Dubai: Sarah Abbas, an Iraqi student living in Dubai, calls her family “old-fashioned” when it comes to traditions in Ramadan.
“Everyday during iftar, my family and I will break our fast with only one date and a glass of water, and then we gather in the living room to pray together as a family,” she said.
“This is an important part of our Ramadan because it is the only opportunity the family gets to pray together given our busy schedules,” she said.
“We enjoy a very light meal and go to bed on a somewhat empty, yet satisfied stomach,” she said.
Another tradition Sarah’s family has is donating clothes to charity.
“During the final days of Ramadan, my family and I will go through our closets and seek out items of clothing that we could donate to the less fortunate,” she said.
Sarah enjoys her family tradition because it helps her “experience what Ramadan is really about.”
“I understand what it is like to feel hungry and thirsty, and this makes me appreciate what my parents have provided for me,” she said. “As for praying every evening together, I enjoy this because it makes me feel closer to my family.”
Something new that Sarah and her family will do this year is distribute dates during iftar to the less fortunate.
“We have done this a few times, but not consistently,” she said. “I am hoping we can make this part of our Ramadan traditions.”
“We make it a priority to spend Ramadan with loved ones and helping the less fortunate,” she said.
— Nouf Bakhsh is an intern at Gulf News.
