Tuesday, May 22, 2012

As a courtesy to your hosts; brushing up on Islamic customs

By Catherine McCulloch


With Islam being the official state religion, and the vast majority of the country's population practising, it's polite to brush up on Islamic customs and regulations before staying at any Tunisia hotels. To make things more simple, here's a guide to a hassle-free holiday. Whether you stay on one of the country's all inclusive hotels or a luxurious resort, you're bound to experience the culture and regulations of Islam in some way.

An example of this is the fact that Muslims pray five times a day so you're more than likely to hear their calls to prayer, wherever your local mosque is. An important fact to remember is that Friday is the Muslim holy day, so on this day a great deal of restaurants and shops will be closed.

Also, traditional fasting takes place from dusk until dawn, although it must be said that foreigners and tourists aren't expected to partake in this fasting. However, they are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing gum in public during the holy month as a sign of respect to their hosts. The extent to which tourists are expected to adhere to these rules varies according to the location of the Tunisia hotels.

Coastal resorts tend to have a more European and relaxed approach to western dress. However, it should be advised that you should still practice modest dress as a precaution whilst staying in main cities and rural areas, or when visiting religious sites. Topless sunbathing, for example, is not advised, as it's likely to cause offence throughout the country. Alternatively, head to Djerba to the Fortress of Kej for a great example of Islamic architecture.

This fortress accurately conveys the military and spiritual identity of the Sufi denomination, and provides a great insight into the historical context of the heavily-influenced style of Sufi in the area. What's more, there's some fantastic all inclusive hotels in the local area, making it easy to pay a visit to this essential site.




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