Abu Dhabi
Although Ramadan is the busiest month for Farhana Naz, 38, a Pakistani homemaker in Abu Dhabi, she said she faced no particular challenges.
“I have never faced a problem in handling multiple tasks during Ramadan,” said the mother of five children (three daughters and two sons) who lives in Mohammad Bin Zayed City.
She tries her best to address the needs of her family. “They [husband, five children and her husband’s brother] have their own preferences … such as special dishes for iftar.”
“I say planning iftar meals is both easy and difficult,” she said. “For example, my eldest daughter wants sweet dishes and my eldest son wants cold juices.”
The mother and daughters plan iftar meals keeping everyone’s tastes in mind. Different types of biryani, fruit juice, snacks, curry, chapatis and sweets are usually the iftar fare.
During Ramadan, her day begins when the alarm rings for suhour. “After suhour, I recite the Quran with my three daughters and later on, head to the kitchen, with my daughters right there beside me offering their help.”
When she came to the UAE two decades ago, she had many relatives here. “We used to prepare iftar for many people. Now, most of my relatives have gone back home” and there are fewer people over for iftar.
This is the only change she has experienced over the years.
A mother’s unflagging energy
Naz is happy that her daughters — Faryal, Farheen and Maryam — assist her in the kitchen. “Sometimes, my sister — who lives nearby — also drops in before iftar to help my daughters and asks me to take a break.”
Maryam, 16, the youngest daughter, appreciates her mother’s efforts not just during Ramadan but throughout the year. “We get tired … we get sick, but she is active the whole year round, even if she herself is sick. She does not let us work alone in the kitchen.”
During Ramadan, the sisters also get lively cooking lessons from their mother.
“She introduces us to new dishes and teaches us how to cook them,” Maryam said.
TIPS:
1. Wake up at 2.30am and have suhour before 3.30am. While waiting for Fajr prayers, you can recite Quran.
2. Finish all cleaning tasks in the morning or afternoon, because you may not be able do it in the evening or night because of guests.
3. If you have a big family, start preparations for Iftar in the late afternoon; therefore, you can finish everything in time before Iftar.
4. Wash dishes after Iftar before going to isha and taraweeh prayers. It is not wise to leave it to some other time.
5. Always leave enough time to spend with guests after Iftar and Taraweeh. Make changes in the plan accordingly.
