AhlulBayt News Agency: A historic English travelogue offers a unique perspective on Ramadan and fasting in 19th-century Iran.
The Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi houses a rare 139-year-old English lithograph book titled “Persia as It Is”. This travelogue, authored by British physician and diplomat Charles James Wills (1842–1912), was published in London in 1886 and documents his experiences in Iran during the Qajar era (1789-1925).
According to Ali Mohajerani, librarian of the foreign books section, “The book captures Wills’ observations on Iranian society, culture, politics, and traditions”.
Wills, who worked on the Indo-European Telegraph Project in Hamedan, Isfahan, and Shiraz from 1866 to 1881, recorded his daily interactions with locals and officials.
The book, acquired by AQR’s library in 1958, contains 370 pages printed in 32-line formats on cream industrial paper, bound in a red cardboard cover with gold embellishments.
Notably, Chapter 23 provides a vivid description of Ramadan in Iran, detailing fasting practices and the societal transformations during the holy month.
Wills highlights the significance of fasting in Islam, referred to by Prophet Muhammad as the “gateway to religion.” Ramadan is observed by abstaining from food, drink, and smoking from dawn to sunset, with exceptions for travelers, the ill, the elderly, pregnant women, and children.
The travelogue portrays the shift in daily routines, such as shop closures, shorter working hours, and bustling streets near sunset as Iranians purchase kebabs and the sweet “Zulbia.”
It also describes communal iftars, storytelling, and charity as integral parts of Ramadan rituals.
Wills admired the spiritual and social essence of Ramadan, showcasing charity and generosity towards the needy.
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