Tag Archives: Ramadan

Things you SHOULDN’T say to someone after Ramadan

Posted on by

Along with knowing the ways to wish someone a happy Eid, including the use of “Eid Mubarak”, “Khair Mubarak”, “Eid Saeed” and “Jazak Allah Khair”, it’s also worth knowing what not to say.

You look like you’ve lost weight!

During the holy month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims observe a period of fasting from sunrise to sunset. They abstain from food and drink during daylight hours for a period of 29-30 days, depending on the lunar calendar.

While the practice of fasting is often associated with weight loss, the true purpose of Ramadan is much deeper. It is rooted in the Islamic belief in social justice and equality between rich and poor. The act of fasting is seen as a way to empathise with those who are less fortunate and to increase one’s own spirituality.

Bet you’re starving now!

Each individual’s experience of hunger or thirst during Ramadan is unique and personal to them, and is an essential part of their religious practice and journey.

Ramadan is not about starvation. Muslims do eat during the month of Ramadan, but only during specific hours of the day.

Making jokes about someone’s appetite at the end of Ramadan isn’t particularly helpful, accurate or humorous.

Happy Eid al-Adha

Sometimes people wish Muslims a happy Eid by saying “Happy Eid al-Adha.” However, this phrase is not accurate, as Eid al-Adha is a separate Islamic festival that is distinct from Eid al-Fitr.

This year, Eid al-Adha will take place between Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 and Sunday, July 2nd, 2023. This festival commemorates the story of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to God. According to the Quran, just as Prophet Ibrahim was about to carry out the sacrifice, God sent a ram to be sacrificed in place of his son.

Let’s go out for a drink to celebrate!

It should be pretty evident to most people that inviting someone celebrating Eid to go for a drink is not appropriate.

Practicing Muslims do not consume alcohol as it is considered harmful and is prohibited in Islam.

The Quran contains a verse that refers to intoxicants as ‘the work of Satan’, indicating the gravity of the matter in Islamic teachings.

There are plenty of other ways to celebrate with Muslims during Eid, such as sharing a meal or engaging in activities that do not involve booze, thereby showing respect and understanding for their traditions and beliefs, while still allowing for a joyous celebration.

So why is fasting seen as generous?

Posted on by

Costa during Ramadan Dubai

What Ramadan looks like at work: Just enter the maze!

The popular greeting RAMADAN KAREEM, meaning Ramadan is generous, is totally lost on Son2. On several occasions, he’s turned all furtive, lowered his voice and whispered to me: “Mummy, I’m so glad we’re Christian.”

He’s learnt enough about Ramadan now to know Muslims observe this time of reflection and prayer by fasting from dawn until sunset – and in his seven-year-old mind, the idea of not being allowed to eat is quite horrifying!

I was actually really looking forward to Ramadan and, now that it’s underway, I can safely say I’m enjoying it so far.

The start was confirmed by the sighting of the moon on 6th June. Once announced, Muslims abstain from drinking, eating, smoking and sex during daylight hours. The word ‘Ramadan’ is derived from the Arabic root word ‘Ramida’ meaning ‘scorched heat’ or ‘parched thirst’. And anyone who fasts in this part of the world will fully understand those terms.

Screen Shot 2016-06-12 at 23.41.37

Community fridges are a big hit with workers
Across the city there are at least 20 ‘Sharing Fridges’, which residents fill with food (juices, laban, water and fresh fruit and vegetables) several times a day. The initiative was started by an Australian mum who wanted to do something to help others. Word spread quickly with more than 5,000 members now registered with the group through Facebook to participate in the campaign. Learn more at facebook.com/groups/uaefridges

For expats, Ramadan is a time to show respect for the sentiments of participating Muslims. While not expected to practise Ramadan themselves, in the UAE it is illegal for adults to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours for the whole month (unless you’re elderly, ill, pregnant, nursing or menstruating, and even then, it’s better to be discreet). This extends to travelling in a car. Even chewing gum could be seen as an offence.

