Somalis now freely and safely roam Mogadishu markets to buy their Ramadan needs.

MOGADISHU — After decades of lawlessness and security chaos that marred Ramadan after another, Somalis are finally rejoicing a peaceful, spiritual holy fasting month.

The new breeze of tranquility, largely attributed to the rising Islamic Courts which now controls most of the Horn of Africa country, manifested itself in Ramadan greeting SMSs, busy markets during daytime and crammed mosques at night.

"I now feel safe to go out and shop for my fasting family," Rahma Ali, a housewife, told IslamOnline.net, letting out a sigh of relief.

For the past years, Somali women too terrorized to leave their homes, fearing harassments by unleashed gangsters and militias.

"They used to be lurking in the bush for women to snatch their purses and belongings," recalled Ali, thanking God for the good new days.

Hamida Abdi echoed the same feelings, wondering safely in one of Mogadishu busy market places.

"I now go around for hours buying our needs with nothing to worry about."

For a change, Ramadan mobile messages circulated among Somalis with the beginning of the holy fasting month were colored with the same spirit.

"Thank God for the Blessing of Security", "Gone Are the Days of Tyrants", and "May Stability Prevails" were but few of the popular Ramadan SMSs this year.

The increasingly powerful Islamic Courts seized Mogadishu from US-backed warlords in June after months of fierce fighting.

They have since expanded their territorial authority to most of Somalia, a country home to about 10 million largely impoverished people which has been without a functioning central authority for the past 16 years.

Spirituality

The spirituality of Ramadan was back to Somalia after longs years of forced absence.

Thousands of Somalis, old and young, flock to mosques across the country every night for the special Tarawih prayers.

"Most Somalis, particularly those living in the capital Mogadishu, are now fear-free," said a jubilant Mohammad Ahmad, an activist.

"They (Islamic Courts) gave us a sense of security that we have missed for years," he said, adding that many Somalis were forced to pray Tarawih at home.

"Praying Tarawih at mosques meant that one can get either robbed or even killed by bandits," recalled Ahmad.

"Now we can go to the mosques and pray Tarawih."

Deserted mosques across Mogadishu, which have been either closed for turned into garbage dumps by warlord militias, were cleaned and dressed up to welcome worshippers weeks before Ramadan.

The streets of Somalia, particularly the capital, are also celebrating the return of Al-Misharati, the man who wakes the faithful up to have their suhur or the last meal before fasting resumes at dawn.

A group of young Somalis have volunteered to do the job, a main feature of Ramadan in most Arab and Muslim countries.

Placards encouraging the faithful to behave piously during the holy month are also lighting the streets.

"Don't miss this Ramadan, only God knows what futures holds for us," reads one.