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Keeping distractions at bay during Ramadan
Amid growing concerns that the Ramadan spirit of patience, sacrifice and humility is being overshadowed by crass considerations like promotions and discounted prices offered at commercial outlets, City Talk tried to gauge how residents feel about the way the fasting month is being observed.
- Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:02 September 14, 2008
- I have two children and feel exhausted by the time iftar is served. I am hardly in the frame of mind to socialise except for going to the gym, says Farrah Koudsi.
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Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Fujairah: Amid growing concerns that the Ramadan spirit of patience, sacrifice and humility is being overshadowed by crass considerations like promotions and discounted prices offered at commercial outlets, City Talk tried to gauge how residents feel about the way the fasting month is being observed.
A recent Gulf News poll showed 39 per cent of respondents were given to think that Ramadan is a time for reflection, 24 per cent said it made little or no difference to how they conducted themselves, and 23 per cent said it implied a time for charity.
Just 11 per cent of respondents said Ramadan is a time to spend with family. A minuscule minority, 3 per cent, said it was a time for entertainment.
Month of blessings
Some residents were more ready to share their thoughts with us. Ammar Ahmad Al Shaikh, an Emirati administrative assistant, 23, said: "It is noticeable how Ramadan has become increasingly commercialised over the years and how prices go up as the Holy Month approaches.
"The disappearance of social and religious customs that stood for the celebration of Ramadan is especially disappointing. It's not all negative, of course. The mosques are still filled with worshippers and there is plenty of charitable activity; to many people it is still a month of great blessings."
Farrah Koudsi, 32, a management consultant from Syria, said: "I think Ramadan is still very much family-oriented in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. People still visit each other for suhour and strike up a conversation, but the younger lot would rather go out.
"I have two children and feel exhausted by the time iftar is served. I am hardly in the frame of mind to socialise except for going to the gym. Most of my friends prefer to stay at home with their families and watch Arabic television."
Ozkan Duzcan, a Turkish businessman, 26, said: "People have a tendency to go out and end up making purchases, and I do not think it makes a difference during Ramadan.
"There are people who spend their time praying, and there are others who like to visit sheesha tents. Even though I do not smoke, I try to socialise by going to sheesha places with friends in the evenings."
Ashraf Elia Habib, 32, a customer service agent from Egypt, said: "Ramadan has without doubt become more commercialised and some people have forgotten its true spirit.
"You can't escape the commercial focus if you tune into the satellite channels; the advertisements appear every ten minutes for five minutes at a time. However, there is also an increase in the number of religious programmes that have retained a faithful following."
Jenny Bathan, 28, a Filipina saleswoman, said: "The spirit of Ramadan is still hard to miss but there are also a lot of activities, special promotions and raffle draws taking place. After 6.30pm, everybody is interested in shopping and indulging in all-you-can-eat promotions in restaurants."
Badria Al Mustafa, 53, a medical technologist from Lebanon, said: "I have lived in the UAE since 1999 and feel there has been a dramatic change in people's attitude during Ramadan. When I go to the mosque, I hardly see younger women.
"Peer pressure is high and there is the strong urge to visit Ramadan tents or hotels or coffee shops. I haven't visited a tent in the past five years, since for me Ramadan is a very spiritual affair."
Theresa Lagrimas, a registered nurse from the Philippines, said: "Shops take advantage of Ramadan and organise all sorts of promotions in view of the propensity of people to buy larger quantities of food and other items.
"There are very many families in Abu Dhabi who prefer to get together for iftar, but there are also lots of bachelors who tend to head for the malls and tents.
"Ramadan is a great month for me, because I exchange food with my neighbours and send greetings to my Muslim friends. It is a peaceful, relaxing and spiritual month for everyone."
Ahmad Ali, 48, from Sudan, said: "There is a popular tent in front of my house and each day, after iftar, there are a lot of cars parked in front of the tent leaving hardly any room for residents to park their vehicles.
"After breaking the fast, I like to spend time with my family over a good meal. I take my two boys for Taraweeh prayers. Once we are back home, I help the boys with their studies. On weekends, we sometimes go to a cafe on the corniche or visit friends, but we avoid the tents because the smell of sheesha bothers me."
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