Ramadhan 2006 started a day earlier in Qatar

By Lena Liew

DOHA (Qatar), Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysian muslims in the Gulf Cooperation countries of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman started fasting a day earlier than Malaysians on Sunday.

In Qatar, the Ministry of Waqaf (Endowments) and Islamic Affairs Moon- Sighting Committee announced on Friday night that Saturday would be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

Many who expected Ramadan to start on Sunday were caught by surprise when the mosques started broadcasting special prayers around 7.35pm.

When contacted, Malaysian Ambassador to Qatar Datuk Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari expressed surprise.

"Oh my God...I haven't prepared anything... I was expecting (Ramadan to start) on Sunday," he said.

Zanariyah Alias, wife of the Malaysian Embassy Head of Chancery, Zahairi Baharim, said as Friday and Saturday was the weekend break here, the embassy staff were just recovering from an extraordinarily hectic week.

"We stayed home all day today...so tired from organising last night's Merdeka reception for the diplomatic corps and Qatari government officials, and the events earlier in the week," she told Bernama.

Aside from the three-day visit of Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said and her delegation earlier in the week, there was also the Malaysian Golfers of Qatar's inaugural "Merdeka Open Tournament" on Wednesday.

"Actually, since my husband's last posting in Kuwait, we have been starting the fasting month one day earlier than the Muslims in Malaysia," she said.

"Ramadan starting a day earlier than expected is okay because we can have a simple Sahur (pre-dawn meal) of toast and still have the day-time on the first day of Ramadan to go shopping for essentials to prepare for the first Iftar (breaking fast) in the evening," she said.

"On the other hand, if it was the Eid (Hari Raya Aidilfitri) that was announced early, then it's a mad scramble to prepare various dishes to serve family, relatives and friends who come visiting the next morning," said the mother of three young boys.

If it is any indication, the Qatari Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing announced on Sept 9 that Oct 19 (Thursday) will be the last day of working "Ramadan hours" here and Eid-al-Fitr (Hari Raya Aidilfitri) holidays will be from Oct 20 to 29.

By law, working hours are reduced from eight to five hours for the public sector and six hours for the private sector each day during Ramadan. Employees whose jobs require them to work more than the stipulated hours will be paid over-time.

Nevertheless, hypermarkets open extended hours till 1am to 2am daily to cater to shoppers carting away trolley-load of food and household items.

Cannon booms from several locations around Doha signal the start and end of fasting each day.

Eating, drinking and smoking in public are banned and restaurants and coffee shops remain close during lunch-time. They open for the people to buy buka puasa food, close for Maghrib (sunset prayers) and stay open till past midnight.

Unlike in Malaysia, where Ramadan is generally a time to lose weight, people here tend to put on weight from the extra feasting and sweet desserts at night.

Restaurants are packed for Iftar buffets and places need to be reserved in advance.

Meanwhile, hotels and resorts set up Ramadan tents which open after Isyak prayers till to 2am to 3am serving special Ramadan delicacies and "Shishas" (hookah/hubbly-bubbly smoking) to cater to the local practice of holding family and social gatherings to while away the time till Sahur.

Notwithstanding the excesses of a leisure-loving culture, Ramadan in Qatar is a much more religious affair than in Malaysia.

Local Arabs are particularly charitable throughout the fasting month as they donate generously to charitable organisations and sponsor daily Iftar feasts outside mosques for the underpriviledged -- mostly low-income foreign workers.

Muslims throng mosques for prayers after nightfall -- the women fully-covered in loosely flowing white-coloured prayer garb -- and sermons are broadcast over loudspeakers throughout the vicinity. Recorded recitation of religious verses is played throughout the day and night in some premises.

In the absence of the ambassador's wife, who is chairperson of the embassy's PERWAKILAN (Foreign Ministry Women's Association), Zanariyah is heading the organising of the embassy's weekly Pasar Ramadan (Ramadan bazaar) this year.

"So far, 11 Malaysian women have signed up to set up stalls selling nasi kerabu, nasi minyak, laksa, mee jawa, various cakes and delicacies," she said.

She hoped more traders would join in to meet the anticipated demand going by the good response to the inaugural Pasar Ramadan last year.

-- BERNAMA