WITH the advent of the holy month of Ramadan in Qatar, people express their delight by putting up lanterns and decora-tions. Children play with

their toys in the streets; writers and journal-ists devote their writings to religious matters; preachers deliver speeches and sermons and the media presents TV programmes focusing on Islamic discourses and lectures.

During Ramadan, the working hours are reduced, which makes the streets, shopping malls, markets and entertainment centres quite crowded. Qatari women purchase and store special spices for this month, prepare milk and rice, and produce clarified butter from the milk of cows and sheep, which they distribute to their friends, family and neighbours.

Life in Qatar has two dimensions during the blessed month of Ramadan: The first is the life of the foreign residents, as Qatar lodges millions of people from various Arab and Muslim countries. These residents try to repli-cate the distinctive customs and traditions of their homeland in the month of Ramadan. The other aspect is the life led by Qatari citizens, who take great care to revive their age-old traditions and customs.

Qatari families renew and strengthen their ties this month, due to the frequent meetings and visits among their relatives and friends. These mutual visits help in strengthening the bonds of kinship between family members — which is an important Islamic virtue — as they meet each other nearly every day to break the fast collectively, and during the family gath-erings after the Taraaweeh prayer (voluntary night prayer).

Another distinguishing feature of Ramadan in Qatar is the sound of cannons being fired to indicate the time for breaking the fast. However, the profession of Al Musahhir (the man who used to wake up people to eat Suhoor before daybreak) has completely vanished.

Masjids usually witness an overwhelmingly large number of worshippers and religious discourses are held either before the time of

breaking the fast or after Taraaweeh prayer.

TRADITIONAL QATARI FOOD

Qatari citizens prepare for Ramadan by buy-ing various traditional food. This is noticed a few days before Ramadan, when supermarkets and malls are crowded with shoppers. There is an increasing demand for certain food items motivated by the special Ramadan offers and attractive discounts on the prices of all goods in general, and Ramadan staples in particular.

Among the most famous dishes that the Qatari people eat is Al-Harees, which is essential fare on their table in Ramadan. It consists from mashed wheat mixed with meat, clarified butter and ground cinnamon.

Another essential item on the menu in Ramadan is Ath-Thareed, which consists of tiny pieces of bread with gravy poured over it. In addition to Al-Harees and Ath-Thareed, Al-Majboos is also considered among the most popular traditional dishes, which are always present on the tables during Ramadan.

There are many types of Qatari sweets that are served in Ramadan. Among these is Al-Muhallabiyyah, which consists of rice and milk topped with saffron and cardamom. They also eat Al-Madhroobah and Al-Luqaymaat (sweet dumplings).

Immediately after the Taraaweeh prayer, the men meet together for the midnight meal called Al-Ghibqah. After that, they spend the evening in friendly conversation over Ramadan sweets. Women also meet after Taraaweeh for leisurely soirees lasting a few hours. During Al-Ghibqah, special dishes are served like Al-Mehammar, which is a dish of fried fish and rice cooked with sugar, in addi-tion to Al-Hareesah and Al-Madhroobah.

During the month of Ramadan, citizens and residents both hasten to give charity to the poor and needy people to get closer to Allah The Almighty. Besides, when the time of Iftar approaches, a variety of snacks are distributed among the fasting people who are unable to reach their homes in time to break their fast.

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Strengthening bonds of kinship

SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2014

SHARQ Village and Spa celebrates the Holy Month of Ramadan with festivities that prom-ises to delight everyone. From the majestic Seher

Al Sharq tent and extravagant buf-fet spreads to luxurious room stays, festivities at the hotel will provide an authentic Arabian experience.

Qatar Airways is proud to be named the Official Airline Sponsor of the exquisitely decorated tents during the month-long festivities at Al Dasha, Sharq Village and Spa’s ballroom.

Launching for the sixth time; this year will be the aptly named Seher Al Sharq Ramadan tent in Al Dasha ballroom. Comfortably accommodat-ing up to 200 guests seated in tra-ditional majlis settings, guests may look forward to a buffet spread like no-other.

This feast for the senses includes carving stations and over 45 differ-ent dishes from cuisines of the region as well as a varied array of fresh salads and tempting desserts, live entertainment by oriental musicians coming from Morocco – Al Awtar Al Dahabiya. Shisha aficionados may also look forward to savouring over 25 tobacco varieties.

Al Dasha Ballroom: 8:30pm to 2am. QR275 per person

IFTAR BUFFET AT AL LIWAN: Chef Ali Hadla showcases exquisitely prepared traditional hot and cold dishes including freshly made breads together with mezze, classic salads, a live cooking station, the peren-nial favourite Ouzzi and Shawarma along with grilled meats, seafood and desserts.

