Name: Mohammad Khalaf
Occupation: Export manager
Nationality: Lebanese
Age: 28
Emirate of residence: Dubai
In the UAE: For 3 years
“I have always thought of Ramadan as a month that is a blessing for people. It is a test of what you are supposed to do or be like, for the rest of your life. For instance, if you are fasting, Ramadan is a time when you would have to stop smoking for 15 hours. If you can stop smoking for so long, then why not quit the habit and become healthier?
The general atmosphere during Ramadan, too, is something most people aspire to have all year round. Families are often unable to gather for something as simple as dinner, in regular days, because everyone is so caught up in their daily routines. But iftar during the month is when everyone comes together, and I really like that tradition. As a companion of the Prophet [peace be upon him] said, if a person is not your brother in faith, he is your brother in humanity. This month teaches us that it is our deeds that count, not superficial things like the colour of our skin. I like how both non-Muslims and Muslims spend iftar together here, it really captures the spirit of Ramadan.
As someone who is really focused on sports and fitness, I feel that Ramadan shouldn’t be used as an excuse to stop being active. I feel you have to better yourself in the month, and that includes health. My colleagues and I take part in a football tournament once a week, and I also play the sport with my friends. I try to go to the gym before iftar, and play football after – it is part of my Ramadan routine, so I don’t find it difficult at all.
I spent seven years in Canada before returning to the UAE, and during my first year there, the most I felt homesick was during the month of Ramadan. I missed home, the traditions and food. The atmosphere in the UAE is so different from anywhere else during this month. I used to live in Ottawa, where there was a small Muslim community, and finding halal food was difficult. We don’t have such issues here, and we often take this comfort for granted.
During Christmas in Canada, my friends and I would gather for the occasion and I would be a part of the celebrations. But I feel Ramadan is like a celebration that lasts for a month. There’s nothing else like it.”
