Remembering family times, get-togethers and tales from back home

Dubai - Sherif Soliman recalls memories of Ramadan during his childhood in Egypt

Memories of big families gathering at Iftar tables, sharing stories and lessons about Ramadan; streets decked with decorations and dazzling lights at nights; friends and cousins enjoying a round of football before Adhan (call to prayer); and simple yet memorable gifts from parents.
These are the recollections of Egyptian expat and Dubai resident Sherif Soliman, 37, of his youth during the holy month of Ramadan at his home in Cairo.
"For us, like most Muslim households in Egypt, Ramadan is synonymous with big family gatherings," Soliman tells Khaleej Times. "Most time of the year, we are busy with our work, school or other things but during Ramadan, for 30 days, we break fast, pray and enjoy the valuable time we spend together, with each other."
The anticipation for Ramadan is high. Preparations start days before Ramadan when Soliman and his family would help their neighbours decorate the streets with lamps and lights. Soliman recalls the most meaningful memories during Ramadan were lively dinners with family members and gathering together for intimate prayers. "We go to the mosque as a large family and we do our Taraweeh prayers together," he shares.
"Our gatherings are big, but simple. What we do is we go from one house to another - at times, we go to my aunt's house, then to my uncle's house, then their families go to our house," he adds.
"We spend Ramadan by focusing on the spiritual aspects of our day-to-day lives. We break our fast at sunset and talk about the values and enrichment of fasting," he adds.
Life was a bit relaxed back then, Soliman recalls. "When I was young, my cousins and friends loved to watch special TV programmes during Ramadan. We loved the quiz and competition shows. We also loved watching TV shows on hidden camera pranks."
"Since we were young and full of energy, we also spent time playing a round of football in the afternoon before waiting for the Adhan (call for Asr or afternoon prayers). At Iftar time, we would help set-up the table. Meals consisted of typical homemade Eygptian dishes like ful medamas, Ta'meya, mashed fava beans; shawarma; and of course, kushari, the mixture of lentils, rice, pasta, and other ingredients. And us kids, we loved the sweets - kunafeh and baklava."
Now a father of three kids and a resident of Dubai for more than a decade, Soliman says the thing he definitely misses most is the big family reunion during the holy month. "Here (in Dubai), it's just me, my wife (Haydi) and three children (10-year-old daughter Haya; 7-year-old Talia; and 3-year old Omar)," Soliman says.
"But we try to keep the same Ramadan family spirit. Gradually, as they grow, we teach our kids how to fast. We wake them up everyday, before dawn, to eat something for Suhoor and drink plenty of water. We teach them proper eating habits during Ramadan. Moreover, this year will be the second time that my eldest daughter will do partial fasting," he adds.
Soliman concludes: "I miss observing Ramadan in Egypt but I also have meaningful experiences of Ramadan here in Dubai. That is because I celebrate it with my family and people who matter most to me, even if we are in another country."
angel@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Ramadan 2021