Sunset to 10pmQR 215 per person

PERSIAN cuisine aficionados can look forward to Meigoo Kabab from the charcoal grill with tiger prawns and butter saffron or Khoresht – E Fesenjan from the simmered clay pot with chicken breast, walnuts and pomegranate sauce.

To round off chef Moghadam’s culi-nary creations, guests may sample desserts such as Falude-Ye Shirazi, frozen vermicelli sorbet with rose water or Shole Zard, saffron rice

pudding with pistachio and almonds. As dusk falls each evening, guests

with a sweet tooth will be delighted with the dessert buffet that Al Jalsa offers. Offering a myriad of Arabic treats and fine tea blends by Tchaba including the Al Meerat Al Sharq tea.

CORPORATE hosts wishing to uphold the Arabic traditions of hos-pitality may hold private Iftar events with bespoke menus served in the elegant atmosphere of the Al Sonbok ballroom.

EID AL FITR IN STYLE

The Eid is always an ideal oppor-tunity to celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy. Sharq Village and Spa allows guests to relax and escape while being attended to by the dedicated service professionals of the resort.

An extravagant Eid buffet is served in our Ramadan Tent during the first three days of Eid Al Fitr. Executive Chef Hassan Abdallah and his team will showcase a selection of oriental delicacies including over 35 mezze, freshly baked breads, crisp salads, a sushi station, grilled seafood and

meat, and mouth-watering selections of hot dishes including whole Ouzzi lamb. A selection of puddings, tarts, chocolates and Arabic sweets are sure to delight.

Al Liwan Restaurant: 12:30pm to 4pm. QR295 per person

EID BUFFET FOR KIDS

Children will love the Eid kids’ buffet at Al Sonbok. All their favour-ite dishes will be available with face painting too.

SHISHA DIWAN

The Shisha Diwan Al Qareb offers an exclusive venue to those who like to gather with friends with wide variety of Shisha flavours prepared at your table to entertain you and your friends during a great gathering.

Al Qareb 2: June 1 to September 30, 2014 from 6pm to 2am. Entry is free. QR275 per person throughout the holy month of Ramadan

For bookings, please contact (974) 4425 6666, email rc.dohsq.reserva-tions@ritzcarlton.com or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/sharqvillage

SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2014 III

Evening delights at Sharq Village and Spa

THE feeling of thirst in the month of Ramadan becomes intense in sum-mer because the period of fasting may extend to more than 14 hours a day. The

body continues to lose water through-out these hours. At the time of Iftar (the fast-breaking meal), one is in urgent need of prompt and adequate compensation for the liquids it lost. However, it is pos-sible to help our bodies maintain water, resist the feeling of thirst, and reduce its intensity by following the principles of healthy nutrition during the month of fasting. Therefore, exerting some effort to avoid thirst would be easier than bear-ing the suffering.

OUR ALLIES AGAINST THIRST

WATER: Is the best of drinks and cannot be compensated for by any other drink. Experts recommend drinking one litre-and-a-half of water daily, prefer-ably containing mineral, salts in order to compensate the salts that the body loses,

especially while sweating. The following tips should be taken into account when dealing with water:

• Do not leave the bottle of water for a long time after opening it and drink-ing it without use because the bacteria which are present in the mouth and the environment around us can be active in it and are a source of infection.

• Wash the bottle and its lid with hot water and soap when refilling it along with changing it from time to time.

• You can add some healthy elements to the glass of water you drink, such as slices of lemon, fresh mint leaves or grated ginger.

• To get rid of the taste of chlorine pour the water into a large bowl and leave it for about one hour before drinking it.

LIQUIDS OF ALL TYPES: Particularly hydrating beverages and natural fruit juices which contain minerals. It is advis-able to avoid juices containing unnatural substances and colours, which contain large amounts of sugar. These substances damage health and cause allergies.

FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETA-BLES: It is preferable to eat fresh

vegetables and fruits at night and in the Suhoor (pre-dawn) meal. This is because they contain considerable amounts of water and fibre that remain for a long time in the intestines. This actually reduces the feeling of hunger and thirst.

Cucumber is one of the most popular vegetables that combat thirst because it soothes the thirst and cools the body. It also helps to alleviate neurological disorders, and it contains nutritious cellulose fibres which facilitate the process of digestion, expel toxins, and cleanse the intestines

DELAYING THE SUHOOR MEAL: The Sunnah recommends the Muslim to delay his Suhoor meal. Therefore, it is preferable to have this meal after mid-night, so that the fasting person will be able to resist thirst, especially in the first days of fasting. The Suhoor meal should preferably be a light meal.

