Amman, February 20 (QNA) - With the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, Jordan is enveloped in an atmosphere unlike any other. Spiritual devotion intertwines seamlessly with inherited social customs, forming a living tableau that reflects how the blessed month has been cherished and preserved by generations of Jordanians.

As Ramadan lanterns are strung across streets and balconies, and the soft glow of decorative lights illuminates the old neighborhoods of Amman, the holy month enters daily life as a renewed story of gathering and belonging. It is a season in which the features of the past blend gracefully with the spirit of the present-an enduring expression of collective memory, resilient despite the passage of time.

Throughout Ramadan, traditions are not merely observed; they become a vibrant space of intergenerational exchange. Each generation narrates its story in its own language, yet all converge at a singular moment marked by the resonant boom of the iftar cannon. Families then gather around the evening meal in a ritual defined by simplicity, warmth, and quiet gratitude.

Hajja Amina Al Ayed fondly recalls the Ramadans of her youth as she speaks to her grandchildren gathered around her. "Ramadan was a complete school," she says, reflecting on a time when fasting meant not only abstaining from food and drink but also withdrawing from noise and distraction. An hour before the Maghrib call to prayer, serenity would descend upon the neighborhood. The only sounds were those of children preparing modest iftar trays to deliver to worshippers at the mosque.

She notes that the old cannon has largely been replaced by smartphone alerts, and that evenings once spent in conversation beneath starlit skies after Taraweeh prayers have given way to glowing screens. Yet the call to prayer remains unchanged, as does the delight of a child holding a lantern. Many details, she insists, endure despite the transformation of tools and technologies.

Al Ayed makes a point of involving her young granddaughters in preparing traditional dishes-baking thin raqaq bread on an old saj griddle, stuffing qatayef with walnuts, and brewing post-iftar coffee. While nearly every dish can now be ordered via smartphone applications, she believes the taste of home-cooked food carries something irreplaceable: the spirit of participation and the flavor of memory.

For his part, young entrepreneur Wissam Al Hassan observes that while the form of Ramadan gatherings has evolved, their essence remains intact. What has changed, he explains, is the medium. Inspired by this shift, he developed an interactive application for a communal Ramadan Qur'an recitation titled "Khatmat Amman," connecting hundreds of users in a shared spiritual endeavor. The platform also features a brief daily reflection on meanings and themes. "We use technology," he says, "to create a quiet space in which the spirit regains its central place."

Al Hassan adds that charitable giving has likewise been transformed. Electronic transfer platforms now allow for faster, more transparent donations, ensuring that zakat al-fitr and discreet alms reach beneficiaries swiftly and efficiently. Modernity, he emphasizes, is not the antithesis of heritage; rather, it can serve as a vehicle for preserving and transmitting it.

Meanwhile, Layan Al Sharif, a young teacher, has crafted her own "Ramadan Challenges" list, welcoming the holy month with enthusiasm despite the fast pace of life filled with family obligations, social engagements, and gatherings with friends. She also helps organize an "Iftar for a Fasting Person" initiative, through which volunteers visit orphan centers to conduct art and reading workshops for children-an effort aimed at deepening the humanitarian dimension of the sacred month.

The image of Ramadan in Jordan finds perhaps its clearest expression in the heart of the capital. Near the historic Al-Husseini Mosque, the chants of worshippers rise in unison, while large-scale relief campaigns are coordinated through digital platforms, extending support to the most distant camps and remote villages. In this harmonious convergence of devotion and innovation, tradition and renewal, Jordan's distinct Ramadan spirit comes fully into view-authentic, evolving, and profoundly rooted in faith and community. (QNA)