Fasting raises tempers in Morocco
2010-09-07
Clashes and anger appear to be a growing phenomenon every year in Morocco during Ramadan. "This behaviour is far from providing a true reflection of the spirit of Ramadan," said one imam.
By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat – 07/09/10
 [Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images] Moroccans complain of the heightened state of rage displayed by certain people during Ramadan. |
Arguments are commonplace on the street in the daytime during Ramadan. Many claim they cannot control their anger when they are fasting, and use the holy month as an excuse for a bad temper. Sometimes it is simply a heated verbal exchange, but in many cases, it can escalate into assault and grievous bodily harm.
This condition has its very own word in Morocco: tremdina.
"The first few days of the holy month are difficult to get through for me and my family because I feel on edge and frequently quarrel with my wife and children because of a lack of nicotine," said Hammadi Chaoukili, who is a heavy smoker. "I shout for no reason. I'm aware of it. But I can't control myself. I end up arguing with complete strangers in the street."
Zhour Moustajdi, a secretary, told Magharebia that her husband becomes unbearable, especially in the last couple of hours before the breaking of fast.
"I try to keep out of his way," she said. "I've borne the brunt of his anger on numerous occasions, when he's normally quite a quiet person. One time, we were even on the verge of divorcing because of his bad temper during Ramadan."
According to Mohamed, a police officer, the number of theft complaints increase over the month, but there are also disputes between strangers and between family members, which become increasingly common at the height of Ramadan.
Sociologist Ali Chaâbani explained that tremdina is more a psychological than a social state. The irritation, anguish, and anger that are felt during the fast are due mostly to nicotine addiction and other factors such as drugs, he added.
"This problem occurs in places where there is a large concentration of people, such as the marketplace. The people involved blame Ramadan, when in reality it is they who have no scruples, and no principles. Those who cannot control themselves during Ramadan are thoughtless people with weak personalities," he noted.
He added that the problem is not a new one in Moroccan society, but that over time it has worsened because of "demographic change and the weakness of faith across the population." He also feels that, where matrimonial violence over the holy month is concerned, it would be worth carrying out a study to see whether the phenomenon is really growing.
Imam Abdelbari Zemzemi told Magharebia that those who become angry when fasting and poison the lives of those around them are not well, and tend most of all to be people who are hooked on drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. "From the religious point of view – this behaviour is far from providing a true reflection of the spirit of Ramadan, because fasting must be built on greater self-control and respect for others than is the case on ordinary days," he said.
"This is a month of holiness, tolerance, and sharing."
Email to a friend
Print version
moha Posted 3 days ago
It is not important to try and understand the physiology of the human body but it is important to remember that each of the anxiety symptoms you experience can be explained. Do not dwell on what you are feeling, instead, project yourself into more useful subjects, do something constructive, exercise, learn a skill or craft and escape the body trap. The following list of anxiety symptoms includes the most common ones reported by actual anxiety sufferers. Whilst the list is fairly comprehensive, there may be symptoms that you experience that are not listed; this does not mean that you are more ill or suffering from something else, we are all biologically different in many ways and some people simply react differently during anxiety. Anxiety Symptoms •Smothering sensations and Shortness of breath •Racing heart, slow heart beat, palpitations •Chest Pain •Lump in throat & Difficulty swallowing •Skin losing colour (blanching) •Sweating •Shaking or shivering (Visibly or internally) •Neck & shoulder pain & numbness in face or head •Rapid gastric emptying •Indigestion, heartburn, constipation and diarrhea •Symptoms of urinary tract infection •Skin rashes •Weakness in arms & tingling in the hands or feet •Electric shock feeling anywhere in the body •Dry mouth •Insomnia •Nightmares •Fears of going mad or losing control •Increased depression & suicidal feelings •Aggression •Symptoms like 'flu' •Distorted vision •Disturbed hearing •Hormone problems •Headaches & feelings of having a tight band around head •Sore eyes •Agoraphobia •Hallucinations •Creeping or pins and needles sensations in the skin •Increased sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smell •Hyperactivity •Dramatic increase in sexual feelings •Pain in the face or jaw that resemble
Adnane Posted 3 days ago
Very true. I have been spending two months of Ramadan in a row in Morocco and clearly witnessed this rediculous behaviour among many people. For a negligible cause, or no reason at all one finds himself in the middle of a fight show. It can be due to a miscommunication between two drivers, complaint, ilsulting comment or just a plain irritating question like.. what are you looking at? This is uncivilized, childish, and definitely un-islamic. 2010 will be my last Ramadan in Morocco. I careless for the harira soup anyway :S
idriss Posted 3 days ago
This is true and very common in Morocco. They forget that Ramadan suppose to be the time where problems should least occur. Since the begining of this Ramadan, A day doesn't pass by without fighting , blood shed,insults and all sort of rubbish. Is this Kind of fasting accepted to Allah?????????
