What is Ramadan Kareem?

So what is Ramadan Kareem?  Here is the crash course!

• During the ninth month of Islamic calendar, lasting 29-30 days. 
• It is the Islamic month of fasting, when participating Muslims do not eat, drink or smoke during daylight.
• It is to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God, or to Allah. 
• Ramadan dates change and move backwards by about eleven days depending on the moon. By the time a Muslim is 34 they will have fasted at least once for every day in the calendar year. 
• Muslims believe that this month is for revelations of God to mankind, being the month the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. 
• The goal is for everyone to slow down, reflect and evaluate our choices. As expats, we recognize and respect their culture and refrain from eating, drinking and smoking.  Side note:  what a great world it is, at least during daylight to see NO ONE smoking!

• Iftar ...at sunset, after a day of fasting, Muslims join together to feast.  The meal starts with three dates.

• Dates are a huge part of Abu Dhabi, they are everywhere.  I never had a date before I came here and I prefer, natural, it takes like maple syrup.  At dinners dates are brought and there is a large selection of flavors, chocolate dipped being very popular. 

• Muslims are called to prayer five times in a day, the fourth time is during Iftar. 

• Today Iftar has evolved into banquets at restaurants, hotels and mosques.  As an expat it is a dinner option at restaurants. 

 Ramadan is evident in the city with all the decorations.  Lanterns are hung and displayed everywhere.  It is an old tradition when an ancient ruler was greeted to the city, the people held lanterns and now the tradition continues. At sunset, in our hotel the lanterns are all lit. 

On the sides of every street are decorations, equivalent to our christmas decorations. Crescent moons and signs that say "Ramadan Kareem" in english and arabic.  They are all in blue and white.  It is really beautiful at night time. 

Ramadan Kareem sign in arabic along the road.  It is amazing to see the devotion to their faith and following the fasting can only make one appreciate their goal to slow down and reflect on their choices and how they can make the world, their world a better place. 


Three Words:  Just love observing!