AMMAN, October 25 (IslamOnline.net) – Ramadan in Jordan this year witnesses a strong competition between religious and entertainment tents, while imams of mosques call upon people to avoid satellite channels and frequent mosques.

“Ramadan tents have, in the past years, been linked to all negative activities. This year, we try to set up tents for pious families. Such tents are due to present useful shows and programs,” a supervisor of an Amman hotel tent, Mohamed Abu Dari, said.

“We will present cultural competitions and religious supplications. We are going to host a variety of scholars and preachers,” Abu Dari told IslamOnline.net Saturday October 25.

Some officials, in charge of Ramadan tents, have virtually concluded contracts with a number of sheikhs from Egypt to recite Qur’an in their tents during the holy month of Ramadan.

Such tents started to challenge entertainment tents, found everywhere in public squares and hotels in Ramadan 2002, as most of their activities focused on singing and smoking; a matter many tents attempt to avoid this year.

Internet Tents

Internet-linked tents (cyber-cafes like) will be introduced this year during Ramadan in Jordan. They will present their visitors both religious and entertainment materials. Concerned parties expect that most of the visitors will be youths.

“As far as I know, there are several Arab websites and chat rooms that are prepared for Ramadan contest, either through Ramadan competitions, forums or even Ramadan chat rooms,” Siberia Cyber café Amgad Al-Khaledy said.

“There are some websites that have shouldered the responsibility of transmitting live evening, night and Tarawih prayers as well as religious lessons and lectures,” Khaledy added.

Sermons Against Satellite Channels

A number of Jordanian mosque imams stressed Friday, October 24, the necessity of boycotting satellite channels and being preoccupied in worshipping Allah.

The capital Amman witnessed the distribution of religious publications that urge Jordanians to boycott satellite channels and entertainment tents in favor of mosques and to pray for Muslims in Iraq and Palestine during Tarawih prayers.

For years, Jordanians have been watching satellite channels, leaving the official Jordanian TV, whose programs and serials do not appeal to them.

In an attempt to attract citizens, the Jordanian TV has adopted a new motto “With Us, Ramadan Is Better” this year.

Satellite channels of religious nature such as “Al-Manar”, “Iqraa” and “Al-Magd” also appeal to the Jordanian people.

Boycotting “Qatayef”

Meanwhile, Jordanians may have to boycott “qatayef”, eastern sweets distinctive of Ramadan, after the Sales Tax Department has decided to impose a 4% tax on it, raising its price to one Dinar/kg.

“I think that most Jordanians will not buy qatayef this year and replace it with other sweets,” Raed Sebitan, an employee in Gawad bakery, said.

Raed criticized the sales tax imposed by the Jordanian authorities on sweets like qatayef, deeming it one of the expensive and luxurious pancakes.

U.S. Restaurants Ready

U.S. restaurants attempt to make use of Ramadan to make up for their losses after a large number of Jordanians boycotted their products.

Those restaurants, such as McDonalds and Berger King chains, made generous Ramadan offers and tents in a promotional way based mainly on religious sermons.

Berger King chain of restaurants intend to offer special Ramadan Arab meals.

Wedding Season

Wedding halls, in turn, try to attract couples intending to get married, as three wedding halls have made advertisements in local newspapers to encourage holding wedding parties during Ramadan.