Ramadan is a month of worship, no doubt, but it is also a month in which many businesses try to make their presence felt, by offering special discounts and deals. The month also witnesses night prayers and family gatherings throughout the country. This year Ramadan is expected to be on May 16th subject to sighting of the moon … reports Asian Lite News.
Ramadan is a season of worship for millions of Muslims worldwide. As the season approaches, the busy life in Dubai will slow down and offices will allow their employees to leave early from work. It might seem that the mood has become quiet, however it is not the case. Families across UAE will invite their friends and relatives to break their fast together, this means that restaurants and supermarkets across UAE will see a lot of shopping during Ramadan.
Most businesses in UAE offer special discounts to attract customers during this season. Flyers and advertisements announcing offers for Ramadan, is seen throughout the country. Retail giants such as Lulu and Carrefour are among many who have offered special deals for products during Ramadan. Auto mobile giants have also followed suit in offering its customers special offers.
Apart from the shopping, most mosques in the country would be providing free food for people to break their fast. This is a great relief for blue collar workers and labourers who do not have their families here. Some residents will offer free food to the general public during Ramadan. Corporate offices will also host iftar parties for their employees. Families residing in the UAE will take this opportunity to socialise with relatives and friends. In short, there will be a lot of food on the table.
Most of the prayers during Ramadan are offered at night. Special night prayers during the Ramadan are called ‘Taraweeh’ and are often offered in the range of 11 to 23 rakahs (cycles of movement involved in Islamic prayer). In short the higher number of rakahs means the longer the prayer. The imam or leader of the prayers will decide the number of rakahs.
The timings for fasting during Ramadan will be in general between 4.00 am to 7.00 pm, which means nearly 13 hours of fasting. After breaking of the fast the ‘Taraweeh’ prayers would start around 8.45 pm. The times may vary as it is calculated based on sunset and sunrise times of the place where you stay.
A study carried out by scientists at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre has revealed that fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan has no significant impact on the resting metabolic rate or total energy expenditure. The study further states that reported weight changes during Ramadan as indicated by other studies could be due to variations in food intake.