THIEVES STEALING WATER FROM THE BODY

SALT: Salty foods increase the body’s need for water; therefore, it is advisable to avoid adding a lot of salt on the food

and stay away from foods with high salin-ity, such as salted fish and pickles. It is preferable to replace the salt with drops of lemon in salad as they adjust the taste just as well.

SPICES AND SEASONINGS: Meals and foods containing a large proportion of spices and condiments require drink-ing large quantities of water following ingestion. That is because these foods absorb water as they are taken, from the pharynx mouth and stomach caus-ing dryness in the body, and thus the feeling of thirst. So, the fasting person should avoid eating spicy foods which contain a lot of seasoning, especially in the Suhoor meal.

STIMULANTS: It is recommended that the fasting person reduces the amount of stimulants like tea and cof-fee because they contain caffeine, which increases the activity of the kidneys and enhances its role in the excretion of urine. Thus, stimulants increase the process of losing water from the body. It should also be noted that tea and cof-fee cannot be considered alternatives to water; because their hot nature does not allow the fasting person to drink a large amount of them.

SODA DRINKS: They contain carbon which causes flatulence and a feeling of fullness and prevents the body from using liquids. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid soda drinks during the Iftar meal.

DIRECT SUNLIGHT: The fasting person should avoid direct exposure to sunlight for long periods of time. The ways of mitigating the heat of the sun and thus avoiding thirst are as follows:

• Taking frequent showers with warm water to cool the body and using soap to get rid of body oils that may block the pores.

• Blocking out the sun from entering the house in the afternoon as much as possible by closing the blinds or curtains.

• Wearing light-coloured and loose clothes preferably made of cotton to absorb sweat.

• Resting to the extent which is com-mensurate with the effort done in order to renew the body’s dynamic energy.

6 MYTHS TO OVERCOME THIRST IN RAMADAN1. Drinking adequate amounts of liq-

uids with a high concentration of sugar hydrates the body and repels thirst.

FACT: Liquids with a high concentra-tion of sugar urge the body to increase the flow of urine and increase the feeling of thirst. Therefore, it is recommended that the fasting person eat sweets moder-ately in Ramadan as well as only drinking

small amounts of drinks with high sugar concentration.

2. Drinking plenty of water at the Suhoor meal protects from thirst dur-ing the fast.

FACT: The kidneys expel the extra water which is not needed by the body after a few hours, leading to disturbance of the fasting person during sleep because he needs to go to the bathroom. This causes fatigue during the day.

3. Drinking very cold or iced water at the start of the Iftar quenches thirst.

FACT: Drinking iced water at the beginning of the Iftar severely affects the stomach, reducing the efficiency of digestion and leading to the constric-tion of the capillaries thus causing some digestive disorders. Therefore, the water temperature should be average or only mildly cool, and the fasting person should drink it slowly, not all at once.

4. Drinking water while eating food provides a greater opportunity for good digestion.

FACT: Drinking water while eating disrupts the flow of saliva on the food such that the food does not mix well with the saliva in the mouth, and thus it is difficult to digest and the body scarcely benefits from it. Therefore, doctors advise people not to drink water while eating except for very little to help swallow the food.

5. Drinking plenty of water after the completion of the food directly helps in the process of digestion and extinguishes thirst.

FACT: Drinking plenty of water after eating directly in fact hampers the diges-tion process and prevents the digestive system from completing its function properly. That is, drinking an abundance of water prevents the secretion of gastric juices.

The correct way is that the person should drink just a little water after the Iftar to quench his thirst. The best time to drink plenty of water is about two hours after Iftar, and it is preferable that the fasting person drinks small amounts of water at intervals during the night throughout the period between the Iftar and Suhoor meals and not wait to feel thirsty before drinking water.

6. Frequent drinking of water leads to obesity.

FACT: Recent studies have shown that water plays an important role in losing weight because water helps increase the secretion of the hormone Noradrenaline which increases the activity of the nerv-ous system and increases the burning of fat, and thus helps to get rid of excess weight. WWW.ISLAMWEB.NET

BY RASHA DEWEDAR

SPIRITUAL energy, motivation, and high ambition are very cru-cial sides of Ramadan for almost every

Muslim. Having that strong will to get over our desires and even our very basic needs for the whole month is something we should use and build on to get the maximum benefits of Ramadan.

I believe Ramadan is an excel-lent and unprecedented opportu-nity for Muslims to refrain from bad habits they are used to, and to open the door for better attitudes and life style.

NO GOSSIP?It is very common for some

Muslims to avoid gossip in Ramadan as they believe it will spoil their fasting, however, they go back to gossip after Ramadan without feeling any guilt!

Well, Ramadan can be a very good start for attempts to experi-ence life without gossip and sur-prisingly, you’ll find out that you lose nothing. But, this will should last forever and we should always refrain from gossip that is not

only something Islam forbids, but also a very bad and inappropriate behaviour. Try the following tips that might help you to stop gossip.

