Ramadan has long been a source of artistic and literary inspiration in the Arab world, where spirituality, culture, and history blend seamlessly into creative expression.
The month’s atmosphere, marked by the glow of fanous (lantern), the call to prayer echoing through ancient streets, and the communal warmth of Iftar gatherings, has been vividly depicted in paintings, sculptures, poetry, and novels.
From Egypt to Iraq, Lebanon to Tunisia, artists and writers have captured the essence of Ramadan, preserving its traditions while exploring its deeper philosophical meanings. Whether it’s in the evocative poetry recited in candlelit gatherings or the intricate geometric patterns adorning mosque walls, Ramadan serves as a profound source of inspiration.
The rich artistic heritage of the Arab world has given rise to countless works reflecting the ambiance of Ramadan. From traditional Islamic calligraphy to modern paintings, artists have visually documented the spirituality and communal joy of the holy month. The interplay of light and shadow in these works often mirrors the inner struggles and revelations that fasting brings.
Calligraphy has long been one of the most significant artistic expressions tied to Ramadan, with master calligraphers using Quranic verses and Ramadan-related phrases to create intricate compositions.
Egypt has also produced some of the most renowned Arabic calligraphers, many of whom have used their art to reflect the spiritual depth of Ramadan. Khodeir Al-Borsaidi, a master of Arabic calligraphy, has created stunning Quranic calligraphic pieces that highlight the themes of fasting, patience, and gratitude. His works often appear in mosques and Ramadan-themed exhibitions.
Hassan Massoudi, one of the most celebrated calligraphers in the Arab world, has incorporated the themes of spirituality and inner peace into his calligraphic works. His pieces, which blend traditional Arabic script with modern abstract forms, reflect the meditative and introspective nature of the month.
The geometric patterns found in Islamic art also embody the infinity of faith and devotion. Tunisian painter Nja Mahdaoui’s dynamic calligraphic compositions reflect the meditative and introspective nature of the holy month. Libyan artist Ali Omar Ermes used calligraphy combined with abstract art to depict spiritual themes, including those deeply connected to Ramadan, such as patience and gratitude. His intricate calligraphic pieces often adorn mosques and Ramadan-themed exhibitions, serving as both art and a reminder of faith.
Many modern Arab artists have turned to painting, photography, and digital art to capture Ramadan’s unique ambiance. Through vibrant colours and innovative mediums, they reinterpret traditional symbols for contemporary audiences, bridging the past and present.
The Ramadan lantern is one of the most iconic symbols of the month, frequently appearing in the works of Arab painters. Mohamed Abla, an Egyptian contemporary artist known for his expressive paintings of daily life, has created vivid paintings of Cairo’s Ramadan nights, for example, capturing children carrying colourful lanterns through the bustling streets.
His work captures the nostalgia of a bygone era while preserving the festive spirit of Ramadan showcasing the interplay of light and shadow, the glow of lanterns, and the social warmth of Iftar gatherings.
“The moment I saw Abla’s painting of a Ramadan night in Cairo, I felt transported back to my childhood,” says Noureddin, an art enthusiast in Alexandria. “His use of colour and light perfectly reflects the warmth of those nights.”
“His work takes me back to my childhood,” says Leila Farouk, an art enthusiast in Cairo. “The colours, the movement, the energy it’s like stepping into a Ramadan night in [traditional Cairo market] Khan Al-Khalili.”
Similarly, Hussein Bicar, a celebrated Egyptian painter and illustrator, often depicted traditional Ramadan settings in his art, emphasising the fusion of Islamic architecture and Egyptian street life during the holy month.
On the modern art scene, artists Gazbia Sirri and Adham Wanly have both captured the spirit of Ramadan through abstract and expressionist styles. While Adham Wanly, along with his brother Seif, painted lively Ramadan markets and taraweeh prayers, Sirri used bold colours and dynamic compositions depict the movement and energy of the holy month and Egyptian traditions associated with it, highlighting the collective anticipation and joy that Ramadan brings to communities.
“Ramadan is a month of movement — people rushing home for Iftar, children playing in the streets, the rhythmic prayers of taraweeh,” says Dina Al-Sayed, an art curator in Cairo. “Artists like the Wanly brothers and Sirry capture this dynamic energy beautifully.”
Similarly, Tunisian painter Nja Mahdaoui, known for his dynamic calligraphic compositions, infuses his work with the spiritual essence of Ramadan. His pieces do not depict words in a readable form but instead transform Arabic letters into rhythmic, flowing movements, reflecting the spiritual elevation that comes with fasting and prayer.
Another renowned artist is Laila Shawa, a Palestinian artist who has created a series of mixed-media works, “The Call to Prayer,” inspired by the call to prayer during Ramadan and reflecting the spiritual ambiance of the month. Dia Al-Azzawi, an Iraqi painter and sculptor, has explored themes of spirituality and communal gathering in his vibrant paintings. These often incorporate historical and cultural elements and reflect the collective experience of Ramadan in Arab societies.
Other notable works include the 19th-century French painter Jean-Léon Gérôme’s “Prayer in the Mosque,” a classical orientalist painting capturing the atmosphere of prayer during Ramadan.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE: In recent years, Arab photographers and digital artists have embraced Ramadan as a subject in their work. Youssef Nabil, an internationally recognised Egyptian photographer, has created artistic portraits that merge nostalgia with modernity, capturing the quiet contemplation and joy of Ramadan nights.
Meanwhile, digital artists like Ahmed Kassem have blended traditional Islamic themes with contemporary graphic design, producing artworks that reflect the fusion of past and present Ramadan traditions.
Another artist, Ahmed Mater, has created a series of photographs called “Magnetism” that capture the essence of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia and visually represent the spiritual pull of faith, mirroring the themes of Ramadan. These works, and many others, showcase the intersection of art and spirituality during this special time of year.
