Ramadan Mubarak ! Have a blessed Ramadan everyone.
The moon sighting committee (true statement) of the United Arab Emirates announced that the 30 days of Ramadan start today - July 20, 2012.
Ramadan is like all the United States holidays wrapped up into one.
Millions of Muslims around the world are ready to observe Ramadan. The next 30 days are all about caring, sharing, family and getting closer to God.
Ramadan is considered the holiest month of the Islamic calendar and every Muslim who is past the age of puberty, mentally and physically fit, must fast.
Those that fast are asked to abstain from food, drinks and sexual activities during the fast hours. Negative behavior, such as lying, using foul or insulting language is also forbidden.
The fast starts at dawn, which is indicated by the morning prayer and ends at dusk and is marked by the prayer at sunset. Some cities also fire off cannons to mark the end of the fast. The fasting continues every day for 30 days. During this 30 days, the Muslim's also aspire to become more generous, good to others and give to charities.
The Red Crescent Charity has donation boxes available all over Dubai. Like the one in the picture below, they are always full or almost full. I have yet to see an empty donation box. The people in Dubai are very charitable.
Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset, traditionally eaten as a family, which also includes extended family members and friends. Because iftar is the main meal of the day, it is a time of gathering family, sharing stories and traditions. Iftar meals are also offered in lavish buffets at most of the eating establishments around Dubai. It seems like every eating establishment in Dubai wants to participate in Ramadan by offering an iftar buffet, including fast food chains.
Food, food and more food - I have heard that if you like buffets, you will be in food heaven during Ramadan. The picture below shows an iftar buffet right before sunset. All they need is the people. Amazing to say the least !
During the day, most of the restaurant and other food establishments are closed, a few serve take out only. In the picture below, is a row of restaurants at the Emirates Mall, normally these seats are overflowing, busy, noisy, but at 4:00 on a Monday afternoon, there is no one , it's eerily quiet, only the servers preparing for the evening crowd.
Because non Muslims travel into or live in the United Arab Emirates, an online guide is available on what non Muslim's can expect, which also includes the do's and don't's on how to behave during Ramadan, and believe me some of us non Muslims need all the help and reminders we can get.
The local newspapers have published information for non Muslim's repeatedly, so hopefully no one is caught off guard or finds themselves on the other side of the law. That would not be fun !
The Do's and Don't's of Ramadan for Non- Muslims (taken from the Local Newspaper, Gulf News 7/20/2012):
The first night of breaking the fast, Jeff and I were walking around Al Barsha Park as the sun set, the call to prayer started and could be heard all around us. There are so many mosques - within a mile or closer of one another - that the reciting of the prayer was in stereo. It gave me goose bumps as we walked and listened. So cool, so awesome - so fun to be here during this time of Ramadan.
Even the heat cannot damper my excitement ...the temperature in Dubai is expected to hit 121 degrees tomorrow and will continue to climb higher the next couple weeks. Yikes!
Ramadan is like all the United States holidays wrapped up into one.
Millions of Muslims around the world are ready to observe Ramadan. The next 30 days are all about caring, sharing, family and getting closer to God.
Ramadan is considered the holiest month of the Islamic calendar and every Muslim who is past the age of puberty, mentally and physically fit, must fast.
Those that fast are asked to abstain from food, drinks and sexual activities during the fast hours. Negative behavior, such as lying, using foul or insulting language is also forbidden.
The fast starts at dawn, which is indicated by the morning prayer and ends at dusk and is marked by the prayer at sunset. Some cities also fire off cannons to mark the end of the fast. The fasting continues every day for 30 days. During this 30 days, the Muslim's also aspire to become more generous, good to others and give to charities.
The Red Crescent Charity has donation boxes available all over Dubai. Like the one in the picture below, they are always full or almost full. I have yet to see an empty donation box. The people in Dubai are very charitable.
Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset, traditionally eaten as a family, which also includes extended family members and friends. Because iftar is the main meal of the day, it is a time of gathering family, sharing stories and traditions. Iftar meals are also offered in lavish buffets at most of the eating establishments around Dubai. It seems like every eating establishment in Dubai wants to participate in Ramadan by offering an iftar buffet, including fast food chains.
Food, food and more food - I have heard that if you like buffets, you will be in food heaven during Ramadan. The picture below shows an iftar buffet right before sunset. All they need is the people. Amazing to say the least !
During the day, most of the restaurant and other food establishments are closed, a few serve take out only. In the picture below, is a row of restaurants at the Emirates Mall, normally these seats are overflowing, busy, noisy, but at 4:00 on a Monday afternoon, there is no one , it's eerily quiet, only the servers preparing for the evening crowd.
Because non Muslims travel into or live in the United Arab Emirates, an online guide is available on what non Muslim's can expect, which also includes the do's and don't's on how to behave during Ramadan, and believe me some of us non Muslims need all the help and reminders we can get.
The local newspapers have published information for non Muslim's repeatedly, so hopefully no one is caught off guard or finds themselves on the other side of the law. That would not be fun !
The Do's and Don't's of Ramadan for Non- Muslims (taken from the Local Newspaper, Gulf News 7/20/2012):
- Don't eat or drink in public before sunset. This includes consuming anything in your car, taxi, including chewing gum. If caught - it is considered an offense for which you can be fined.
- Refrain from wearing revealing clothes throughout Ramadan. You can be fined for inappropriate dress/clothing.
- When it is time to eat (ending of fast), don't begin eating before anyone else and wait for the prayer to sound which signifies the beginning of If tar.
- Don't smoke in public.
- Don't try to pressure a Muslim to break his/ her fast. You will be fines and jailed.
- Don't show public displays of affection. You both can be fined.
- Don't raise the volume on your car radio, stereo or TV during prayer times.
- Don't swear in public.
- Greet Muslim colleagues and friends with Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem.
- Most food outlets will have take out but no in dining will be allowed during the fast.
- Some Hotels are exempt from this and can provide regular dining in experiences at designated times.
The first night of breaking the fast, Jeff and I were walking around Al Barsha Park as the sun set, the call to prayer started and could be heard all around us. There are so many mosques - within a mile or closer of one another - that the reciting of the prayer was in stereo. It gave me goose bumps as we walked and listened. So cool, so awesome - so fun to be here during this time of Ramadan.
Even the heat cannot damper my excitement ...the temperature in Dubai is expected to hit 121 degrees tomorrow and will continue to climb higher the next couple weeks. Yikes!
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