- "German-originated Ramadan Calendar is similar in essence to a Berlin-style Doner"
Original Article:
Today marks the beginning of the Muslim fasting month Ramadan. For several years now, there have been calendars in Germany that count down the days until the Sugar Festival, similar to Advent calendars. Manal El Daoud sells her calendars, for example, at Kaufland, dm, and through her online shop. Last year, we spoke to her, and this year, we are publishing the conversation again on this occasion.
Mrs. El Daoud, your Ramadan calendar was first available at Kaufland. How did you convince the buyer of a product that almost no one knew about?
It was indeed very difficult to make him understand that this was a market gap. Many children, like mine, wished for a calendar with sweets for Ramadan, similar to an Advent calendar. The buyer then asked a Muslim colleague, but remained skeptical. So, we started very cautiously in 2018 with 60 calendars per store, in around 300 branches across Germany. After three days, he asked if we could deliver more, as all the calendars were sold out.
At the same time, there is a lot of controversy surrounding your calendars: Some criticize the commercialization of religious festivals, while others fear the decline of Western civilization and suspect "Islamization".
I am a Muslim myself and practice my religion, but I am open to everything. There are radicals everywhere, in Christianity as well as in Islam. They then make themselves heard on social media, I call them the social media police. But firstly, the Advent calendar was also just a commercial product that someone invented at some point in Christianity. And secondly, we have obtained a Fatwa, a kind of certificate or seal, from a Hodja in Egypt...
That's an Islamic religious scholar.... who has clearly stated that the calendars are permitted according to religious rules. What's the problem? We make children happy and teach them about Islam in a playful way. I have held this view for years and no longer engage with the comments.
You are also targeted by the right.
Especially in the first few years, it was really bad. I received death threats and insults that were below the belt and unpleasant. Emails also went to Kaufland saying they would be boycotted. An AfD politician photographed the calendar and posted it on Facebook. When we started in dm drugstores this year, I received hate mail again. That's why I don't show my face in interviews and don't let myself be photographed. I don't want to be recognized on the street.
The people see me as a Hartz IV recipient." What do such insults do to you? At first, they hurt me very much. By now, I'm a bit numb to it. Nevertheless, it's a topic that has occupied me for the last few years. I studied at TU Berlin and founded a company. But as long as I wear a headscarf, I will always be the headscarf woman. That's what I'm often called. People see me as a Hartz IV recipient. The headscarf means to them: I'm dumb and I stand behind the stove. I will never be recognized as a businesswoman. People don't even want to have their picture taken with me at trade fairs.
How much do you care about the good poll results of the AfD?
I am a native Palestinian. When I was one and a half years old, my family fled from the civil war in Lebanon to Germany. If the AfD comes to power, will we become refugees again? This thought scares me. Many people I know are already considering where they could emigrate. Where should I, a Palestinian, go? I am a stranger everywhere. This weighs heavily on me.
What is the Ramadan calendar to you?
For me, it is a symbol of integration.
Which countries do you export to?
Our strongest overseas market is Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. We always have the exclusive calendar there. It looks a bit different from the German one, more oriental, and features the famous mosque in Abu Dhabi. Dubai values prestige highly, so our calendar is well-received there.
What about countries like Turkey or other predominantly Muslim countries?
We don't export there, except for Dubai. Apart from Dubai, one could say: The Ramadan calendar is a German product - like a Berlin doner. Here in Germany, we know Advent calendars and have an idea of what a Ramadan calendar could look like. We understand the concept behind it. That's not the case in Turkey. We've presented the product several times, but never found a suitable buyer.
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There is no information available in the search results regarding the controversy surrounding the commercialization of Ramadan calendars in Germany or how it might affect Manal El Daoud and her business. If you have more specific details or context about Manal El Daoud or her business, it might help in providing a more accurate response.
However, if you're interested in general information about Ramadan calendars or their commercialization, it's a topic that can involve cultural and religious sensitivities. Ramadan calendars are often used to mark the days of Ramadan, a significant month in the Islamic calendar, and their commercialization can be seen as either a way to promote cultural awareness or as a form of cultural appropriation, depending on the context and execution.
If you have any additional details or a different query, feel free to ask.
Rewritten Article:
The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has started, and for several years now, German children have been counting down the days until the Sugar Festival with Ramadan calendars. Just like Advent calendars, these calendars can be found in grocery stores like Kaufland and dm, or purchased online. One of the most popular creators of these calendars is Manal El Daoud, who started her business with a goal of making children excited about the holy month.
In an interview, El Daoud explains how she managed to get her calendars stocked in Kaufland. It was a difficult journey, as the buyer had never heard of the concept before. El Daoud, a Muslim businesswoman who wears a headscarf, founded her company after studying at TU Berlin. She noticed that her children, like many others, wanted a Ramadan calendar that was similar to an Advent calendar. With help from a Muslim colleague, she managed to convince the buyer to stock her calendars in around 300 stores across Germany.
However, El Daoud's calendars have been controversial, with some criticizing the commercialization of religious festivals and others fearing the decline of Western civilization and suspecting "Islamization". El Daoud, a Muslim herself, dismisses the criticism as coming from radicals who make themselves heard on social media. She emphasizes that the tradition of the Advent calendar is also a commercial product that was invented by someone in Christianity.
El Daoud has faced significant backlash from the right, including death threats, insults, boycott calls, and even hate mail. She does not show her face in interviews or allow herself to be photographed out of fear of being recognized on the street. Despite the hate, El Daoud remains hopeful, calling the Ramadan calendar a symbol of integration.
El Daoud's calendars have gained significant popularity, with her strongest overseas market being Dubai, where she has an exclusive deal. The city values prestige highly, and the calendar is well-received due to its unique design. El Daoud does not export her calendars to other Muslim-majority countries, as the concept is not as popular or understood in those countries.
In the interview, El Daoud talks about the difficulties she has faced as a Muslim businesswoman, including being called the "headscarf woman" and being refused having her picture taken at trade fairs. She emphasizes that she is a native Palestinian and the thought of becoming a refugee again if the AfD comes to power is a scary one. She also explains that the Ramadan calendar is a way to promote cultural awareness and inspire children to learn about Islam.
In a world that is increasingly divided, El Daoud's Ramadan calendar provides a small but significant symbol of unity and integration. The calendars are a reminder that cultural diversity can enrich our lives and be celebrated, even during religious holidays.
Despite the controversy surrounding the commercialization of religious festivals, Manal El Daoud's Ramadan calendars continue to be a hit among German children. She has managed to expand her sales to Berlin's dm drugstores and even has an exclusive deal in Dubai, where the concept is highly valued due to its prestige. However, El Daoud still faces criticism from some quarters, and as a Muslim businesswoman, she has faced hate and discrimination. Despite this, she views the Ramadan calendar as a symbol of integration and a tool for teaching children about Islam in a fun and engaging way. Additionally, El Daoud has obtained a Fatwa, a religious seal of approval, from an Islamic scholar in Egypt, which further validates her product.
