Our pick of Iftars to break your fast this Ramadan
As life slows down, and a flurry of activities mark all Muslim households during the month of Ramadan, Neha Mahamood takes a look at how the trends have changed over the years when it comes to Iftars and Suhours
The traditional
roots of Ramadan have held fast and strong. Families gathering together at the Iftar table, passing plates of dates and nuts along with Zamzam and juice are all part of a tradition. Giving thanks and praying together is as much a part of the Holy Month as is our spiritual journey. While starting the fast at Suhour and ending it, at Iftar, has been traditionally done by families at home, lately there has been a slight shift in culture. While the tradition still holds, more people are opting to have their Suhours and Iftars at hotels or restaurants these days.
With the explosion of social media and having to live a virtual life as much as a real one, the shift has been anything but gradual. There is a new obsession with wanting to do everything, see everything, taste everything, and Ramadan does not put an end to that in our region. Living in Dubai, where the city does not sleep, there is never a shortage of places to go to or to try out new things.
Back in the day (I say this as though I have decades of experience on me!) we used to sit as a family in our makeshift majlis in a cozy corner of the house and silently, but contentedly, sip on cool glasses of Zamzam and eat dates while contemplating all that has been given to us. Now, we spend half our day debating which fancy restaurant to end our fast at or whom to invite. If it isn’t going out to eat, then Iftar is delivered to us – ready to eat snacks and dishes prepared by a restaurant.
This is not to say we shouldn’t have our Iftars outside at all. But whatever has happened to those elaborate homemade snacks and delcious drinks? Surely you can’t buy a lemon mint refresher with chia seeds floating around! If you can, do please drop us a hint!
Social gatherings have become an important part of Ramadan now with trips to food joints and cafes for, or after, Iftar. Coming together previously was limited to just a few Iftars that we would get invited to. I remember during the break in the nightly Taraweeh prayers, families would bond that time. But nowadays, it’s either going to a restaurant, or shopping for Eid or browsing through malls.
Simple, but elegant
Suhours on the other hand, have always been sleep addled and rushed. Some of us are not accustomed to eating in the early hours, unless you happen to be among those who spend the night praying and reading verses from the Holy Quran and rest after the Fajr prayer.
A simple and elegant affair, the Suhour meal, takes us through hours of abstinence from food and drink.
Each family has their own traditions, their own quirky ways of making Suhours as well as Iftars fun and spiritual for all members. Here’s to another month of blessedness and making new traditions while upholding older rituals.