Falls Church Super Market Supplies Needs for Ramadan Recipes

The Muslim observance of Ramadan began Aug. 1 and already several boxes of dates are flying off the shelves.

Tariq Rehman, manager Halal Co. super market in Falls Church, said many of his customers come in for a lot of things around Ramadan, but mostly the dates. He said people buy up to 11 pounds of dates at a time.

“It’s a tradition from the old times,” Rehman said. “Dates were the most available at the time.”

Halal Co. is one of the largest Halal markets in the area catering to the needs of Northern Virginia’s Muslim population. Rehman said people come into the store mostly in the late afternoon around Ramadan. The store opens an hour earlier during Ramadan at 8 a.m. and closes an hour earlier at 8 p.m. The overall objective for Ramadan, which runs from Aug. 1 through Aug. 29 this year, is to gain God conscientiousness through fasting, said Shadeed Muhammad, the Imam of the United Muslim Masjid in Philadelphia, Pa. Muhammad said Muslims follow the lunar calendar and Ramadan falls in the ninth month of the calendar. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, he said, breaking fast each night during dinner.

The line at the meat counter inside Halal Co. was long Tuesday afternoon. People stood in line waiting their turn to pick up their beef and chicken. The smells of herbs, spices and incense lingered in the air as butchers yelled for people to pick up their orders.

Ali Akbar, of Springfield, waited for his order of fresh ground beef that will be used to make beef patties. He said he loves to eat fried things during Ramadan. Akbar said fasting is a sacrifice that brings you closer to God.

“By dinner time you’re starving,” Akbar said. “You need something in your stomach.”

Rehman said the foods served during Ramadan differ amongst countries where Islam is the predominant religion.

Zia Popal, of Falls Church, said in his native Afghanistan there is an abundance of kabobs and vegetables served during Ramadan and the Eid, a dinner that marks the end of Ramadan. One thing he said stays the same across the board amongst the different Islamic countries is eating dates during Ramadan.

“Each country has their own style they’re using to observe Ramadan,” Popal said. “We’re all eating dates. We break our fast with dates. Even for breakfast, I will have hot milk, sweet cookies and dates.”

For recipes to make during Ramadan, click here.