- Locals carefully observe tradition while relying on local ingredients such as halal venison for iftar
- Small but resourceful Muslim communities help sustain believers during long northern fasts
MOSCOW
When Ramadan arrives in Russia’s far north, the rules of fasting and prayer must adapt to the unusual rhythms of the Arctic sun.
In the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, a sparsely populated region along the Arctic Ocean, the holy month often unfolds under extreme daylight conditions.
“In our region, the sun does not set from May 11 to July 19. In summer, we sometimes fast for up to 20 hours,” Mafrutdin Agasiev, head of the local Muslim religious organization, told Anadolu.
Winter brings the opposite experience. “In winter, it becomes much easier. Sometimes the fast lasts only five or six hours because the day is very short,” he added.
“In December, we may not see the sunrise for 20 to 22 days. If Ramadan falls during this period, we follow the prayer schedule of the nearest city where the sun rises normally – Ussuriysk, about 480 to 500 kilometers (around 300 to 310 miles) away,” he explained.
Islamic tradition places strong emphasis on protecting people’s health, and religious authorities encourage moderation in extreme conditions, Agasiev said.
“The general Muslim rule is that fasting should not exceed 18 hours. Our Spiritual Administration also advises people not to fast longer than that,” he said.
Venison for iftar in an improvised mosque
In a region where the Arctic tundra stretches for hundreds of kilometers, local food traditions also shape how Ramadan is observed.
Agasiev said that despite the region’s isolation, the Muslim community carefully observes halal traditions while relying heavily on local food sources.
“The Nenets Autonomous Okrug is the only region in Russia where halal venison is prepared. Before this Ramadan, I personally prepared 38 deer carcasses. Venison makes excellent shashlik,” he said, referring to the dish of skewered and grilled cubes of meat.
During iftar – the evening meal that breaks the fast – community members gather and share homemade dishes. Guests from other ethnic communities in the region are familiar with Muslim customs and respect dietary rules.
“Sometimes guests from the Assembly of Peoples of Russia visit us. They never bring their own meat, because they know we only eat halal,” he said.
Another unusual aspect of Ramadan in the region is the absence of a mosque.
“At first, we gathered in my personal garage,” Agasiev recalled.
Over time, the small prayer space gradually expanded, with members adding garage units and turning them into a larger prayer hall, he said.
Despite its modest appearance, the improvised mosque became the heart of the local Muslim community and is officially recognized by regional authorities.
“Everyone has visited us except the governor – senators and deputies have already been here. The governor promised to come for the Eid al-Fitr holiday,” he added.
The Nenets Autonomous Okrug has a population of around 46,000, including more than 2,000 Muslims, most of them from Tatar, Bashkir and Dagestani families.
During Ramadan, between 80 and 100 people gather in the converted garage for communal iftars. Last year, volunteers took turns preparing the evening meals.
For Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, the community organizes a much larger gathering.
“We set tables for 300 to 400 guests,” Agasiev said.
Local activists receive support from philanthropists, including well-known entrepreneurs as well as the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation.
Community leaders are now hoping to build a permanent mosque. A plot of land has already been purchased for an Islamic Cultural Center, and organizers hope to lay the foundation this year.
Arkhangelsk, the Arctic gateway
Further west, in the northern port city of Arkhangelsk, Muslims face similar challenges during Ramadan.
Often described as Russia’s gateway to the Arctic, the city has a population of around 300,000, including roughly 3,500 to 4,000 Muslims.
Imam Idris Shayakhmetov said the life of believers in the region differs sharply from that of Muslims in Russia’s southern republics. The most difficult period comes in summer, when Ramadan coincides with the season of white nights, when darkness hardly arrives.
“In some cases, Muslims here fast for up to 23 hours,” he said. “There is only a very short window to eat – sometimes half an hour to an hour between sunset and dawn.”
Because of these unusual daylight patterns, Arkhangelsk follows its own prayer and fasting timetable rather than the standard schedule used across most of Russia.
“We prepare a separate schedule specifically for Arkhangelsk because we live in the north during the season of white nights,” he explained.
Tea to warm up
The Muslim community in Arkhangelsk has deep historical roots. The city’s first mosque was built in 1905. The current building is an exact reconstruction of the pre-revolutionary structure, restored using historical drawings and archival photographs.
“Local residents helped restore the mosque’s history from the archives. We are very grateful to them for that,” he said.
Students play a particularly visible role in the life of the mosque.
“We have many foreign students from India and other Muslim countries who study at the Northern (Arctic) Federal University and the medical university,” Shayakhmetov said.
“They come to the mosque very often. Everyone communicates in Russian while learning the language, and there are no divisions – everyone is friendly,” he added.
On Fridays, 200 to 300 believers attend prayers. During major holidays, the number can rise to as many as 2,000 worshippers.
Despite the city’s distance from Russia’s traditional Muslim regions, Ramadan remains a vibrant communal tradition in the city.
“Up to 200 people gather at the mosque for iftar. Usually, our brothers cook pilaf in a huge cauldron,” the imam said.
The meal traditionally begins with dates and water, but the harsh northern climate has also shaped local habits.
“Tea is essential for northerners,” Shayakhmetov said. “After eating, they always say: ‘You need to warm up in the north.’”
