The Story Behind The Ramadan Cannon
We all are familiar with the cannon that fires and indicates that Muslims can break their fast-during Ramadan, so what is it really?
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The cannon is first fired to herald the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, and then each day to announce the breaking of the fast at the sunset prayers of maghrib. The blast is an echo to inform the entire city of the time of Iftar, before the invention of clocks, TVs or cellphones.
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It is a tradition carried out in several countries such as UAE, Saudi, Egypt and more. Before firing the cannon, people and children are always eager to watch it happen, firing the cannon has been a tradition since the early 1960’s signaling the start of Ramadan,
Maj. Abdul Mohsin Al-Maimani, a spokesman for the Makkah police department, said “When Makkah police was founded 75 years ago, it was entrusted with the maintenance and care of this cannon. After Eid, the cannon is returned to a special department. A few days before Ramadan, it is sent back to the mountain. The powder is handled by a special team so that no one gets hurt.”
Cannon firing has roots that can be traced as far back as 15th-century Egypt, in the era of the Mamluks. The cannon was fired to notify Muslim worshippers that the time to break their fast had arrived. A second firing followed much later, in the early-morning hours during the call to Fajr prayers and signaled the start of a new fasting day. There are a few different versions of the story of how the cannon tradition came about.
Here are the locations for 2023 Ramadan across the UAE:
Abu Dhabi Ramadan Cannon Locations:
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Qasr Al-Hosn
Umm Al-Emarat Park in the Mushrif region
Dubai Ramadan Cannon Locations:
Expo City Dubai (in front of the iconic Al Wasl Plaza)
Near Burj Khalifa,
Dubai Festival City,
Madinat Jumeirah,
Damac Hills
Hatta Guest House
Al Ain Ramadan Cannon Location:
Zakher area near the wedding hall and Al-Jahili Fort
Ras Al Khaimah Ramadan Cannon Location:
Al Qawasim Corniche at the Flagpole
Umm Al Quwain Ramadan Cannon Location:
Sheikh Zayed Mosque