Egypt's historic Ramadan cannon fires for first time in 30 years

Cannon at Cairo citadel thought to be where tradition originated

The Ramadan cannon at Cairo’s citadel, believed to be the birthplace of the tradition, was fired on Tuesday for the first time in nearly 30 years.

For Egyptians to hear the cannon, it had to be restored meticulously, with craftsmen removing a layer of rust on the outside and cleaning the inside of the barrel, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said.

The firing of the Ramadan cannon, or midfa al iftar, at sundown is a tradition followed in several Muslim countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bangladesh and Kuwait.

The sound of the blast carries a special meaning for Muslim worshippers, echoing a simpler time before the convenience of smartphones and apps to tell people when they can break their fast.

After a 30-year hiatus, the Ramadan cannon at Cairo's Citadel will be fired again on Tuesday. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The cannon was fired for the first time since 1992 to alert people to break their fast at sunset. EPA

The Ramadan Cannon at the Salah El Din citadel in Cairo. EPA

The cannon was fired for the first time since 1992 to alert people to break their fast at sunset. AFP

A view from the citadel in the Egyptian capital Cairo. AFP

Pedestrians walk past a decoration depicting a giant crescent and cross - and a lantern across the street - erected to celebrate the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AFP

People shop from a stall selling Ramadan lanterns along a main street in the in a northern suburb of Egypt's capital. AFP

A vendor waits for customers as people shop at a market on the eve of the first day of Ramadan in Cairo. EPA

People shop at a market on the eve of the first day of Ramadan, in Cairo, Egypt, 12 April 2021. EPA

People shop at a market on the eve of the first day of Ramadan, in Cairo, Egypt, 12 April 2021. EPA

Eman Zidane, assistant minister of tourism and antiquities, said the restoration of the cannon was part of a plan to upgrade museums and archaeological sites, including the citadel, called the Salahuddin Al Ayoubi Castle.

Osama Talaat, head of the ministry's Islamic, Coptic and Jewish antiquities department, told The National  that restoring the cannon took about a month.

Mr Talaat said he used to live in the area surrounding the citadel and remembered the cannon fire ringing out over the city.

"As an Egyptian citizen, it makes me very happy and it brings back nice memories," he said.

A cannon at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is fired to mark the end of the day's fasting. Victor Besa / The National

The cannon in front of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is fired daily during Ramadan to signal the sunset, which is when people can break their fast. Reem Mohammed / The National

The force has been following the custom since the early 1960s in Dubai. EPA

As the first day of Ramadan came to a close yesterday, Dubai Police followed a long tradition by firing their cannon to signal the end of fasting. Satish Kumar / The National

An old cannon stands outside Al Hisn Fort in Al Shuwaiheen, an old neighbourhood in Sharjah. The fort was built in the 1820s by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi. It is now open to the public as a museum. Sarah Dea / The National

Lebanese military fire a blank from a cannon a day prior to Ramadan to announce the holy month in Beirut, Lebanon, in April 2021. EPA

A Ramadan cannon is fired to mark the breaking of the fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at Giza district in the Egyptian capital Cairo on May 11, 2020. AFP

The ministry earlier test fired the cannon in the Police Museum square at the castle, where it had been fired in the past.

The fortress dates from the Middle Ages and is located on the Muqattam Hills in the south-east of the Egyptian capital.

Construction of the castle began in 1174 under Salahuddin, the first sultan of Egypt.

It was not completed in his lifetime, but after his reign it became the official residence of the rulers of Egypt until the mid-19th century.

How the Ramadan cannon tradition came about is still debated by historians and scholars.

Cannon first appeared in China in the 12th century, hundreds of years after the birth of Islam.

Mr Talaat said many believed the tradition of using cannon fire to mark the time for iftar originated at the castle in Cairo.

In one historical account, Sultan Mamluk Khushqadam is said to have fired the cannon to test it after receiving it as a gift.

This shot is said to have coincided with sunset on the first day of Ramadan in 1467, or 871 in the Islamic calendar, and people thought it was meant to signal to the city that it was time to break the first fast of the holy month.

After Cairo’s inhabitants thanked the sultan for the signal, he decided to fire the cannon at sundown on every day of Ramadan.

In another story, it was mistakenly set off while being cleaned by soldiers during the reign of 19th-century ruler Khedive Ismael.

His daughter Fatima is said to have been so taken with the idea that she asked that the tradition be continued.

The cannon at the citadel has been changed and moved around over hundreds of years of Egyptian history.

The one on display at the square dates from 1871.

Built in Germany by Krupp, it has a solid iron base and requires two soldiers to operate it. It was last fired in 1992.

The Ramadan cannon is fired many times during the holy month.

It is usually fired twice to herald the start of the holy month, and then on each day at sunset.

A second firing often comes in the early morning hours during the call to fajr prayers, to signal the start of a new fasting day.

Two shots are fired to announce the start of Eid Al Fitr.