UnNews:Ramadan latest religious holiday ruined by commercialism

This article is part of UnNews, your source for up-to-the-picosecond misinformation.

19 October 2006

Ramadan has become a traditional time for whooping it up.

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - The commercialisation and non-stop partying during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Malaysia has triggered fierce criticism from sour-puss clerics who deplore all the feasting, shopping and merriment.

The fasting month, which ends next week with Eid al-Fitr celebrations, is supposed to be a time of self-denial and reflection during which Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk.

But instead, religious leaders complain, many people are more interested in hunting bargains at red-hot Ramadan sales, attending concerts and breaking their fast at sumptuous buffets laid on by every hotel and restaurant.

"Fuck that fasting shit," replied one Mulsim partier. "That's way too old school. Somehow, I don't think Allah put us on this Earth to sit around and mope for a whole month every year."

Harussani Zakaria, the mufti from northern Perak state, disagreed, and hoped to someday kill the partier quoted above. "During this month Muslims are supposed to put aside their lust and concentrate on their spirituality," he said.

"But in our country, they fast the whole day because they have no choice but to do so and at night it is as if they are out in a vengeance to party their asses off," he said.

"It is only in Malaysia that the commercialization of the holy month is so prevalent. You get an overdose of concerts, TV shows and all sorts of sales gimmicks. This is wrong in Islam, and everyone is pissing off Allah except me. I just hope Allah notices."