Keep yourself busy; get engaged in useful and fruitful activities if your work doesn’t take most of your time. Focus on your own mistakes and problems and try to solve them rather than looking into people’s flaws that you won’t solve by gossip.

Make a gossip watch, in which you write down your gossip score and how much you’ve improved Invite your friends, your close friends will have a very good impact on you if you all agreed to do it together and encourage each other.

Always keep in mind that no one is perfect and everyone has his/her own defects or mistakes. So, don’t criticise people’s defects while you have your own!.

Depicting others in their absence is neither an honourable nor a courageous thing, if you want real benefit, think of a bet-ter way to deliver your message as a polite advice.

Sometimes we tend to criti-cise behaviours and attitudes of someone, which we might easily

replicate if we were in the same situation, or we might act even worse. Being judgemental is not detrimental for those whom you judge; it’s more detrimental for you. After all, it’s your deeds that will be presented to God, is that what you want God to see just to have fun for few moments?

THINK ECONOMIC ORSTOP OVERSPENDING?Moving to another subject that

is always present in Ramadan, how to go more economic in the holy month?

It’s very ironical that some Muslims spend in Ramadan double what they spend in other months and guess what? They spent the excess money on food.

The time that we should learn more about how the poor suffer hunger and need, we eat more and give away the true lesson and spirit of the holy month.

The good news though, that you can change this habit and act as a model for your family and friends.

Plan for Ramadan budget beforehand; you can have a good control early enough with a plan that extends to most of the details so you don’t have any surprises.

Include only necessary items that work for both healthy and low budget meals Reconsider things you think basic, some of them might be not. Talk with your family and children and discuss with them how you can all cooperate and plan for better

choices for more delicious treats with less money spent.

Google economic meals and you’ll find a diversity of choices that will certainly include new things that you didn’t try before

Don’t go to big supermarkets or hypermarkets frequently, make it once a month or so, because it’s more likely that you’ll be attracted by different offers and you might find yourself buying lots of things you don’t really need.

Put a strategy that helps you avoid throwing some of the food into the bin, this can be achieved by cooking adequate quantity of food and quickly pack any remaining food in a suitable con-tainer that preserves it without changing its taste for future use.

In case of family or friends gatherings, cook food that can be kept in the fridge for a while, or pack the remaining food and give it right away to the needy people nearby.

Go to more than one place when you buy groceries, clothes, or anything else. It will take you relatively long time at the begin-ning, but will save you a lot when you learn where you buy what.

CONTROL YOUR TEMPER

During Ramadan, we often find it is more common to lose our temper and start a shouting spell that almost always have an adverse effect on the children’s attitudes and manners.

I know how frustrating it might be when you want to have enough time to pray and do the house chores while having nagging or disobedient children.

Nevertheless, you can rather let them help you, but how?

Sit with your children and set them indoor and outdoor activi-ties according to their age in a way that they will be completely occupied by something they like and a goal they want to achieve.

Encourage them to give more time to prayers and Qur’an recit-ing by arranging competitions between them and their peers.

Look at Ramadan with new eyes; make it a life changing expe-rience rather than a season for more prayers and worship. Make use of this unique opportunity to have the whole family join-ing hands and working together to get over their individual mis-take and step forward in their interrelations.

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Open the door for better attitudes and lifestyle

SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2014IV

A strategy to combat thirst

THE Ritz-Carlton, Doha cel-ebrates the Holy Month of Ramadan with festivities that promise delighting everyone in an exquisite most welcoming ambience.

From the majestic tent at Al Wosail and extravagant buffet spreads, festivities at the hotel will provide an authentic Arabian experience.

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha is offering a multitude of traditional and diverse expe-riences designed to captivate the true essence of Ramadan.

Continuous live performances are pro-vided in the completely new grand pavil-ion tent that is elegantly decorated with the traditional spirit of Souq Waqif col-ours and setting.

Complementing the grand pavilion tent is an assortment of four exceptionally designed VIP tents that provide a higher level of privacy and comfort for up to eight guests, which are located in the main tent in Al Wosail ballroom.

“This year’s Ramadan tent is a devia-tion from the norm. It is built in such way as to meet the earnest need of our guests during Ramadan who look forward to experiencing something fresh and new. We have added more live entertainment and have kept the proven ones like the Tanoura Dance, Henna and thetradi-tional Arabic band,” says Subin Dharman,

Executive Assistant Manager of Food and Beverage.

There will be a diverse selection of food and beverage stations to accommodate the most demanding palate. Assortments of traditional Arabic cuisine, augmented by a selection of international delights are available from the Gazebos, located in Al Wosail foyer.

