One of the Mawaed Al-Rahman in Egypt Photo Reddit
Egypt – Mawaed Al-Rahman (Mercy Tables) is an Egyptian Ramadan tradition where passersby and the needy can sit down and have their Iftaar for free with others at a large table. A tradition that was once done out of love has now become a necessity as the price of food soars in Egypt.
The tradition of providing Mercy Tables for the poor is said to date back to the Fatimid era (909 – 1171). According to Dr. Mona Amer, founding chair of the Department of Psychology at The American University in Cairo, the tradition was started by Prince Ahmed Bin Tolon.
“This has been a tradition for centuries and people trace it back to Ahmed Bin Tolon. He sort of made out a model of offering Iftaar (the meal at sunset) to poor people and try to encourage other people of nobility to do the same.”
It is a notable tradition in Egypt which was only put on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic. The streets are lined with tables and depending where you are, different types of food is spread out.
“At Iftaar time, anywhere you drive or walk in the streets, you’ll find these tables in different places. Sometimes they are very simple. Just a string of tables next to each other and you know this is a place you can sit down to break your fast. Other times they are more lavish and stately with big tents and colourful decorations and things like that.”
Less Mercy Tables, more people to feed
Many businesses are suffering in Egypt. The value of the Egyptian pound (EGP) to the US has dropped significantly. It went from seven EGP to the US dollar in 2013 to over 30 EGP in 2023. It is estimated that out of the 104 million Egyptians, 60 million live below or just above the poverty line ($3.20 per day). The rising food costs have impacted the Mercy Tables in two ways, said Amer.
“Some people are saying there’s a decrease in the number of tables or the comprehensiveness of the meal. Other people are observing that there is an increase in the number of people that are attending and the number of tables are just the same as ever.”
In all cases, it shows how the economy is influencing the Mercy Tables. Either there are less tables, less food or more people showing up which points to the worsening conditions in Egypt.
Rising food prices in Egypt
Food prices have almost doubled in Egypt since March 2022. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has caused a sharp rise in commodity and food prices for the import-dependent Egypt. The price of beef jumped to 280 Egyptian pounds ($9) a kilo, from 180 pounds (around $5.80) in March last year.
While the rise in food prices could attribute to the increase in those utilising the Mercy Tables, Amer admits the rise could also be attributed to the restrictions being raised in Egypt. More people are ready to sit at the tables to have that Ramadan feeling. Whatever the reason is, Egypt’s economy certainly has some part to play in the tradition becoming a necessity for all.
