Ramadan Starts Tomorrow
For people not familiar with Islam, tonight the Moon Sighting Committee went out to look for a crescent moon. The moon was new today at around 4:00 p.m. in Dubai, so (according to my computer) they could not possibly have seen the crescent. However, according to the Internet, someone in Saudi saw a crescent (by faith, not sight) so all of the Gulf will start Ramadan tomorrw, Saturday. (The crescent will be clearly visible in the Western hemisphere tonight, so this way most of Islam will observe Ramadan together.)
This means that, beginning tomorrow, from one hour before dawn, there will be no eating, drinking, nor smoking in the UAE until sunset, and this will continue until 22 October.
Travellers are not required to fast, so some hotels have ‘secret’ rooms where travellers may eat a normal lunch (and smoke), but these places are hard to find.
When I was in Al Ain several years ago, I was led to one of the ‘secret’ Ramadan rooms, where I saw people having alcoholic drinks with their lunch; I was later taken to ‘secret’ rooms in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where they served food but no alcohol.
At sunset, cannon may be heard in parts of the emirates to let people know that iftar has started. Out of earshot of the cannon, the muezzins sing the call to prayer.
The newspapers say that, when one hears the cannon and muezzins, one should eat three dates, drink a small amount of water, and go to pray. After prayer, one should eat a light meal. Additional, voluntary prayers are appropriate until around two hours before dawn when one should have another light meal of slowly digesting foods, and drink lots of water. The money saved by fasting should be given to the poor.
The liquor stores in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain will close tonight shortly after dark and remain closed until the end of Ramadan.
Nightclubs in Abu Dhabi will be closed until after Ramadan.
Nightclubs in Dubai may open after 7:30 p.m., but must close early and are allowed no music or dancing until after Ramadan.
And most of the madams I know tell me their establishments will be closed for the entire month of Ramadan.
This means that, beginning tomorrow, from one hour before dawn, there will be no eating, drinking, nor smoking in the UAE until sunset, and this will continue until 22 October.
Travellers are not required to fast, so some hotels have ‘secret’ rooms where travellers may eat a normal lunch (and smoke), but these places are hard to find.
When I was in Al Ain several years ago, I was led to one of the ‘secret’ Ramadan rooms, where I saw people having alcoholic drinks with their lunch; I was later taken to ‘secret’ rooms in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where they served food but no alcohol.
At sunset, cannon may be heard in parts of the emirates to let people know that iftar has started. Out of earshot of the cannon, the muezzins sing the call to prayer.
The newspapers say that, when one hears the cannon and muezzins, one should eat three dates, drink a small amount of water, and go to pray. After prayer, one should eat a light meal. Additional, voluntary prayers are appropriate until around two hours before dawn when one should have another light meal of slowly digesting foods, and drink lots of water. The money saved by fasting should be given to the poor.
The liquor stores in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain will close tonight shortly after dark and remain closed until the end of Ramadan.
Nightclubs in Abu Dhabi will be closed until after Ramadan.
Nightclubs in Dubai may open after 7:30 p.m., but must close early and are allowed no music or dancing until after Ramadan.
And most of the madams I know tell me their establishments will be closed for the entire month of Ramadan.
posted by Dubai@Random at 8:52 pm
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