Tomorrow, April 12, the UAE will step into the last part of the holy month of Ramadan. This final period is sacred for all Muslims as they believe that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Mohammed on the last 10 nights of Ramadan. This night is called Laylat Al Qadr ( night of power).
Though the exact date of the first revelation is unspecified, Muslims are told to look for it on an odd night of the last 10 days of the holy month. This means that the sacred night in Islam could fall on either of these nights of Ramadan 21, 23, 14, 27, 29.
Starting tonight, the UAE residents will see different changes, including increased fasting hours and additional prayers, apart from other things. Hence, here is how things will change during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
1. Fasting hours will increase to the maximum.
The fasting hours on the first day of the holy month were 13 hours and 43 minutes, which will now increase to more than 14 hours. The fasting period of Ramadan 21 is 14 hours and 21 minutes.
2. Special Prayers
Mosques nationwide will not have special late-night Ramadan prayers called Qiyam-ul- layl. Qiyam means to stand, and ‘ ul- Layla means the night. Therefore, it means standing in the night. Muslims can offer these prayers at home or in mosques to spend a part of the night worshiping Allah.
3. Spiritual Retreat
Many Muslims will retreat to mosques, an area within their homes, to dedicate their time solely to Allah. This practice is called I’ i’tikaf.
4. More time in prayers
Non Muslims will observe that their Muslim colleagues spend more time in prayers. Even in offices, they will be seen reciting and chanting duas and Quran verses.
5. Eid Shopping
Shopping malls, markets, and streets will be crowded over the last 10 days as Muslims will rush to buy new clothes for Eid- Al Fitr- the Islamic festival observes after the end of Ramadan.
6. Busy season for tailors
This is a busy season for tailors as new clothes must be sewn and altered. Hence, tailors stop taking Eid bookings for a week due to high demand.
7. Demand for Henna services rise
Many women put henna on their hands before Eid. Even at the salons, service demand increases on the last two days of the holy month.
8. Eidiya
Giving Eidiya, which is giving gifts or money to children and loved ones, is a tradition in many countries, including the UAE.
9. Zakat – Al Fitr
Zakat Al Fitr is a charity for low-income people a few days before the holy month of Ramadan. The amount can be given from the first day of Ramadan till the morning of Eid Al Fitr, before the Eid prayer time.
10. Automated Charity
Many Muslims use apps and websites to automate their donations and spread them over the last 10 days of Ramadan. By doing this, they endure that they are giving charity on