Just as Ramadan inspires visual artists, it has also deeply influenced Arab writers and poets, shaping their works with themes of spirituality, introspection, and human connection.
While visual artists have captured Ramadan through imagery, Arab poets and novelists have used the written word to explore its deeper meanings. From classical poetry to modern fiction, Arabic literature has long been enriched by the themes of spirituality, self-discipline, and social change that accompany the holy month.
Arab poetry has long captured the essence of Ramadan, celebrating its mystical and reflective nature. Classical poets such as Al-Mutanabbi and Abul-Alaa Al-Maarri wrote about the transformative power of fasting and self-discipline.
Egyptian poetry has often been infused with reflections on Ramadan’s moral and spiritual essence. One of the greatest Egyptian poets, Ahmed Shawki, known as Egypt’s “Prince of Poets”, was perhaps one of the most famous Ramadan-inspired poets. His poem on welcoming Ramadan remains a staple in Arabic literature, praising Ramadan’s virtues and the way it transforms society illustrating the joy and reverence with which the month is embraced:
Ramadan, O month of mercy and light,
You visit us, a guest so dear and bright.
In you, the heart finds solace, the soul takes flight.
Shawki’s contemporary Hafez Ibrahim also wrote about the sense of renewal and gratitude that Ramadan instills in people. His verses evoke the themes of charity, forgiveness, and self-purification that define the holy month.
Contemporary poets like Mahmoud Darwish, the Palestinian literary icon, have also touched on Ramadan’s themes, intertwining spirituality with a longing for home and identity, offering a deeply personal reflection on Ramadan’s themes. His poetry, often marked by themes of exile and faith, captures the soul-searching aspect of the holy month.
“I always read Darwish during Ramadan,” says Hala Ahmed, a literature lover in Beirut. “His words make me reflect, not just on faith but on belonging, memory, and the passage of time.”
In contemporary Egyptian poetry, Salah Jaheen, known for his iconic Rubaiyat (Quatrains), touched on Ramadan’s power to inspire both joy and deep introspection. His work reflects the contrast between the festive and spiritual aspects of the month, reminding readers of the balance between worldly life and divine connection.
“I always read Salah Jaheen’s Rubaiyat during Ramadan,” says Heba Mahmoud, a literature enthusiast from Mansoura. “His poetry captures the simplicity and depth of the month in a way that resonates with all generations.”
Arab novelists and Egypt’s literary giants have often set their stories against the backdrop of Ramadan, using the month’s atmosphere and heightened emotions, moral dilemmas, and spiritual depth as narrative tools to intensify the drama and transformation of their characters.
Naguib Mahfouz, Egypt’s Nobel Prize-winning novelist, frequently portrayed Ramadan’s cultural and social impact in his works using Ramadan as a backdrop for character transformation, while emphasising redemption and moral dilemmas.
In his novels Midaq Alley and The Cairo Trilogy, Mahfouz captures the transformation of characters during the holy month, for example, some seeking redemption, others struggling with their vices. His characters often experience profound personal change during the holy month, as fasting and prayer amplify their struggles with morality, ambition, and social status.
“When I read Midaq Alley, I felt as if I was walking in the streets of Old Cairo during Ramadan,” says Karim Abdel-Rahman, a student of Arabic literature. “Mahfouz’s attention to detail how people prepare for Iftar, the spiritual reflection, the societal expectations brings the month to life in such a powerful way.”
“When I read Mahfouz’s descriptions of Ramadan in old Cairo, I feel I am walking in those streets, hearing the call to prayer, and experiencing the self-reflection that comes with fasting,” says Hussein Abdel-Rahman, an avid reader from Alexandria.
Similarly, Taha Hussein, a pioneer of modern Arabic literature, wrote essays and autobiographical reflections on Ramadan, particularly in in his autobiographical work Al-Ayyam, where he recounts childhood experiences of Ramadan illustrating how the month shaped his early perceptions of faith and family.
In contemporary literature, authors like Alaa Al-Aswani in his novel The Yacoubian Building, where Ramadan heightens personal and social conflict, and Hanan Al-Sheikh in Only in London, explore cultural identity with Ramadan as a symbolic force, often revealing the contrast between outward piety and inner struggles. Their works highlight the way Ramadan serves as a mirror, forcing characters to confront their beliefs and past actions.
“I find it fascinating how Egyptian writers use Ramadan not just as a setting but as a force that drives their characters’ development,” says Mariam Hafez, a novelist from Cairo. “Ramadan is like a mirror what you see depends on who you are and how you choose to change.”
Ramadan mysticism: Sufi poets and writers have perhaps best captured the mystical and spiritual elements of Ramadan.
The mediaeval writer Galaleddin Rumi, though Persian, had a profound influence on Arabic literature, and his poetry continues to be recited during Ramadan gatherings. Ibn Arabi, the mediaeval Andalusian Sufi philosopher, also wrote mystical Sufi writings about philosophical meditations on divine love and fasting as a means of spiritual elevation.
“Reading Sufi poetry during Ramadan deepens the experience of fasting,” says Faris Al-Dabbagh, a scholar in Amman. “It reminds us that Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food but about purifying the soul.”
Ramadan is not just a time of devotion, but also a season of artistic and literary flourishing. Whether through intricate calligraphy, contemporary paintings, or evocative poetry and novels, Arab artists and writers continue to capture the profound beauty of the holy month.
These artistic and literary works serve as a reminder that Ramadan is not only about discipline and worship but also about creation and self-expression. Through their words and images, Arab artists and writers invite us to see Ramadan not just as a religious duty but as an ever-evolving source of beauty, inspiration, and human connection.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 6 March, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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