Suhoor
Suhoor is an essential part of fasting. In this time, observant Muslims eat healthy meals along with their family in the dawn. This allows them to keep a good health for the rest of the day during the fast. On weekdays, Suhoor is usually taken with the family, at home. You can also read the 12 best Ramadan healthy tips to keep yourself healthy while fasting.
However, during weekends, city dwellers head of to special establishments to charge before sunrise and the Fajr prayer. Suhoor has to be wholesome. This way, it provides enough energy for the fasting. The food must keep the consumer hydrated.
It is recommended that foods consumed during Iftar are rich in potassium and have enough fluids. Potassium gives instant energy and helps the consumer hydrate quickly. Iftar foods must include raw nuts and hydrating vegetables like cucumbers and lettuce.
On the other hand, it is better to avoid carbonated drinks, high-sugar foods and fried foods. All of these foods can lead to instant weight gain and can cause complexities if consumed on a daily basis.
The fast: Siyam
Mandatory for all Muslims, fasting is one of Islam’s five fundamental tenets. Infants, the insane and the invalid are exempted from fasting. At this moment, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This represents a form of spiritual cleansing, self-discipline and empathy for the less fortunate.
After the moon that ushers in Ramadan is sighted, Muslims are banned from eating, drinking and other worldly pleasures from dawn to dusk. Siyam or Saom, in Arabic, means ‘abstain from’ eating, drinking, smoking. During Siyam, Muslims must not allow anything to enter the body and must keep away from all vices.
It is important to remember that Ramadan is a period of reaping rewards and benefits and increasing spiritual connection. Siyam represents the path of pleasing Allah, the Almighty as it is an act of religious, cultural and ethical discipline among Muslims. God forgives everyone observing fast with a firm belief and complete self-control from sins.
Siyam helps the body rejuvenate and detoxify by removing toxins from the stomach and intestines. It also boosts the immune system. The intense summer heat along with a daily fasting period of around 15 hours help people adapt to the changes in eating habits. This daily routine affects different people in different ways.
Zakat
Muslims are not obliged to perform charity work during Ramadan, or at any time of the year. However, it is an extension of kindness to humanity. Charity is also known as Zakat. It is one of the pillars of Islam. Charity encourages sharing wealth with those in need.
It is a form of thanking Allah for bestowing believers with the ability to afford necessities and be financially stable in society.
To make the donation process easier, the UAE government is affiliated with certain charities and has even established some. These charities are transparent and show donators exactly where their funds go. Charity can be performed in many ways, from financially supporting families with food and first-aid in war-torn countries to donating clothes and providing children with education.
Solidarity and respect
The majority Muslims in the UAE fast during Ramadan. At the same time, they manage to go to work with the same dedication. Therefore, it is important to show respect to those fasting and avoid eating or drinking in public. Usually, non-Muslims know the fasting rules that must be respected by them during Ramadan.
Revelation
As part of the Islamic tradition, Muslims read one-thirtieth of the holy book each day of Ramadan. As a result, they finish reading the entire Quran by the end of the month.
Iftar
The sunset is also known as Maghrib. At this point, cannons are fired daily at sunset during Ramadan, notifying Muslims to break their fast. The Iftar is the meal that Muslims serve at the end of the day during Ramadan.
By using the cannons, Bedouins who did not live in the cities were announced about the Ramadan and the Iftar time. On a daily basis, tents provide Iftars with the authentic Arabian experience during Ramadan.