Ramadan Special  3 min One Community: How Egyptian Christians Embrace Ramadan

"Religion is for God... and the homeland is for all." This phrase, attributed to the renowned Egyptian political leader Saad Zaghloul a century ago, feels incomplete—because in Egypt, Ramadan is also for everyone. Here, a Christian hosts an iftar table for fasting Muslims; there, a Christian takes on the role of the mesaharati (Ramadan drummer wandering the streets to wake people to eat before the dawn prayer) to celebrate the holy month; and elsewhere, a Christian teaches Christian children about the significance of this sacred month for their Muslim peers.
 

About 35 years ago, in the notorious Shubra neighborhood of Cairo, workers from nearby shops had gathered to break their fast together outside the store of Gamil Fawzi Tadros. Tadros joined them, and from that moment, the idea of a "National Unity Table" was born—an iftar he hosts every year with his Muslim and Christian friends from the neighborhood.

The generosity characteristic of Ramadan benefits those in need without distinction, whether they are Muslim or Christian, because in Shubra these differences don't exist. "Since childhood, I've had Muslim friends without ever concerning myself with religion. We celebrate each other's holidays together, whether Muslim or Christian. Just as we Christians are careful not to eat or drink in front of our Muslim friends during Ramadan, some Muslims also respect certain traditions of our faith, like the Virgin Mary's fast, which my mother's Muslim friend observed with her," recounts Jamil.

Tadros adds that this tradition has continued for 35 years and they participate every year, bringing either homemade dishes specially prepared for the occasion or store-bought food depending on availability. "Muslim and Christian friends join me, and we make sure to invite a member of parliament each year to highlight the national spirit that prevails in Shubra district," he specifies.

Shubra, a special neighborhood

According to the book "Shubra, Little Alexandria in Cairo" by Dr. Mohamed Afifi, history professor at Cairo University, Shubra was founded by Mohamed Ali in 1809 with the construction of its main thoroughfare, known as Shubra Street. At the end of this street, he established an agricultural school as well as his palace, making Shubra the rural suburb of Mohamed Ali's family.

Dr. Afifi adds that the old Patriarchate of Mark was located in the Fagala area of Azbakeya before being moved to the Abbasiya district in the 1960s. According to the custom of Christians settling near places of worship, the Patriarchate was situated next to what was called the "Nasari quarter." Shubra is a natural extension of this, particularly with the British occupation and the presence of many foreign communities who preferred to live near the "Nasari quarter" to have easy access to churches.

In Shubra district, but this time on Al-Taraa Street parallel to Shubra Street, another generous man continues a beautiful tradition: accountant Jamil Banayouti, a Christian who oversees a Ramadan table that has existed for 40 years.

"More than 40 years ago, a group of businessmen from the area asked my permission to set up a Ramadan table on a vacant lot I owned, and I agreed. After several years, these businessmen withdrew, leaving responsibility for the table to a police officer who was their partner. We then decided to share this responsibility and not leave it to him alone," explains Mr. Banayouti. Initially, the women of the neighborhood prepared the necessary dishes in their homes to supply the table. But with time, the tradition grew in scale, and a complete kitchen was set up in a beautiful house to ensure the continuity of the initiative. For four decades, this table became a true place of transmission, teaching children about national unity without slogans or speeches.
With the Covid-19 pandemic and the ban on large gatherings, the table evolved to adapt.

Mr. Banayouti then implemented a new system: he purchased several food poles—stacked containers in a column—which he distributes at the beginning of each month to beneficiaries, based on their identity cards. At the end of the month, these containers are returned. Each beneficiary comes about two hours before iftar and receives enough food for their entire family, accompanied by a bag containing salads and another with traditional Ramadan drinks.

According to Mr. Banayouti, Ramadan is inseparable from the October War, a memory etched in his mind since his military service. As an officer in the third army, he experienced the siege of central Sinai during Ramadan. Alongside his soldiers, he fasted in the midst of war, an experience that taught him there was no difference between him and a Muslim when it came to defending their shared homeland. "That's why no one dares to ask me why, as a Christian, I participate in and supervise this table," he asserts, noting that Christians also benefit from it.

