Over the weekend, Muslims worldwide marked the birth of the Prophet Mohammed, Islam’s holiest figure. For VOA, Hamada Elrasam captures Egyptians seeking solace in prayer and celebration as economic hardship in the country deepens. Words by Elle Kurancid.
Egypt Celebrates Prophet’s Birthday as Cost-of-living Crisis Mounts
- By Hamada Elrasam
- Elle Kurancid
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Sufi worshippers perform “Zikr,” a ritual in which they dance to Islamic songs to release stress and connect with Allah and the souls of their ancestors. Al-Sherif, Egypt, Oct. 4, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Amid debt and cost-of-living crises, Muslims gather ahead of Mawlid al-Nabi, the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Mohammed in the village of Al-Sherif, Egypt about 120 kilometers south of Cairo, Oct. 4, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Some of the worshipers await a charity dinner as they listen to speeches in honor of the holiday in Al-Sherif, Egypt on Oct. 4, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Ritual dance marks the holiday as the Egyptian pound hit a record low against the US dollar and prices of households good rise in Al-Sherif, Egypt on Oct. 4, 2022. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)