Sahur, the pre-dawn wake-up-call ritual during Ramadan

A Palestinian Musharati wearing a mask beats a drum to wake Muslims up to have the pre-dawn meal before they start their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns about the spread of Covid-19, in Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Photo: Reuters

There is one ritual during the fasting month of Ramadan that is not very visible to society – consuming a pre-dawn meal known as sahur. It is a highly recommended religious ritual and Muslims are rewarded for adhering to it, although not having sahur is not a sin.

There is no specific dish served for sahur. It depends on the individual and can range from having dates and milk, or with any other drink, to consuming a full set of dishes similar to having lunch.