'I lead my first Taraweeh at 15'

23-year-old Mohammed Al Hasan Khan speaks with Khaleej Times about his Ramadan experience.

I was born and raised in the UAE and I started fasting regularly, during the holy month of Ramadan, when I was around six or seven years old. I cleared the qualifying exam to become an Imam at the age of 15 and have pursued the profession (of being an Imam) since then. In fact, I lead my first Taraweeh prayers (special night prayers during Ramadan) when I was 15. This is my ninth consecutive year of leading these prayers during Ramadan.
The greatest achievement of my life happened during the holy month of Ramadan. It is not less than a miracle that Allah helps me recite all the 30 Juz (parts) of the Holy Quran while leading the Taraweeh prayers during this precious month. Since it is a big responsibility I shoulder (of leading a huge congregation during Taraweeh), most of my preparation for ushering in Ramadan starts half a month before it begins. I try to revise the Holy Quran as much as possible so that it becomes easy for me to recite it in the Taraweeh prayers.
Although I am already an Imam, my Ramadan routine differs a bit from normal days. Normally, I wake up 20 minutes prior to morning prayers, but during Ramadan, we wake up nearly 40 minutes before the call of prayer (Azaan) for our predawn meal Suhoor.
After Suhoor, I go to the mosque to lead the morning (Fajr) prayers after which I spend some time revising the Holy Quran.
With the break of dawn, I leave for my internship programme at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, Dubai (IACAD) where I am assisting the head of the department of direction, supervision and guidance department.
My parents are very supportive and a constant motivational force behind me being able to balance my role as Imam as well as pursuing engineering. I recite the Holy Quran to my mother after coming back from the afternoon prayers and then rest for a while before again revising the portion, that I'd be reciting in the Taraweeh prayers (one and a half Juz everyday), to my father. I have one elder sister and two younger brothers and all of us have memorised the complete Quran. Since Ramadan is the month of the Quran (when the Holy Quran was revealed), I spend most of my time reciting it, from dusk to midnight. Moreover, half of the time that I spend with my family is with the Glorious Quran. The morning hours are spent at work. And the rest for sleep
It is a misconception that fasting is hard during summers or impacts the work adversely. In this blessed country, UAE, they have given everyone the privilege of reduced working hours so in fact lesser working hours makes one perform better in shorter time interval. Imagine doing the same amount of work that one does in normal days being done 2 hours in advance. On the contrary, if you notice during Ramadan our work efficiency increases.
Every aspect of this holy month is unique. Take, for example, the Iftar time. It is such an excellent way to bond with family and community members when we sit together and open our fast. I feel that fasting in Ramadan brings out the best in us as we learn to control ourselves and train ourselves to do good as it increases our level of piety and righteousness.
The atmosphere of the country is just so beautiful especially during this holy month with the government bringing in famous Islamic scholars, whom we've heard since childhood, letting us listen to their tuneful recitations live during Taraweeh prayers. Also the various Holy Quran competitions throughout the holy month add to the celebration of this holy month.
My most memorable Ramadan was of 2014, when I, along with my family, were following one such Holy Quran competition on TV. That very year Ntv (national television channel of Bangladesh) went international and held the auditions for Bangladeshi residents residing in the UAE. I participated in it, and came first in the auditions. Then I travelled to Bangladesh for the finals. This competition was recorded and broadcast during Ramadan. When I saw the whole programme with my family, the happiness and joy I experienced was priceless.
(As told to Saman Haziq)

• Ramadan News