Back in the mid-1980s, when my waist was several sizes smaller than it is now, I would greet each iftar with such reckless abandon that I would invariably make myself feel ill for a few hours. Or, like the time I devoured a roasted chicken on my own, for a few days.
It is a lesson I would like to say I have learned with the passing years, but sadly cannot. I am not alone. Year after year we tear into our iftar feasts before the last of the prayer calls has even faded. Overeating has been a Ramadan tradition for as long as I can remember.
What has exacerbated the situation over the last two decades is the extent to which hotels, restaurants and cafes have commercialised the holy months, with extravagant five-star buffets replacing intimate family meals. That's before we even get to the ubiquitous money-spinning Ramadan tents.
Overindulgence and excess when breaking your fast are not, and never were, what Ramadan is about. While swank hotels might offer endless choices in their stunning spreads, they come at a hefty price financially and physically. Most charge well over Dh100, almost compelling customers to greedily gobble up more food than their stomachs can handle.
Ramadan is intended as a time of peaceful contemplation and of empathy with those less fortunate than us. The only contemplation you'll see at one of those expensive buffets is for those excruciating last few minutes before the iftar prayers. Any empathy on view is, as far as I can see, reserved for a cackle of gluttonous hyenas feasting on their prey.
Furthermore, what of the uneaten food and desserts? I would like to think that none of it goes to waste and that it is saved and donated to the poor, but that seems highly unlikely.
It was not always like that. Back in those early years, iftar was mostly a family meal. While you would get invitations from friends and relatives, they were still relatively modest affairs and no leftover food was ever discarded at the end of any meal. Now iftar is seen by many as an excuse for gluttonous feasts that are as removed from the spirit of Ramadan as is possible.
Then there are those Ramadan tents. Some charge up to Dh200 for entry alone and then demand a minimum amount be spent for the privilege of playing a game of cards and having a cup of tea or a shisha.
In the meantime, it is precisely the less fortunate people we are meant to have empathy for who are the ones who observe Ramadan the way it was intended, with a small meal, prayers and hard work. No overindulgence, no slacking off work early and no mindless driving (unless you're a taxi driver, of course, but that has nothing to do with Ramadan).
The Persian poet Saadi, who experienced his fair share of hardship, said: "He who is a slave to his stomach seldom worships God." These wise words are worth remembering the next time we impatiently watch the clock tick down towards iftar prayers.
And never, ever attempt to finish off a chicken by yourself.
akhaled@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
More from our neighbourhood series:
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine 2.4L four-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The%20specs
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.