In keeping with Arabic tradition, two Sharwarma stations will also offer

mouth-watering contemporary dishes that combine a selection of meats with a wide range of accompaniments.

Quench your thirst with traditional Ramadan juices like Jelab, Karkadel, Laban, Tamer and Hindi made by an expert specifically brought in from Egypt. Alternatively, coffee severs will continu-ally parade throughout the tent offering a wide selection of Arabic teas and coffees, also with an extensive selection of Shisha available in a variety of flavours such as apple, strawberry, grape an many more.

During the month of Ramadan for those wishing to sit back and relax in the quiet of the Lobby Lounge, Arabic sweets and pastries including coffee and tea will be available from sunset to 1 am.

Habanos, La Mer restaurant, Level 23, Flamingos & The Living Room and Admiral shall be closed throughout the Holy month while Porcini restaurant will preserve the Italian custom, every day from 7pm to 11pm.

The Iftar and Sohour menus will have a five-day rotational menu to equate to every guests need and desires. Festivities at the Ramadan tent commence every evening from 9pm untill 1am. A special offer for groups throughout the Holy Month will be offered at Lagoon Restaurant.

Booking: Contact reservations on +974 4484 8000 or go to our webpage www.ritz-carlton.com/doha for more information.

SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2014 V

Arabic flavours Arabic flavours come to life at come to life at The Ritz-CarltonThe Ritz-Carlton

WI T H Ramadan under way, now is a good time to reflect

on our behaviour and the val-ues that we hold dear, making sure that they are in line with the standards that Allah the Almighty has set for us all. This can be one of the greatest chal-lenges for believers.

The world today celebrates superficiality and excess, placing greater value on material posses-sions. We often concern ourselves more with what others think of us, what we own, and our outward appearance, and less with that which pleases Allah the Almighty, which would do us the most good in this life and the next. Many of us are caught up in materialism and fail to appreciate the bounties Allah generously allows each of us to secure in this life.

We waste our time obsessively accumulating and consuming more “stuff” than we need, and wastefully tossing the excess aside rather than sharing what we have with those who are less fortunate. If you are so caught up in show-ing off your latest car, outfit, or diamond rings, how can you con-centrate your efforts on helping those in need? Where does Allah currently rank in your life?

In Ramadan, we typically spend our days fasting during the daylight hours, abstaining from food. Food is a valuable resource often taken for granted. According to a research published on the Internet, 15 percent of the world’s population have more than enough to eat, 60 percent of them have just enough to eat, while 25 percent of them do not have enough food to eat.

During the month-long fast of this blessed month, we are encouraged to turn our thoughts to those less fortunate in life who feel hunger and thirst through-out the entire year. This should create a sense of empathy so that we may provide the necessary aid and charity when a need is determined.

Many of us are blessed to be able to walk into our kitchens at any time and open a refrigerator full of food throughout the year. Having the blessing of such abun-dance can easily result in waste if we fail to remind ourselves often that this is a blessing from Allah the Almighty. It is sinful to waste such a generosity, and we as believers are expected to make good use of our resources and not be wasteful or excessive.

Islam encourages moderation

in all things. Anything over and above is considered a waste. Many celebrate the month of Ramadan with endless buffets of food, lavish nightly celebrations going on into the morning hours, etc. During these celebrations there is non-stop eating, justi-fied by the nightfall. This has a negative effect on both the body and the mind. Obesity, laziness, and a general slack attitude are often the results of this overindul-gence. We have a moral obligation

BY HASNAA HASSAN

EVERY day in Ramadan is a challenge for Muslim wives, those who get occupied with how to prepare their kitchens, so cooking Iftar becomes an

easy mission for them.However, it is somehow tricky for

some women to keep high spirituality and Ibadah on track while committing to a non-stop full time job as housewives and mothers, taking care of children and house chores, and preparing meals for the family to enjoy breaking fast together.

At the end of the day, Muslim wives find themselves spending most of their time in the kitchen, cooking Iftar, making deserts, and preparing drinks and snacks for the kids. This way, Ramadan passes and they feel sorry for not being able to seize the opportunity and make an advantage of it.

Therefore, many women try to follow some guidelines and tips from experi-enced housewives on how to sharpen their saws and manage their schedules, so that they don’t spend their daytimes busy in the kitchen. In this article, I would like to share with our readers some useful tips on how to prepare your Ramadan kitchen:

1. The 1,2,3 of your kitchenClean your kitchen and your fridge very

well. Get rid of all unwanted stuff to leave space for the food stock of the month.

Prepare different ingredients for meals for the whole week, so you just do the final steps day by day. For example, prepare in your fridge a good amount of onions, garlic, and tomato sauce. Get meat and chicken washed and spiced.

Prepare some homemade drinks like hibiscus, and leave them in the fridge.

