The I couple says that they look at Ramadan also as an ideal time to inculcate moral values in the kids.
Abu Dhabi - Like scores of people who use the holy month as an opportunity to kick bad habits like smoking, they also encourage children to seek new beginnings.
Published: Sat 27 May 2017, 8:10 PM
Last updated: Sat 27 May 2017, 10:17 PM
The Holy month of Ramadan is the time of fasting, prayers and doing charitable deeds. So turning a deaf ear to the shrill noise of consumerism, is important to focus on the spirit of piety and absolute devotion, says Ismath Fatima, an Indian housewife from Abu Dhabi.
"Ramadan is not about food and feasting. It is a Holy month for fasting and prayers. Though our children are not old enough to fast, we try to make them understand the spiritual importance of fasting," Fatima, told Khaleej Times. Her husband Khaja Niazuddin, 40, a pipeline engineer, shares the same view. "Kids will emulate what we do. If we are wallowing in materialism, we are giving out the wrong message. I don't want them to think that Ramadan is all about shopping, spending money and having fun."
The couple from Hyderabad have three children - Mohammed Ismail, 8, Adeeba Fatima, 6 and Mohammed Abrar. The Indian couple says they look at Ramadan also as an ideal time to inculcate moral values in the kids. "It is a family ritual for us to sit down and talk to our kids about Zakat and why Muslims have to compulsorily donate two per cent of their wealth to the poor," said Fatima.
Like scores of people who use the holy month as an opportunity to kick bad habits like smoking, Fatima said, they also encourage children to seek new beginnings. "We ask our children to take a pledge that they will not lie, that they will always respect their parents and put in more hard work into their studies."
The couple who moved to the UAE from Hyderabad in 2006 find observing the Holy Month much easier in their host country. "Back in India, Ramadan is just like any other month of the year. You work the normal hours and your colleagues or friends will be eating around you. You have to gain extra strength from your faith to resist temptations. But in the UAE, as everyone - both Muslim and non-Muslims -must observe Ramadan etiquettes that include abstaining from eating in public, fasting is easier," said Niazuddin.
"In the UAE, another advantage is you get extra two hours in the evening to prepare for Iftar. Those who are working can also be home and take some rest before breaking fast," said Fatima.
The couple say the scorching summer sun in the UAE is not a big challenge to their endurance levels. "It (summer) may seem quiet threatening. But it is not a big problem when you are working indoors. You are sitting in air-conditioned rooms and the weather does not affect you. The only challenge is the long hours of fasting when Ramadan falls in the summer months, like this year," said Niazuddin.
Fatima takes that into account when she prepares food for Iftar and Suhoor. "We mostly have the same kind of Iftar meal we used to have in India. There are plenty of fruits and juices on the table to keep the body hydrated. Laban is also one of our must-haves during Iftar."
After the ritual breaking of the fast with dates and water, one of the main dishes on the table is Harees, an Arabic dish made with ground wheat or lentil mixed with meat. "Harees is followed by Dahi Vada (deep-fried dumplings soaked in yoghurt) and Chole (chickpeas) and forms of chaat (a variety of savoury snack)."
"For Suhoor, I prefer to have food rich in carbohydrates like rice, rotis, banana, mutton curry, and lot of vegetables."
When you have such-mouthwatering food on the table in the evenings, family get-togethers are also a given. "I have three siblings and all of them are in the UAE. My husband has a few cousins here too. During Ramadan, all of them will visit us and we spend quality time together," said Fatima.
There are no dearth of friends too. "That is the best part of living in the UAE. We have lots of friends from different cultural backgrounds. That gives us the opportunity to learn new traditions, and of course, new Iftar dishes."
But the culmination of Ramadan and Eid Ul Fitr is always with the family in India. "That is a must. Our parents are in India, and we make it a point to join them for Eid celebrations every year. That is the family vacation all of us look forward to the most. There are so many relatives and old friends, there is no bigger celebration than joining your family back home," said Fatima.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com
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