr. Matthew Kaemingk) and a Muslim (Dr. Shadi Hamid) on fasting. 

* For readers in Cairo, please note that our friends at St. Cyril Greek Catholic Church in Heliopolis are hosting Rev. Dr. Samīḥ Raʿd this week for four evening lectures (Monday-Thursday) on the subject of Christ in Muslim-Christian Dialogue. The lectures begin at 7 p.m. on Monday night.