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PODGORICA, Montenegro — Montenegrin Muslims huddle together around mosque imams twice a day during the holy fasting month of Ramadan to hear their music-to-the-ear recitation of the Qur'an and learn more about their holy book.
"Muslims gather twice a day to listen to the imam recite verses from Qur'an, especially that most of them do not know Arabic," Senad Makovic of the Islamic Sheikhdom told IslamOnline.net.
One of the recitation circles is held quarter of an hour before the Fajr prayer while the second follows `Asr prayers and runs through to Maghrib when Muslims break their fast.
"Such meetings with mosque imams have for years been a major feature of Ramadan in Montenegrin," Makovic said.
"What is new this Ramadan is that an increasing number of Muslims is joining in and that the meetings are held twice a day not just once as it used to be."
During Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain during daylight hours from food, drink, smoking and sex.
It is customary for Muslims during Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar, to spend most of the day studying the Qur'an.
The first verses of Qur'an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in Ramadan.
Imams Exchange
Montenegrin Muslims also swap imams during the holy fasting month to make the
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A file photo of a Macedonian Muslim.
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best of their experiences.
"Imams deliver sermons at their mosques during the first days of the holy month," said Makovic.
"Then, they start moving to other mosques to benefit more Muslims with their religious knowledge," he added.
The Islamic Sheikhdom organizes a series of seminars and forums at Islamic centers in predominantly Muslim areas across the country on the virtues and rewards of fasting.
It has also resumed the publication of an Islamic monthly, ELIF, to answer questions about fasting, Qur'an recitation, i`tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), zakat and other similar issues.
The Southeastern European republic of Montenegro has a population of 630,500, nearly a quarter of them are Muslims.
Televised Ramadan
In neighboring Macedonia, Muslims are flocking to mosques not only to perform prayers but also tune in for sermons and lectures.
"Large numbers of Macedonian Muslims are attending religious lessons after the Tarawih," Afrim Alija, the media officer of the Islamic Sheikhdom in Macedonia.
He said many foreign Muslim scholars have been invited to Macedonia to lead the Tarawih prayers and serve the Muslim minority during the holy fasting month.
The Sheikhdom has also organized a committee to help strengthen the bonds among the Macedonian Muslims.
The high-profile committee tours mosques across the country, estimated at some 590, to coordinate religious and humanitarian activities.
"We also organize seminars on medical aspects related to the fasting," Alija added.
Ramadan programs have a solid foothold on the map of TV and radio channels during Ramadan.
Local newspapers and even website are extensively reporting on the Ramadan activities in the country.
Muslims make up nearly a third of Macedonia's two million population, according to the CIA Factbook.
But other estimates suggest Muslims make up half of the country's population.
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