2. Make a shopping listWrite down everything you need for

the month in a list and buy it all in once or twice. Try to be reasonable and don’t waste money.

3. Buy in BulkBut don’t overdo it and seek out fruits

and vegetables as needed. Stock up on your most commonly used ingredients like meat, rice, pasta, (pita) bread, oil, spices. List the types of meat and the amounts of each kind that you will need to cook per meal. After buying them, freeze and label everything.

4. Set Your PrioritiesPut your daily plan starting with

basic tasks followed by the less impor-tant ones to you.

5. Make a ChecklistIn this list, put basic duties as well as

extra activities. This will act as a good reminder as well as an alert if you put too much or too less tasks.

6. Decide what meals you want to cook ahead of time

Note them down on a calendar and stick to preparing those meals. Keep the essen-tials in cupboards and on shelves that are within your reach to prevent scrambling for specific ingredients. If you’re really in for the long haul, prepare certain dishes ahead of time and freeze them. This will save time, and in turn this will maximize time spent in worship.

7. Make it simpleDon’t overwhelm yourself with lists of

food items you should prepare everyday on Iftar, just make sure meals are nutritious and have all necessary elements.

8. Make use of leftoversDon’t ever throw food in the rubbish,

try to use any leftovers in other dishes or give it to the poor. And when there are none, eat simple meals.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to break his fast

with dates, milk, and a subsequent light meal in the spirit of disciplining one’s food intake.

Eat simply. Drink soup. Eat fruit for dessert. It is healthier for your body and also shortens your kitchen time.

9. Clean while cookingCleanup is tough during Ramadan,

so clean while you cook to spare your-self from a mess after getting out of the kitchen. Time is truly the essence of this month.

10. Put a schedule to your appoint-ments and visits

Avoid unnecessary outings, and put definite times if you can. Make it clear to your family and friends that Ramadan is a very special time to you and that you’d rather give more time to prayers and related activities than outings.

11. Prepare for the family visits ahead of time

Inviting guests to Iftar is rewarding, however, it can be a great load as well, unless you have a good plan for it. Cook simple meals that do not need much time or effort. Prepare some or most of the dishes one day before the visit if you can.

Get someone to help you with prepar-ing, lifting, and washing the dishes if fea-sible, and if you have kids, let them help you as well.

12. Eat wellHealthy food will give you the energy to

work, pray, and do all your duties. Avoid eating junk food and food with big amount of fats as much as you can, this kind of diet will make you more sleepy and lazy in addition to its health hazards.

13. Finally, take some restEnough sleeping hours are very impor-

tant for you to be able to complete the whole month with the same pace.

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to avoid participating in such overindulgence.

Many of us are falling into negative spending habits as a result of aggressive advertise-ments and commercials. The fashion industry contributes to waste by creating trends con-sumers cannot live without one season, then labelling them as out of style the next.

This merry-go-round of trying to stay on top of what is the lat-est style while keeping track of

what is no longer in fashion not only increases the accumulation of “disposable clothing” which is no longer worn simply because of prevailing fashion trends.

There is nothing wrong with liking beautiful clothing and making an effort to look nice, but we must be careful not to go to extremes in our appearance. No one can reasonably keep up with the rapidly multiplying styles being cranked out by the fashion industry. It is also quickly drag-ging consumers deeper into finan-cial debt.

Two negative characteristics of those who indulge in this sort of extravagance are vainglory and showiness. Ramadan is an opportunity to take some time to distinguish our true needs from our wants and reexamine the way we utilise our resources in order to avoid being wasteful and extravagant. We must also remember our obligation to our Muslim brothers and sisters here and in other countries that are in need and rely on our generos-ity. Here are a few suggestions

for consideration this Ramadan:EAT LESS: Be mindful of the

tendency to overeat when break-ing the fast at the end of each day. Remember the Prophet’s (PBUH) advice regarding filling our stomachs with 1/3 of food, 1/3 of water, leaving the other third for breath.

DONATE FOOD: After a large meal following Iftar (fast-breaking meal) where large amounts of perishable food are left over, find a local shelter or mosque to donate the leftovers to. Non-perishable items could be donated to a local food bank.

DONATE CLOTHING: If you have an overabundance of clothes in good repair that you no longer wear, donate them to your local Masjid, or contact your Masjid to find out how to find Muslims in need of clothing, scarves and other items. Consider organising a clothing drive.

Many cities have refugees that come into the country with nothing, or perhaps there are many women’s shelters (Muslim and non-Muslim) where such

clothing might be of help to someone. Organise a food and clothing drive for Muslim brothers and sisters worldwide who are in need

As we know, many of our brothers and sisters are suffering due to effects of war or natural disasters. Organising an event to gather food, clothing, household, personal care/hygiene products, and financial aid to these areas is a good way to share resources and wealth. Set up a discussion group or seminar for youth on the topic of consumerism and its effects. There is no way to avoid the aggressive marketing and advertising tactics that are put into place to get us to spend more money in order to accumulate more things.

