Four residents recount times of fasting and piety in the UAE from 50, 30, 20 and 10 years ago
Ramadan is one of the busiest times in the UAE. After a quiet afternoon every day, the sun sets and activities begin. The streets are lit up, and people have countless activities to choose from. Fairs, Ramadan tents, all types of social events, and, of course, bargains galore.
Through the years, Ramadan has seen a change in social and other activities in the UAE. For instance, the glitz and the glamour of Ramadan tents were unthinkable a few years ago. Some of the activities that are now integral to Ramadan are just a decade or so old.
The famous Dubai International Holy Quran Award was first held in 1990, the Sharjah Ramadan Festival started in 1991, and Dubai The City That Cares began as late as 1998.
So what was Ramadan like in the UAE 50, 30, even 10 years ago? How much has changed and how much of Ramadan has remained constant? Tabloid speaks to a cross section of the population for a glimpse into Ramadan then and now.
50 years ago...
"Fifty years ago, the UAE was a different place. And the holy month of Ramadan was a simple time. We broke fast on dates, water and Laban. We didn't have all this variety of food and drink we indulge ourselves in," says Obaid Al Shehi, a UAE national, with a sweeping gesture, indicating the wide Iftar spread in front of him.
"Houses from the neighbourhood would take turns to slaughter a sheep each day, and would share it with everyone. We were more relaxed, Alhamdulillah, and life was not complicated as it is now.
"There were no clocks, so we would judge the time to break the fast by putting a stick in the ground and observing its shadow. By night, the stars would be our clock," he says.
"The nights would end early. We would offer Tarawih (night prayers during Ramadan) in a small mosque, the walls of which were made of wooden beams from Africa, and clay or corals. Date palm fronds were used for the roof. After prayers, we would talk a while, usually of religious affairs, and then go to sleep.
"People were more religious then than now. This month especially, was for Ibaadah (worship). Even during Ramadan now, people are more materialistic, there's more consumption, and in the process they lose out on the true spirit of this holy month.
"We didn't run behind money, our hearts were clearer and our values different from those of the young people of today.
"I remember the times when we would travel in camel caravans from Al Ain to Dubai to buy provisions during Ramadan. It would take five to six nights. But we would undertake such journeys only during the cooler months. We would travel during the day and stop to break our fast.
"When it was time to break the fast, we would build fires and bake qisr (a type of bread) in a hole dug under the coals. Once it was done, we would dust off the sand and pound it with sugar and olive oil. It is one of the most delicious meals after a day of travelling while fasting. It would be washed down with some camel's milk.
"Even the Eid celebrations were very simple with just some la'alish, na'ashat and ayalah (the traditional sword and hair dance and the firing of guns)."
30 years ago...
"I remember the time when there were no Indian restaurants or cafes to break fast in Karama," says Mohammad Abdul Azeez, an Indian. "I would go all the way to the Strand Cinema canteen to have a cup of tea. We were bachelors then, and had to cook our own food for Iftar and Suhoor due to the lack of food outlets.
"With the growth of the population, all activities during Ramadan have grown - religious and otherwise. Ramadan used to be a quiet time. The main features were Iftar and Tarawih, and we had few distractions, and very few TV programmes. Today unfortunately, it's like a festival from beginning to the end of the month.
"There were also no combined Iftar parties like today. The breaking of the fast was a quiet, private affair. Although there seemed to be more piety among the expat communities 30 years back, various organisations have been creating more religious awareness lately. The number of mosques and religious activities have seen a rise in the past decade or so," he says.
20 years ago...
"One of the biggest changes in the past 20 years has been the rise in consumerism," says Lyla Mahmood, an Abu Dhabi-based homemaker.
"There were so few shopping malls, and they would be quite empty during Ramadan - unlike today. Now the bargains you get during Ramadan are amazing - not just on food but also with other household items. I am sure most of us end up spending much more than we did earlier during this month.
"From a point of view of a housewife, life is easier now. I would take much longer to make Iftar when I first came here because everything had to be made from scratch.
"For instance, making a puff pastry would involve rolling out the dough and refrigerating it several times - a lengthy process, it took hours. Now it takes me just 20 minutes to lay it on the table," she says.
"There were few of us 20 years ago, so Iftars would always be a quiet affair with the few families getting together. Hosting and being hosted for Iftar would be done for a few days, unlike today when it goes on throughout the month."
10 years ago...
"Ramadan has grown in significance to the population - the proof of that is that more people are attending prayers - especially the night prayers Tarawih and Qiyam Al Ail. Ten years ago, the Qiyam prayers were not offered in mosques, but now there are many offering it. The crowd is so tremendous that some mosques extend the praying area up to the streets," says Taher Khalid, co-ordinator, New Muslim Centre, Sharjah.
"There has also been a proliferation of Islamic activities during Ramadan in the past few years, with more speakers, and a lot more da'wa efforts in malls and various locations. There has been marked activity during Ramadan in the media, particularly the electronic media and with business institutions, as they compete against each other.
"The TV, radio and the newspapers cover Ramadan more extensively now, and have more religious articles and programmes featured. I remember the time when the only Ramadan special English programme was a quiz on Ajman TV," he says.
"One of the most significant changes within the past has been the mushrooming of Ramadan tents all over town. I feel it's a very negative aspect because Ramadan is not a party, so Ramadan or Iftar parties are not consistent with the true meaning of this holy month.
"The concept of Ramadan is to exercise self-discipline, to refrain from expressing your physical desires. All the music and excessive consumption of food in these tents go against it. It's a complete conflict. Your fasting is null and void if you do haraam in the night. This is a month of lifestyle change - for the better and not the worse."
