In the Emirates, customs and traditions begin in the month of Ramadan in the Emirates before it comes, that is, during the month of Sha’ban. On the eve of the fifteenth day of the month of Sha’ban, which is called “Haq al-Laila,” the Emirati child wears his best clothes and goes from one house to another, singing and reciting poems. The neighbors are waiting for them with sweets and nuts, which the children collect in a bag made of special fabric embroidered with traditional shapes.
There are two main meals in Ramadan: Suhoor and Iftar. Suhoor is the morning meal that precedes the fast, and the meal that ends the fast is called the iftar meal. The fasting person breaks his fast by eating dates and drinking water and milk, following the example of the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), who used to break his fast by eating dates and milk..
On the first day of Ramadan, the family gathers at the family home to break the fast, usually at the grandfather’s house. In the UAE, and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in general, dates are desert bread and the most famous food item that goes into the preparation of various types of Emirati sweets and pastries in the month of Ramadan, such as pinch, which is small pieces of bread mixed with dates and cardamom. The tables of Emirati families during the holy month are not devoid of other well-known dishes, such as harees and porridge.
The Ramadan cannon in the UAE is one of the most important traditions of the holy month. The sound of the cannonade can be heard about 8-10 kilometers away. Al Midfa serves as an alert for the daily iftar and imsak times, and operates in various areas across the country. This tradition has been repeated since the nineteenth century during the period of the late founding father, God willing, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
This tradition is of particular importance to children in the UAE, as the sound of the “big bang” means fun and excitement for them, apart from sweets and other meals, and special activities prepared for them.. A member of the army carries out this tradition while taking safety precautions.
An adult Muslim who is able is required to fast every day during the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk. A patient or a pregnant woman is exempted from fasting if fasting poses a threat to health. It is permissible for the traveler to break the fast during the trip and to fast what he broke after the month of Ramadan. A young immature person is not required to fast, but if he can do it without hardship, he is encouraged to do so. In addition to refraining from eating, drinking, or smoking, a Muslim must display good morals and look above the small ones.
In addition to the usual five daily prayers, Muslim men and women perform Tarawih prayers daily after the evening prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. During the last ten days of Ramadan, some Muslims spend the entire night in mosques, praying and reciting the Holy Qur’an, all hoping and hoping that God will inform them of the “Night of Decree,” the night in which the Qur’an was revealed for the first time..
Muslims fast the entire month of Ramadan, which is the fourth pillar of Islam, nourishes the soul and purifies the soul from impurities. Ramadan is also a time for self-discipline, sacrifice, empathy, generosity and benevolence towards those less fortunate.
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