UAE | Heritage and Culture

Palestinians in UAE relish iftar with family

Waiting anxiously, at every sunset, for the sound of the iftar cannon to break the silence, is Jasser Salem's most cherished memory of Ramadan.

  • By Mohammad Jihad, Community Web Journalist
  • Published: 23:44 August 28, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Waiting anxiously, at every sunset, for the sound of the iftar cannon to break the silence, is Jasser Salem's most cherished memory of Ramadan.
  • Image Credit:

Dubai: Waiting anxiously, at every sunset, for the sound of the iftar cannon to break the silence, is Jasser Salem's most cherished memory of Ramadan.

Unfortunately these small yet important details are hard to find these days. Back when Salem lived with his two sisters in Palestine, he had iftar with them every evening and occasionally had family gatherings.

According to Salem, Ramadan has become so commercialised that instead of giving, people are spending and instead of coming together, they are watching television.

"When I was a child, I used to always have iftar with my family and then go to the local park where we had playgrounds for children to play in and storytellers who spoke of legendary Islamic heroes," he said.

"These days when you ask people what Ramadan is, the first thing they think of is television shows and shopping."

Salem tries to steer away from this by making sure that his family break their fast together every day.

Salem said: "My family and I always have iftar together. This is to make sure that my children don't forget the meaning of Ramadan."

Now at the age of 50, Salem, along with his wife and four children fast by choice.

"Sometimes I tell my youngest daughters that it is fine if they don't fast because of the hot weather and school schedules, but they always persist, which is something I'm proud of," he said.

Ramadan is said to be a time where people celebrate the holy month by coming together and giving.

Salem said: "It is when we give whatever extra we have to the less fortunate. I still see charity tents around the UAE where food is donated to people who cannot afford it, I hope this continues."

Salem said: "Our life changes during Ramadan, we think less about ourselves and more about others. It is something we don't usually experience throughout the year."

 

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