Most cafes and restaurants are closed all day, although some have a closed-off area for serving take-out food to non-fasters*. Supermarkets remain open and hotels cater for tourists, but the city has a different feel about it. No music is allowed, many nightclubs are closed and there are no concerts or festivals. The city comes alive at night, with the malls open late and many people including children staying up all hours socialising.

So, why, you might be wondering, am I enjoying it so much? And how can not having any food during daylight hours be considered generous?

For me, I love the reduced working hours. Companies are obliged to shorten the day, so at my office we finish at 3.30pm (a six-hour day, rather than eight hours). School also starts later, which on the upside means a lie in. The downside is they’re let out earlier, too, at 1.30pm.

With the exception of the roads just before Iftar – when hungry drivers rush to break their fast – good will abounds. Charity tents are erected for those who wish to donate to the needy, and many restaurants serve all-you-can-eat Iftar buffets at generous prices. (It’s common to see famished fasters staring down at their food while waiting for the sunset call to prayer.) Ramadan’s generosity extends to the stores in the mall, with some great sales on at this time of year.

A last note on Ramadan at work: we’re not allowed to eat or drink at our desks, and must instead have snacks, lunch, water and cups of tea in the kitchen (whispers: I’ve never seen so many people eating!). Productivity is certainly taking a hit while sitting in the kitchen chatting, while waiting for hot drinks to cool. But just in case my boss is reading this, there’s a great deal of office bonding going on around the kettle, in the spirit of Ramadan. ☺

RAMADAN KAREEM!

* Little tip-off: Was surprised to find the entire food court at Mall of the Emirates open for business. Just duck behind the hoardings and you can sit to eat.

Sharing Fridge photo credit: The National

Let’s go to Iftar

Posted on by

Yesterday was the first day of Ramadan in the UAE, and I realised that because we’ve missed it for the past few years, the children don’t actually know much about this holy month of reflection and prayer.

This was brought home to me at our local shopping centre, as Son2 begged me to let him eat a doughnut. I’d slipped into a curtained-off coffee shop to buy him a treat as an end-of-term reward, and warned him he’d have to wait until we got home to eat it, but kids have a short memory, don’t they? Especially when it comes to sticky chocolate doughnuts.

We told Son1 that some of his friends from school were probably fasting, and that a polite way to greet a Muslim who is abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours is to say ‘Ramadan Kareem’, which means ‘Have a Generous Ramadan’.

“But how is not eating generous?” asked Son1. (Good question, I thought.)

Closed off for take-away only: "You can't eat in public when the sun's up," I told Son2. "But there's no sun in here!"

Closed off for take-away only: “You can’t eat in public when the sun’s up,” I told Son2. “But there’s no sun in here!”

“Well, people give to the poor,” I explained. “You’ll see charity tents and there’s lots of good will. There’s also some great sales on at the mall.”

As sunset approached, we decided we’d introduce the children to iftar (the meal eaten to break the fast, of which there are many laid on across Dubai). Apart from the odd speeding car driven by hungry fasters anxious to get home, the roads were eerily quiet (due to working hours being reduced), and, en route, we watched the huge orange sun sink below the horizon.

My DH, who’s spent a lot more time in Dubai during Ramadan than me, mentioned that we’d know exactly when the sun had set, because smokers who’ve been without nicotine all day collectively roll their car windows down to enjoy their first cigarette.

At iftar, we sampled the dates – traditionally eaten to break the fast – and enjoyed a fantastic hotel buffet meal while also attempting to feed the boys a few more facts about Ramadan (ie, music is banned; night becomes day; and it’ll go on all month, until the moon-sighting committee spots the new moon).

I really thought we’d made some progress.

“So you know what iftar is now?” I asked.

Blank looks. “Is it the name of the restaurant, Mummy?”

Well, I suppose, when we talked about ‘going to iftar’, it could be construed as that – especially if you’ve got a short attention span.

Ramadan Kareem to all who celebrate!