Ramadan through the eyes of a non-Muslim - Day 25

I continue to be in awe of the tremendous depths of charity being displayed by the UAE this holy month.

A few nights ago, I went with a few friends to eat at a hotel restaurant in Satwa. Once inside, I noticed something didn't feel quite right. At first, I couldn't place my finger on what it was, but after I few minutes I realised - there was no music playing, because it's the holy month of Ramadan.
Prior to that evening's outing, I had not realised that music is haraam (forbidden) in Islam and more so during the holy month of Ramadan. This puzzled me, so I decided to inquire with a few very well-read Muslim friends of mine, and received some interesting answers. One friend sent me a small part of the Holy Quran which reads: "And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it by way of mockery."
This, I'm told, can be interpreted during the holy month of Ramadan to mean that music - along with excess of food, liquid, obscene talk, slander etc - spoil one's fast and distracts believers from the introspective, soul-searching purpose of the holy month.
This, of course, makes sense, and is to be respected and followed by us non-Muslims. But what I fail to understand is why this aspect of the holy month is enforced while other things, such as serving alcoholic beverages in some restaurants, are not. As I've pointed out in previous diary entries, there are many parts of the holy month of Ramadan that should perhaps be better explained to the UAE's non-Muslim population. It is perfectly understandable that non-Muslims living in Muslim lands be told what they can or can't do. We have to respect the culture and none of us were forced to live here.
But educating non-Muslims as to the religious and cultural reasons of why certain things aren't permitted and others are would enhance our understanding of the UAE, the region, and, most importantly, of Islam.
On another note, I continue to be in awe of the tremendous depths of charity being displayed by the UAE this holy month. One recent event in particular struck me as an amazing display of goodwill. A few days ago, police in Ras Al Khaimah organised an Iftar meal for prison inmates and their families.
The event speaks incredibly highly of the level of charity displayed during the holy month, and shows that Muslims consider everyone - even people who have displayed poor judgement and decision-making in life - are to be spared a kind thought during the holy month.
bernd@khaleejtimes.com

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