For more than 13 years, Michel Ayoub, a 39-year-old Christian construction worker from the old city of Acre, has been carrying out the ancient tradition of waking up Muslims for suhoor.
Over time, the mesaharati tradition had disappeared from Acre. Ayoub told Now This that he had never seen a mesaharati, he had only heard about the role while growing up.
And so he took it upon himself to revive the centuries-old tradition - it was his way to help preserve Arab heritage.
All throughout the holy month, at 2 am in the morning, Ayoub walks down cobbled old alleyways beating his drum and with a melodious voice chanting "Ramadan, oh healer of hearts."
He wears a traditional Levantine suit sewn by a Druze lady, and a keffiyeh drapes his shoulders.
Ayoub sees no contradiction in his role, and neither do the Muslim residents of the ancient city.
According to The National, Ayoub might already have a successor ready to carry his legacy. 12-year-old Ahmed Al Rihawi has been accompanying him on his nightly strolls, sporting traditional sirwal trousers, a black vest, and a turban. Ayoub believes that Ahmed is a promising and talented mesaharati.
The historic port city of Acre, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Middle East. The fortified old city, complete with a well-preserved citadel, mosques, and baths, is considered by the UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Acre was captured by the Israelis in 1948.
The population of the city is made up of more than 50,000 people, including Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Baha’is. About 28 % of Acre's population are Palestinians. Most of the city’s Arabs are Muslims, but a minority, like Ayoub, are Christians, Middle East Eye reported.
