Ramadan in UAE: Easier to fast on land than at sea, say seafarers – News

Coping with the rough seas and emergencies that can arise while sailing makes fulfilling the obligations of the holy month challenging but rewarding

Away from their families and spending weeks and months at the mercy of the sea, a seafarer’s life is not as normal as that of someone working ashore.

This is especially true during the holy month of Ramadan, a day that seafarers in the UAE say is easier to fast on land than at sea.

“You can sit on land and enjoy the food and drink of your choice. But at sea, you don’t have as many options,” said Mohamed Elbahlawan, who has been sailing for more than 30 years. Anything to do with eating and drinking is more difficult when the ship is at sea, he added – and “a person has to hold the glasses and plates you eat and drink from because the containers are unstable”.

The Egyptian national has lived in the UAE for more than 20 years and spent Ramadan at sea several times. “I spent about five Ramadans at sea and one Ramadan at home,” he explained.

On several occasions he had to break his fast due to bad weather during the voyage. “When the sea is rough, people usually don’t eat. But I ate during Suhoor time and then I started throwing up; therefore, I had to break my fast,” Elbahlawan told harrij times During the interview, he also shared the challenges that seafarers face during the journey.

The Egyptian national has worked with the Dubai-based Mubarak Marines for almost 23 years and said the colleagues he works with are his extended family.

“There have always been people of different nationalities and religions working on board, but we sail without religion, without nationality. Humanity comes first. We share iftar with all people from different religions, cultures and countries. Our Christian and Hindu colleagues also respect Ramadan, when sailing during Ramadan, don’t eat or smoke in front of us. Interestingly, it’s mainly our non-Muslim colleagues who prepare iftar for our fasting Muslims on board,” said Elbahlawan.

Indian national Imran Shaukat Badiwale echoed his Egyptian colleague, saying fasting on shore is definitely easier than fasting at sea. “You don’t have a proper time to pray and then offering the ‘salah’ in the ‘Jamaah’ (congregation) is a challenge because other colleagues may not be there at the time of prayer.”

Badiwale, who has spent more than half his life in the field, is used to rough weather at sea, but says it can be more challenging for newbies.

Lieutenant Khalifa Aref Ali Alabbar is an Emirati and a veteran of the shipping industry who has also worked in the Coast Guard.

“Waiting to break the fast with all the colleagues on the boat was an amazing feeling and a really nice experience. So one guy sent out Azan’s call and he broke the fast and two minutes later we all broke the fast. So sitting down and eating together It was a magical moment,” said Alabbar, who also works for Mubarak Marine, which employs more than 1,000 people across various verticals.

Alabbar likes fasting because it makes him more active. “I fast even after Ramadan to discipline and challenge myself.”

Mohammad Ahmed Shahragard, an Iranian national and an operational duty officer whose work involves emergency response, routinely broke his fast while performing his duties.

“Whenever there is an urgent call during iftar, we set a date and fix the problem quickly,” he said.