The Holy Month of Ramadan in Xinjiang, China

Ramadan Observance in Kashgar
📌 Ramadan in 2013 lasted approximately from the 10th day of the 5th month to the 8th day of the 8th month of the Islamic calendar, beginning with the sighting of the Crescent Moon.
🕌 Fasting for Muslims lasts from dawn until sunset, with the exact start and finish times varying daily based on location.
👥 Kashgar prefecture is home to $4.15$ million people, with over $3.5$ million being Muslims who observe Ramadan.
👥 Fasting presents a significant physical and mental challenge for observers like Abdullah Masum.

Impact on Daily Life and Business
🛠️ Many who do not engage in physically strenuous activities, like outdoor construction workers, do not fast, and their businesses (e.g., roadside restaurants) remain open.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family dynamics affect observance; for example, one elderly man's entire household abstained from fasting due to age, recent surgery, and conditions like diabetes, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
🧶 Abdullah Masum, a leather cap maker, willingly reduced production (earning $30$ for each cap) during Ramadan, prioritizing religious observance over maximizing business profits.
📸 Photographer Jumung Jun documented local Muslim life, including visits to ceramic artist Umay Ali, whose son attends a bilingual school in Kashgar.

Community and Tradition
🌃 After sunset, the Old Kashgar City becomes bustling, with large crowds flocking to the food bazaar opposite the Id Kah Mosque Square for dinner.
🏘️ In Ukuk Kesra Village, the tradition for Iftar (breaking the fast) involves families taking turns hosting, where men attend the fourth prayer at the mosque before the main meal begins.
💧 Iftar traditionally starts simply with water or non-leavened bread before the men return from evening prayers.
🏥 Older community members, like the $82$-year-old man who had his gallbladder removed, may be excused from fasting, though this causes him distress if others cannot participate.

Spiritual and Commercial Centers
🕌 The Id Kah Mosque, built in $1442$, is the largest of its kind in China, recently renovated to accommodate $40,000$ to $50,000$ worshippers simultaneously.
📈 The mosque area is a business hub, with Abdullah Masum's shop benefiting from the high traffic, even during fasting hours.
🛒 Masum faced difficulties restocking imported goods from Arumi, over $1,000$ km away, as an Imam cannot travel far during Ramadan.
💻 As Ramadan neared its end, Masum utilized the internet to find an import agency in Arumi, placing orders online instead of making the long trip himself.

Eid al-Fitr Preparations
🎉 As Ramadan concludes, preparations begin for Eid al-Fitr, a major Islamic festival.
🧑‍🎓 Umay Ali's studio saw a boom in business as visitor groups were introduced to his pottery studio, coinciding with the festive sales opportunity.
🧼 Following the fast, families like Mom Sa Isme's clean themselves and prepare to attend the grand prayer event at the Id Kah Mosque to celebrate Eid.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The observance of Ramadan involves strict schedules for fasting ($17$ hours mentioned), prayer, and adjusted work/business plans based on individual circumstances and community tradition.
➡️ Religious duty and business operations often intersect, requiring individuals like Imam Abdullah Masum to strategically balance both needs, even leading to adaptation like online ordering.
➡️ Community traditions, such as rotating hosts for Iftar dinners in villages, play a significant role in reinforcing social bonds during the holy month.
➡️ The Id Kah Mosque serves not only as the spiritual center but also as a major commercial anchor for the Old Kashgar City.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Feb 24, 2026, 09:15 UTC