[ad_1]
Dubai: Ramadan is a spiritual month symbolizing dedication, reflection and discipline. This is a sacred month for everyone to slow down, reflect on the past year and elevate their spiritual journey.
Due to the diverse cultural backgrounds in the UAE, Ramadan transcends nationality and creed in many ways.
Expats living in the UAE say Ramadan is also an important month for them as they stand in solidarity with their Muslim friends and fast throughout the month.
Dutch student Jayden Vermeulen, 16, is in grade 10 and this is his fourth year of fasting. “I’m looking forward to this. Many of my friends are Muslim and I enjoy fasting with them. It’s my way of showing respect for the country I live in and the friends I make. But most importantly, fasting helps I slowed down and got a little more peace of mind.”
“I believe that if one can fast without breaking it, then our spirit is strong. It gives us the confidence to achieve everything we want.”
Vermeulen said he did find fasting difficult for the first two days. “But then I fell into a rhythm. It cleansed the body and I always feel better after Ramadan.”
Vermeulen fasted like other Muslims. He gets up at four o’clock in the morning to eat and drink water. “I went to bed after that because I wanted to keep my mind up while going to school.”
His mother wakes up with him to make breakfast. They do not fast with him, but fully respect what he does.
Gina Valbuena, a Filipino Christian who immigrated to Dubai and is active in the Diocese of Dubai, is fasting for Ramadan.
“I have lived in UAE since 2004. Since then, I have made many Muslim friends. They motivate me to keep fast.”
Salon and spa owner Valbuena said she had been working on a meal plan and that Ramadan had also helped her develop mental strength, patience and resistance.
“For Christians, Lent has come. We give up things we love so much. But this time I decided to keep fasting during Ramadan like Muslims.”
Secondary school teacher Zee Mashenge, 49, a British expatriate of Zimbabwean descent, also said the love he and his family received in the UAE inspired him to fast during Ramadan.
“We moved to the UAE from the UK in 2019. The welcome we received from our Muslim brothers and sisters was very warm and friendly. It made it easy for us to assimilate into a culture and religion that we didn’t fully understand. Since my second year in the UAE , I have decided to fast during Ramadan in solidarity with the Muslim community where I live and work.”
How the body adjusts itself
Mashenge added that fasting during Ramadan is a great way to get a good sense of how Muslims feel during the month-long fast.
“When I fasted for the first few days, it was hard for me to fast. Then my body started to feel so much lighter. My mind cleared up too. I like the challenge, I like to watch the whole month. It gives me time Read the Bible, pray and meditate.”
“At the end of Ramadan, not only do I feel like I’ve done something for myself, but I feel healthier, lighter and happier. It feels like a much-needed detox.”
Indian expatriate Anuradha Kamath, a lifestyle coach, says, “You can never fully understand something until you experience it yourself. Seven years ago I started fasting during Ramadan. do it.”
She said: “Ramadan is a month of complete detoxification of the body, mind and emotions. The key is mindfulness. Fasting during Ramadan is not only about restricting yourself from eating and drinking throughout the day, but it is also a way to be mindful of your thoughts, feelings and actions.” complete system.”
Kamath said Ramadan is a month for people to shed negativity. “This is the moment when a person enters a state of well-being and compassion for others. A world that observes Ramadan does not need a peace council. During this month, harmony and understanding between people is noticed.”
From giving in to the temptations of food, drink, vice, and affection, to personal willpower being exercised throughout the day and self-worth heightened, everything seemed possible and achievable, she said.
“People also feel a sense of fulfillment from being able to turn over a new leaf. I use Ramadan as a starting point to start making positive changes in my life and forming good habits. I also find the strength to forgive and forget throughout the month and provide Everyone around is praying.”
[ad_2]
Source link