Ramadan: An occasion for spiritual beginnings

The month of reflection welcomes quality time with family and friends. UAE residents share how they plan to spend Ramadan this year

Nejoud Bayoumi

I will have university classes during the day, but at night I plan to spend time at friends' houses and stay up till late playing games. Fasting is going to be hard because I am doing summer term and it is really hot. The heat gets to me; the hardest part is when you get really thirsty but I manage it somehow. I donate to charity on a regular basis and give my old stuff. The good thing about Ramadan is that malls have donation booths, so you don't have to go out of your way.

Syed Ali Muzaffar

Ramadan is special to me. As a child, I was amazed at how people kept their fast, and as I grew older, I learned the importance of this month and was proud of being able to inculcate this habit from the beginning. When you break fast at the commandment of Allah when the Azan is called, it is a very wonderful feeling. All family members sit together for Iftar and spend time with each other. We go for Namaz called Tarawih where we listen to the entire Quran while standing, and meet friends. We also send plates of food to our neighbours. I love it.

Imran Ismadi

I am looking forward to Ramadan, to the family gatherings, the Iftars, and especially Eid because you get to eat a lot. I am a real foodie, so this is a very good time for me. I have never experienced fasting in this country. Although I have been fasting since I was 13, it is my first time in Dubai, so I have no idea what to expect. I hope Ramadan in Dubai will be very festive, given that it is an Arab country and the majority of the population is Muslim. I expect it to be very big and cheerful.

Mirza Ateeq

We wake up early before prayers, arrange all the things for suhoor and sit down together with family. During the day, I feel calm and cool and relaxed because we are fasting. In terms of cooking, we make biryani for Iftar and break our fast with dates and a lot of fruits and vegetables. I enjoy Ramadan as much as Eid because it is a chance for the family to spend time with each other and share our feelings about the day and the season.

Numan Nafees

During Ramadan, I am more dedicated to prayers. Every night after the nightly prayers, I try to attend the 20 Rakats. In the past years, I had missed days of fasting because of sickness, but this year I am going to try and not miss any. On normal days of the week, not everyone is present at the table for dinner, but Ramadan brings the family together, and that is something I really look forward to. We have a tradition at home where we help our mother prepare everything.

Sameer Shaikh

Ramadan is a festive season and involves getting up early in the morning and having breakfast before sunrise, praying and then catching up on sleep. Fortunately in the Middle East, we have shorter working hours, so we are able to go home before sunset and break fast, pray and spend time with the family. On a personal level, I try to discipline myself and reduce tea and coffee breaks before Ramadan starts, so I can spend the day without too much caffeine. I also try to be more religious and pray more.

Source: Khaleej Times