This is the Ramadan that we have been waiting for, although we may not know it, and we may not yet feel it. Our first instinct – in spite of all the how-to guides, motivational speeches and social media posts that inspire us to ‘rediscover’ the true meaning of Ramadan – is to feel worried and anxious about how we will ‘do’ Ramadan.
The anchors of shared gatherings and communal worship are no longer available during lockdown. And no matter how strong our desire to cling onto the cultural and social traditions of this annual event, we must resist them, following both scientific and religious advice to stay at home to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our societies at large. After all, there is an adage within Islam: if we have saved one life, it is as though we have saved the whole of humanity.
More from Shelina Janmohamed
It is no wonder that we feel a sense of loss. Without the togetherness of shared meals, socialisation and spiritual congregation, we feel cast adrift at a time that has rituals, traditions and customs stretching back into our collective memories. Sometimes it’s not even the actions that carry the most weight, but the feelings: the excitement as the table is laid for iftar, the fatigue in the late afternoon, our mouths watering as we read recipes in the day, the energy as we browse late-night Ramadan markets, the love of gathering with friends, the fulfilment of giving to charity and the spiritual burst as we gather in mosques.
Technology is being brought into play; Zoom iftars will certainly be a mainstay of this year’s Ramadan. Video conference suhoors will likely be added – perhaps even as a bonus in parts of the earth where the shortness of the night makes it otherwise difficult to gather for the pre-dawn meal. There will be no shortage of live-streamed sermons, study circles and Qur’an recitations. The ease of access may, in fact, allow people to experience new perspectives from communities, teachers and mosques they otherwise would not attend, and that would be of great benefit. Undoubtedly we will need to keep in mind those who do not have these blessings of internet access and technological benefits. For them, we must spare a thought and give charitably where possible.
Of course, some Ramadan behaviours will remain, as they rightly should. People will still drop iftar meals to their neighbours and families – while maintaining social distancing. The levels of charity work and donations will also rise as they always do in Ramadan. Iftar packages will be delivered to those in need, and funds will be raised and distributed to families who need support. If anything, these must be higher on our agenda than ever, financially and – for those who have the capacity, health and safety to it in person safely and within legal guidelines – physically.
Despite these alternative arrangements, the sense of loss will still be strong; but to dwell on it and feel as though we are being deprived from a 'real Ramadan' would be a paradox, and one we must confront.
Ramadan is precisely about loss, and always has been. This includes a loss of normality, loss of food and even a loss of self. There's no need to struggle to reinvent it. Instead, we should accept the deprivation.
Ramadan has always been about stripping back the physical to the spiritual, considering others before ourselves and pushing ourselves to our limits.
Now, experiencing our own sense of loss, we must confront the advice we too easily dispense to others, and the explanations we trot out for why we fast. We speak about experiencing the difficulties of those who have less. Sadly, many of us will certainly have less this year, less access to food, more conscientiousness about avoiding waste, less jobs and less income.
Our loss will include freedom and togetherness – but these are already unavailable to many during Ramadan. Those who are disabled, or already live in isolation for health or financial or social reasons, have always lived this way. I, for one, feel a sense of shame at having only just now opened my own eyes to it.
Ramadan is precisely about loss, and always has been
In many corners of the Islamic community, some women have long raised the fact that they yearn for time for spirituality away from duties and childcare, or in communal gatherings. Some spouses of women in these circumstances say to them that staying at home to cook all day and care for children all night is a form of worship that is rewarded. Perhaps this year, their eyes will be opened to what the loss of communal prayer experiences really means, and how it affects women and all those unable to take part. Perhaps this is the year when responsibilities that primarily fall on women’s shoulders and which do not pause during Ramadan, will be shared by men at last.
This year’s Ramadan is a chance to embrace loss. After all, fasting is but deprivation in service of a greater goal. This year’s Ramadan is not less Ramadan. It is more Ramadan.
Shelina Janmohamed is the author of Love in a Headscarf and Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Kathmandu.%20Fares%20with%20Air%20Arabia%20and%20flydubai%20start%20at%20Dh1%2C265.%3Cbr%3EIn%20Kathmandu%2C%20rooms%20at%20the%20Oasis%20Kathmandu%20Hotel%20start%20at%20Dh195%20and%20Dh120%20at%20Hotel%20Ganesh%20Himal.%3Cbr%3EThird%20Rock%20Adventures%20offers%20professionally%20run%20group%20and%20individual%20treks%20and%20tours%20using%20highly%20experienced%20guides%20throughout%20Nepal%2C%20Bhutan%20and%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20Himalayas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20and%203.6-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20235hp%20and%20310hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E258Nm%20and%20271Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh185%2C100%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Bio
Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind.
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
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
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
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%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20will%20host%20Scotland%20for%20a%20three-match%20T20I%20series%20at%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Stadium%20next%20month.%3Cbr%3EThe%20two%20sides%20will%20start%20their%20Cricket%20World%20Cup%20League%202%20campaigns%20with%20a%20tri-series%20also%20involving%20Canada%2C%20starting%20on%20January%2029.%3Cbr%3EThat%20series%20will%20be%20followed%20by%20a%20bilateral%20T20%20series%20on%20March%2011%2C%2013%20and%2014.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
