During Ramadan Makkah bustles with sleepless activity and life and traversing the streets can become almost impossible at peak times.   The crowds are fuller at places with popular foods and treats people eat to break their fast at Maghreb – including ful (mashed fava beans, tameez (popular Afghani flatbread) and sobia (a traditional drink made from either raisins or bread).  

When the call for Maghreb prayer comes traffic slows and streets become quieter, then pick up again as Isha prayer nears.   Most people want to perform Isha and Taraweeh at the Grand Mosque or other Mosques in the city.   A traditional feature of Ramadan in Makkah is for families to gather around the iftar table and take their first meal of the day together.  Basic components of iftar food are the four food items soup, sambousa, ful and tameez, combined with different sweets.