Abu Dhabi: Sohail Nakhooda has lived in 10 countries during his 45 years, and wherever he is, Ramadan is always special.

“Its spiritual fragrance is palpable. It is the quality of intense prayer to God, and the incredible generosity and love for all that is most unforgettable about Ramadan,” said Nakhooda.

“[That said], the three main countries where I enjoyed Ramadan the most are Jordan, Turkey and the UAE because Ramadan in a Muslim majority nation is an entirely different experience. Ramadan in Jordan is beautiful, earthy, and intensely family oriented. You get invited to Mansaf (a Middle Eastern dish of lamb cooked in yoghurt and served with rice) at iftars, and the adhaan that heralds iftar ... its melody rolls through the city’s hills. I can never forget it,” he said.

In Turkey, Nakhooda said that Ramadan is colourful, majestic and very community-oriented with iftars in the open squares and alleys and prayers in its resplendent mosques.

In the UAE, the spirit of generosity is unbounded. “The sheer amount of food that is distributed to the poor in mosques around the country is incredible to behold,” he added.

For Nakhooda, Ramadan is a time to reconnect to God, reset one’s relationship with the divine, take stock of the priorities in life, and give acts of worship like prayer, spirituality and charity their due.

“Life is hard enough and in the daily rat race, it is often easy to lose our spiritual focus. So the month is a time to improve, to do better, and be better towards oneself and others,” he said.

Personal enrichment is a big part of the Portuguese expat’s Ramadan.

“I have learnt that I have many flaws as a human being. There is a lot that I must improve and change, habits and attitudes that are not conducive for wholesome living. Some things will be easy to change, others will be more challenging, but Ramadan gives you the courage to take that first step,” Nakhooda explained.

His daily routine in Ramadan includes prayer and supplication in the predawn hours. Then he usually eats three dates, has a glass of milk and some cereal and begins his fast at the onset of Fajr.

“I love everything about Ramadan ... it is a month that never fails to bind us all in a commitment for change for the better.”

Age: 45

From: Portugal

Think tank director

— Omnia Fahim is a trainee at Gulf News