Ramadan, also known as Ramadan in China, is of great significance to Muslims, and its significance as Eid al Fitr is equivalent to the Chinese New Year. The month of Ramadan in 2024 starts around March 12th (Tuesday) and lasts for a month, with Eid al Fitr celebrated around April 9th.
Why is it "approximately"? One reason is that Ramadan is recorded using the Islamic calendar, so the Gregorian date of Ramadan is uncertain every year; The second reason is that the beginning and end of Ramadan are determined by the lunar phase, starting with the new moon and ending with it. Therefore, many festival posters of Ramadan use a new moon as a symbol. Usually, the observatory notifies the specific time of Ramadan a few days in advance each year, and then the government announces the official arrival of Ramadan.
Simply put, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and for Muslims, it is the most auspicious and noble month of the year. According to religious regulations, Muslims practice one of the five commandments of fasting during that month. You can find a lot of knowledge about Ramadan online. I won't explain it further here.
As you can see, the month of Ramadan is advancing every year compared to previous years. This is because the calculation methods of the Islamic calendar and the Gregorian calendar are different. Many Dubai people once thought that Ramadan would only occur in the summer, but in fact, Ramadan may occur in any season. Dubai people are also expected to welcome Ramadan in the most comfortable winter, but it will take time.
During Ramadan, there is a requirement for fasting, and many non Muslims in Dubai are most impressed by this. Friends who are not familiar with it often misunderstand this and cause tension. Firstly, the viewpoint of "fasting during Ramadan" is not entirely correct. In the United Arab Emirates, which is known for its inclusiveness, the correct understanding is that "during Ramadan, eating and drinking in public places is not allowed before the start of the month". The time of fasting varies slightly every day, around 6pm to 7pm in the evening. Devout Muslims will truly refrain from eating anything or drinking water before fasting, and Ramadan has no fasting requirements for non Muslims. Not eating in public places is a respect for local customs.
The reason why non Muslims do not need to be nervous is that you only need to avoid eating in public places, especially avoiding eating in front of Muslims. Non Muslims are allowed to eat and drink in their own homes or private places. For example, many companies with multinational employees will transform a private space into a non Muslim dining area during Ramadan. In addition, pregnant women, patients, the elderly, and young children are allowed to eat and drink even in public places.
Tsuen Wan,HONG KONG