The solution is to educate others and ourselves on the marketing industry, their true purpose, and teach others how to filter the messages being presented so that we do not be victimised. Preparing our youth against these ruthless tactics is essential.

WWW.ISLAMWEB.NET

Many celebrate the month of Ramadan with endless buffets of food, lavish nightly celebrations going on into the morning hours, etc. During these celebrations there is non-stop eating, justified by the nightfall. This has a negative effect on both the body and the mind. Obesity, laziness, and a general slack attitude are often the results of this overindulgence.

Make your kitchen always ready

SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2014VIII

Curb extravagance and waste of food

BY AMIRA AYAD

HAVING awareness of how to prepare our bodies physiologically and our daily diets for the month of fasting is highly essential for

enhancement of functions of our organs and their internal processes.

To tackle this important topic, Dr. Amira Ayad, a pharmacist, nutrition specialist and natural health consult-ant provides answers to questions in an email-based live clinic session.

• I suffer from Type II Diabetes , how can I prepare myself for Ramadan fasting?

The most important factor in type II Diabetes in controlling blood sugar level (BSL). I am not sure about the dosage and timing of your medication, but, I guess like most of type II diabetes patient, you take your medication once or twice a day. In this case, it would be no problem to gradually shift the time of the medication to be at the time of suhoor and Iftar.

In most countries the difference is about 10 hours so this should be fine. If you take your medicine more than twice a day or you suffer from any other com-plications please consult your physician first before undergoing any changes.

Second, you should concentrate your carbohydrate intake on what we call low

glycemic index foods. These are the car-bohydrates that slowly release glucose in the blood like whole wheat, barley, brown rice, beans and legumes.

Avoid simple sugars and refined carbo-hydrates like white flour, syrups... which cause rapid rise in BSL and pauses stress on your pancreas.

Eat lots of fresh green vegetables, ber-ries and add cinnamon to your desserts, 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon a day is proven to help balance BSL. Consume adequate amount of protein with each meal (20-30 percent) of your diet. Alternate between vegetable sources (like legumes, nuts, and beans), meat poultry and fish. Make sure your diet contains lots of fibre as they are known to stabilize and balance your BSL.

Other foods that help stabilise BSL include berries, brewer’s yeast (great source of B vitamins), dairy especially cheese, egg yolk, fish, garlic, kelp, beans and vegetables (not root or starchy vegetables).

Finally, always keep something sweet handy and if at any time of the day you feel any sign of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) like dizziness, headache, fainting, nausea... don’t hesitate to break your fast as your body is sending you a warning signal.

• How can I avoid feeling thirsty in these summer days of fasting?

Ensure good hydration during Iftar and suhoor. Drink at least 8 cups of water during your non-fasting hours in addition to any other fluids like juices and herbal teas. Avoid drinks that cause dehydra-tion like coffee and tea and sweetened soft beverages like cola or at least mini-mize your intake to a maximum of 1 or 2 cups.

Avoid the intake of too much sweet foods, simple carbohydrates and sugars. Ensure good intake of fiber-rich food like fresh vegetables, beans, legumes...And, in general avoid over exertion and too much sun and heat exposure.

• Would it be effective to consume more meals before Ramadan?

Not at all. Our body processes its food on a daily or even hourly basis, the extra

intake is stored as fats. So any extra calo-ries you consume before Ramadan won’t delay or avoid hunger.

• What are the diets I’d better avoid?The diets to avoid include junk food,

refined sugars, simple carbohydrates, empty calories (food with only calories but no nutritional values) and synthetic chemicals. These foods mess up with your blood sugar level and hormones includ-ing the hormones that help you control stress level, regulate mood and adjust appetite and metabolism. In addition, synthetic chemicals like flavour enhanc-ers and sweeteners over-stimulate your taste buds causing you to feel hungry more frequently and delay satiety.

• Is it beneficial or useless to drink big quantity of water in Suhur to help me cope with the hot daytime while fasting?

It is actually essential to drink a lot of water during suhoor, but as our golden Islamic rule always applies: moderation and balance is the key. Please refer to question number 5 for more tips to help you avoid thirst and dehydration.

It is useful to also know here that your body’s ability to tolerate thirst and hun-ger greatly increases during Ramadan fasting. As a result of your sincere inten-tion to fast, your mind gives the order to your body for affecting a total shift in metabolic rate and physiology making you less susceptible to fatigue and more able to withstand the absence of water than you would on a regular day.