Ibaline El hachmi Posted 3 days ago
We should not generalise or exaggerate "tremdina" or "lquetaa", which sometimes coincide with Ramadan for adolescents, to this degree. While it comes up from time to time, we notice it only in young people because, in order to impose themselves on one another, they claim to be angry. This anger is prefabricated, either due to the obligatory fast without any prior intentions or through some motive they judge to be necessary for their previously determined goals. As for this being noted among husbands, I do not think that this could affect even one or two in one thousand since the older people who smoke would not deign to show themselves incapable of fasting. On the contrary, they wait patiently to talk about or mention anything that would jeopardise their Ramadan until after the ftour!
Carlos Posted 2 days ago
The good thing is that it's almost over.
samad Posted 2 days ago
I'm a Moroccan Muslim living in America. I'm also a smoker with my fair share of nicotine deficiencies during the fast. However, I can't bring myself so low to poison the atmosphere around me, my family, fiends, or co-workers simply for my smoking habits. I feel that I have a greater responsibility to show the world around me that I'm a better and stronger person in Ramadan than other months of the year. My family in Morocco has once asked me to visit Morocco during the month of Ramadan, I recall my first question to my sister if the public is still "sh33al" or enraged during the fast.. to my expectation, I was told that the anger issue is even worse than I have known during my youth years in Morocco. I pray for the Moroccan people and hope for the best... On a brighter side, Eid ElFitr is near, lets enjoy and keep on the brighter and better days ahead! Salam!
Essid Posted 2 days ago
Here is an interesting story: The way the doctors discovered hypoglycemia was accidental. They came across a group of people that had an extraordinarily high rate of homicide and who exhibited far greater tendency to become aggressive and angry than what you would expect to find in a sustainable society. It was found that these people produced excessive levels of insulin, such that when they ate, their blood-sugar levels immediately exceeded normal levels and, after using up all the sugar in the blood, the levels dropped to well-below normal. Once depleted of sugar, these people became angry, aggressive and even murderous. In short, the brain lacked the necessary sugar to function correctly, and so these people’s moods and behaviours, which derive from the brain, became abnormally destructive. The reason I tell this story is that fasting throughout the day will often drop the average person’s blood sugar to these very same dangerous levels. So, it is no surprise that this destructive behaviour increases during Ramadan. And, saying that Ramadan is about cleansing oneself through an exercise in self-control is pointless in these cases, because self-control is a function of the brain. Really, the best thing for people who notice they are becoming angry or aggressive is to go see a doctor. Regular, disproportionate anger is a symptom of a biological and psychological disorder. Whether caused by drug withdrawal, fasting or simply part of someone’s personality, the tendency to become angry can be treated. However, fasting with such a disorder is something that should be avoided.
We welcome your comments on Magharebia's articles.
It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers across the Maghreb. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the comments policy. By submitting comments, you are consenting to these rules. While Magharebia.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. Magharebia.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
Magharebia's Comments Policy