Ramadan brings out the best of UAE

Dubai: Ramadan holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims, as it celebrates the spirit of solidarity, strengthens family ties and friendship, and instills the importance of the virtues of sacrifice, charity, tolerance and patience.

Ramadan brings together people and builds on family traditions that Emiratis value immensely.

This is particularly true of the elderly and is equally important for youngsters as well, as they are introduced to the importance of fasting and charity as pillars of the faith.

Families prepare for Ramadan by cooking delicacies and invite friends and relatives over at special gatherings to celebrate Ramadan nights.

During Ramadan days, people fast, with the exception of those who are sick or undergoing medication. The others spend the day in pious thoughts and by evening, set the tables for iftar with neighbours and friends coming together with home-cooked dishes.

Those, who are well-off hold feasts at home and invite others echoing the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

After maghreb prayers, men go home to prepare for a visit to the mosque for "Taraweeh" prayer, which follows the fifth prayer of the day (Isha) - a very important part of Ramadan.

In some areas, the women also go to the mosque with family members to perform "Taraweeh".

During old times, family visits were very common.

Family members sit around for what is called "Al Samrat Shaabiya" chatting throughout the night and discussing all sorts of issues till "suhour".

These nights extend until the last 10 days of Ramadan and then they focus on prayers until the end of the fasting month for rewards from Allah.

Every Arab community has different traditions during Ramadan - but all in essence focuses on spirituality.

In the UAE, people buy new cutlery for their homes or for distributing food to their neighbours.

They also give away food for people in the mosques and some women buy special clothes for prayers. They also donate old clothes to charity while some buy new clothes to present to others.

Children share food with their neighbours, which usually includes delicacies such as 'Harees', 'Fareed' and sweets like 'Algimat'.

The sharing practices demonstrate the strong links and traditions Emiratis inherited from their forefathers. Family members gather around a table and say a prayer. In the UAE, after the maghreb call for prayer, the family gathers around the table and together they end the fast by eating dates and drinking laban (dairy product) before heading for the mosque for prayers.

The women usually pray at home and afterwards the family gathers once again for prayers.

The Ramadan feast is rich with different types of food including the famous dish 'Harees' which is linked to Ramadan. Each country has its own way of doing the dish.

The main course during the Ramadan feast includes 'Al Freed' made from home-made bread called regag and meat-based soup.

The UAE is famous for another meal called "Al Muhammer" made out of rice and fish, makboos, biryani, Al Orsiyya, Al Madhrouba, Al Margouga among others. Ramadan days and nights have unique flavour and mean so much to people in the UAE.