Suhoor
The pre-dawn meal before the Ramadan fast begins.
Also: sahur, sehri
Suhoor is the meal eaten before dawn by Muslims who plan to fast during the day in Ramadan. It is encouraged by the Prophet's teaching as a blessing, and families wake in the dark to eat bread, eggs, yoghurt, dates, rice or porridge, and to drink plenty of water. In many cities, a drummer, the musaharati, walks the streets to wake the neighbours, a tradition still found in Egypt, Turkey and Syria. In Indonesia and Malaysia, announcements come from the mosque loudspeaker. The meal must end when the first light appears, with the call to prayer.
Region: Middle East