Alexandria

The last official figure, published in 2012 by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, estimated the number of Copts in Egypt at approximately 5 million. However, in 2023, Pope Tawadros of Alexandria stated that the Coptic community numbered about 15 million faithful in the country, with 2 million living abroad.

In Alexandria, 15 years ago, Andrew Ibrahim watched his father prepare Ramadan bags, filled with food aid to distribute during the holy month. His mother, meanwhile, crafted handmade items to celebrate Ramadan and offered them to their Muslim friends, thus perpetuating a tradition of sharing and brotherhood.

"I feel immense joy when I take on the role of Masaharati and see the smiles it brings, as well as the children's excitement when they receive the small gifts I distribute. It's an indescribable joy," shares Mr. Ibrahim. He emphasizes that the Church encourages him in this initiative and that, within his parish, he is known both as the Ramadan Mesaharati and as the Christmas Santa Claus, a role he also happily fulfills. Rania Nassim, Andrew Ibrahim's mother, organizes a Ramadan celebration every year where she shares iftar with her friends and distributes gifts. Mr. Ibrahim actively participates in this tradition, whether by preparing the presents or giving them out in his Mesaharati costume. For him, this moment of sharing also has an ecological dimension: he buys fabric scraps that he recycles to make about 400 gifts to distribute each year.

Sahar Gomaa, a friend of Mr. Ibrahim's mother, emotionally remembers the first time he embodied the Mesaharati. "I was alone at home with my daughter, my husband being away on a trip. Suddenly, I heard Andrew calling my daughter to the rhythm of his drum. When I went out, I discovered he was giving her a lantern as a gift. That moment remains etched in me, so full of magic it was," she recounts.

From Alexandria to Minya

Political sociology professor Dr. Said Sadek views these initiatives as embodying the spirit of Ramadan celebrations—similar to how Christmas is celebrated in the West, where everyone partakes in the festivities.

This is especially true in Egypt, where Muslims and Christians mix daily in workplaces, universities, and all aspects of life. However, he adds: "While all Christian initiatives during Ramadan are commendable, they ultimately reflect the behavior of a fearful minority using them as a form of self-defense—which is why similar efforts from the other side are scarce."

In the south lies Minya, home to roughly 2 million Copts, according to statements by Bishop Makarios of Minya. Yet, it also records the highest number of sectarian incidents in Egypt. Data from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights’ religious freedom map shows that between 2016 and 2023, Minya witnessed 56 cases of sectarian violence and religion-based attacks.

This tension has led to the emergence of exclusively Christian villages, such as Deir Gabal El-Teir—a monastic settlement over a thousand years old that once housed only monks. Over time, it attracted lay Copts (non-clergy), gradually ending its monastic isolation. Here, young Shenouda Adel grew up and later founded The Rock Library, a cultural center serving villages deprived of resources due to governmental centralization. Shenouda recalls knowing little about Ramadan as a child—only that he shouldn’t eat in front of Muslim teachers to alleviate offending them and that TV programming changed during the month. His village, isolated by sectarian tensions, had no Ramadan celebrations. This continued until he left for high school and university, where he met Muslim friends—and Christians from other denominations—for the first time.

As a Christian running a center in Christian villages, Shenouda initially avoided religious themes. But during a workshop for Christian children about Ramadan, he realized how little his village’s youth knew about the holy month. This inspired him to launch art workshops where children draw Ramadan symbols—lanterns, traditional dishes, or cultural figures—followed by discussions and documentaries about Ramadan’s significance.

A study by researcher Nermin Azar, published by the Luxor Center for Studies, Dialogue, and Development, highlights how Egyptian Muslims and Christians share Ramadan customs—from family gatherings to baking festive sweets together. The Coptic Church also instructs Christians to respect Muslim sentiments during the month.

This article was published in collaboration with  Egab.

March 2025