Tis’ the season of Ramadan. The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims are obliged, as part of the Five Pillars, to fast from dawn to sunset. That means no eating or drinking. Further, there is no smoking, kissing, sex, masturbation, or makeup for women. Intentional cursing also negates a fast. And some other things as well. Ramadan comes from the work Ramad, which literally means to be thirst. How appropriate.

Because its a lunar calendar, every year the month starts ten days, more or less, earlier. For instance, this year it was August 22 and thus next year it will be August 13/12/11 and so on and so forth. That means for the next several years Muslims will go without water during the day during the summer months. Sunset on August 22nd was 7:54 pm and it ends a little earlier each year with the final day being around 7:14. It won’t be long until sunset is around 8:30 if not more.

Muslims prepare for the day by eating, though not overindulging, and drinking the night prior. Many Muslims also walking up before dawn and have a final snake and drink. This is called Suhur.

Traditionally, a town’s man - known as a musahharati - would walk around town and beat his drum to wake people for Suhur. Otherwise many would sleep in.

Although they are doing a service, a musahharati was recently beaten up in Sidon, Lebanon. The as-safir paper reports that the cause was people were upset with the noise he was making. Such crude violence is, of course, uncalled for and unlawful. But it raises the question of the need of musahharati in the age of alarm clocks. People whom want to wake up have a cell phone or some device handy. I never awake for Suhur because I would reckon I would have a hard time falling asleep. I just eat a good deal before going to sleep at a normal time. A musahharati would certainly irritate me. An alarm clock is personal and only awakes the intended person.

It is time to retire the musahharati. Let me sleep!