Syria is living through its seventh Ramadan since the 2011 revolution. This year, however, many aspects are different, as a major part of the country has been destroyed and major demographic changes have been brought about by large waves of displaced people and the emigration of millions of Syrians. In many families, at least one of their members has been killed, arrested or abducted, and this affects the daily Ramadan rituals.

The northwest Syrian city of Idlib, which serves as a refuge for many civilians and opposition fighters, is now inhabited by Syrians who have been gradually displaced from Rif Dimashq, Homs and Aleppo and who came to live with the city’s native residents.

The regime lost control of Idlib in March 2015, and moderate and extremist opposition factions now control the city. The city no longer receives water or electrical services previously provided by the regime, and though a truce has been reached, Idlib bears the scars of repeated shelling. Now that several years have passed since the regime lost control there, people have learned to cope with the new lifestyle. New customs, including new Ramadan rituals, have emerged.

During Ramadan, Muslims pray more than they usually do. They visit each other much more often and do more charity work. And while people have maintained their religious rituals, there are social habits that changed because of the war. The lack of government-provided utilities and cleaning services has affected evening Ramadan feasts, as well as suhoor, an early meal Muslim families eat before fasting begins.