Dear Ali: I'm enjoying my first Ramadan in the Emirates. I want to know the age at which a child starts praying? And from what age is a child obligated to fast? DR, Abu Dhabi
Dear DR: Whether you are in the Emirates or elsewhere in the world, Muslims in general would consider the age of accountability – or as it's known in Arabic "Takleef" – to be when someone reaches puberty.
In the Hadeeth, the Prophet’s teaching lessons or Sunnah, we have a Hadeeth which instructs us to train our children from an early age, so they may learn and grow with these teachings and adopt it easily as they get older. For that reason, we start training our children at the age of 7 and then by the age of 10 it should be taken seriously. The age of puberty is the age of accountability and the age by which they should be fasting and praying. Parents are responsible for educating and training their children, and they should encourage their children to fast from an early age until the time they are considered accountable. Then the children may undertake the fast on their own desire as they grow up.
Dear Ali: My fiancé and I are relocating to the UAE soon as we have new jobs, but we are wondering if we should relocate during Ramadan as we start our jobs right after Eid. Some say it's not a good time to visit the region. What do you advise? YV, Canada
Dear YV: Welcome to the UAE, you have chosen the best period. Summer is perfect so you can get the "heat shock" out of the way. In terms of relocating here during Ramadan, I can relate to some of the challenges that our expat friends could face as they arrive here for the first time.
The UAE is a modern country with government and semi-government organisations that serve everyone’s needs. From municipality to electrical and water authorities to telecommunication companies, all of these entities will be at your service – face-to-face or through an application on your phone to serve your needs; however, the shorter working hours could slow the process of these applications, and this is why some people prefer not to do a lot of business meetings or apply for new things during this period.
Some might complain there is less concentration due to the lack of daytime sustenance even though we are encouraged not to feel lazy or tired and continue to work as hard as a normal day. Also, the general shops in the cities will be closed, which could make resettling more difficult, and the emptiness of the streets between sunrise and sundown can be an intimidating first impression.
If you can take your time to do all of the necessary things for your accommodation and so on, then I would definitely say relocate now. Come and enjoy the spirit of Ramadan which is definitely worth experiencing. Let it be your first impression of the region.
Once you are able to adjust to Ramadan, you will realise just how amazing this time is. It is the period when most of my expat friends get the chance to sit and have a meal with Emiratis and Arabs since everyone can gather at iftar and break the fast together.
Restaurants offer great value iftar buffets and hotels have programmes offering everything from cuisine to entertainment. The retail shops also offer great discounts. Food and shopping – you can’t go wrong. Take your time and think about what fits you best, but know for sure that the UAE welcomes you at any time with a big, warm smile.
Ali Al Saloom is a cultural adviser and public speaker from the UAE. Follow @AskAli on Twitter, and visit www.ask-ali.com to ask a question