• Are there specific goods and foods that I shall avoid in order not to get thirsty?

Yes, diuretic drinks like tea and coffee;

sweetened soft beverages like cola; too much simple sugars and sweets; too salty foods and pickles, food containing syn-thetic chemicals and flavour enhancers.

• Do I need to stop any habits which might cause any problem for my body while fasting?

Shifting to a healthy lifestyle in gen-eral is advisable. Concerning your dietary habits, avoid snacking and in between meals, shift to whole foods and avoid refined carbohydrates and simple sug-ars, reduce your intake of coffee, tea or soft drinks.

It is also advisable to synchronise our sleeping and resting pattern with the day and night cycle, waking up for Fajr prayer and avoiding too much TV time at night.

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SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2014 IX

Health clinic: Questions and answers

BY RASHA DEWEDAR

MU S L I M S all over the world began R a m a d a n with unprec-edented moti-

vation and high hopes to do many things and to get the maximum of this holy month. However, inten-tions are not enough! Women, like everyone else, have high expec-tations for the blessed month, as well as more loads and duties.

Achieving what you want in Ramadan is strongly related to time management and realistic plans.

Women have more duties in Ramadan, especially if they are working, however, they still have several opportunities for getting rewards, which makes it even more important for them to arrange and coordinate diversity of activities only in one month.

Charity is a widely open door in which women can participate by different ways. Cooking food for needy people, collecting money from relatives and friends for charitable reasons, among other activities.

Women have also a very impor-tant and crucial role in helping their children understand what Ramadan is all about, and in organising activities and enter-taining activities relevant to the holy month.

Ramadan is considered an excellent opportunity for kids to live 30 days in a comprehensive experience that includes fasting, praying, playing, and helping oth-ers either physically or financially.

Time management is not only

how you manage your time in Ramadan, but extends to how you manage to decrease your tasks and duties during the holy month.

Everyone has different priori-ties, abilities, and circumstances, nevertheless, you can tailor the following tips to your life style.

Pray that Allah grants you Baraka in your time.

• Don’t go to one of the extremes; don’t put very high expectations that you are unlikely to make, be always sure you are not a superwoman (no one actu-ally is). You are not helpless as well, you can achieve a lot if you put realistic plan that goes along with your abilities, responsibili-ties, and circumstances.

• Make it simple, don’t over-whelm yourself with lists of food items you should prepare every-day on Iftar, just make sure meals are nutritious and have all neces-sary elements.

• Get your kitchen prepared; prepare different ingredients for meals before Ramadan, so that in Ramadan, you just do the final steps.

• Keep your home organised; this way you can get things eas-ier and save time of searching for items.

• Set your priorities. Put your plan starting with basic tasks fol-lowed by less important to ‘you’. Don’t schedule what you think less prior, just focus on more important things and get them done efficiently.

• Put a schedule to your appointments and visits; avoid unnecessary outings, and put defi-nite dates and times if you can.

Make it clear to your family and friends that Ramadan is a

very special time to you and that you’d rather give more time to prayers and related activities and you can postpone gatherings and errands and do it afterwards.

• Be smart when you invite; inviting guests to Iftar no doubt has a great thawab, and spread happiness to both you and your guests, and it can be a great load as well, unless you have a good plan for it.

Cook simple meals that do not need much time or effort. Prepare some or most of the dishes one day before if you can, so you don’t have all the work on the same day. Dish parties are an excellent choice in this case, where everyone gets a dish and you all share cooking and you also share thawab.

• Make a checklist in which you put basic duties as well as extra activities, and make one for each child, this will act as a good reminder as well as an alert if you put too much or too less tasks.

Don’t say tomorrow, if you have a task, do it immediately, this will even give you a push to do more.

• Take some rest; enough sleep-ing hours are very important for you to be able to complete the whole month with the same pace.

• Eat well. healthy food will give you the energy to work, pray, and do all your duties. Avoid eat-ing junk food and food with big amount of fats as much as you can, this kind of diet will make you more sleepy and lazy in addi-tion to its health hazards. After managing your time a way or another, help others to do the same, especially family members.

• Exercise. Many people think Ramadan is absolutely the

wrong time to exercise, this is not true. You can have few min-utes of stretching or any kind of work outs that makes your body stronger and make you feel better.

FOR WORKING WOMEN:

Needless to say that working women have a harder job that need more care and control. The good news however, is that work-ing women are mostly used to time management, checklists, and arranging tasks beforehand.

• Working efficiently is an important gate to Paradise, so be always sure that you are doing a great job which will essentially reflect on your psychology in a positive way.

• Set your schedule carefully, according to your working hours so that you have adequate time to sleep, work, and good time to spend with your family.

• Make use of the time of breaks and transportation in reading the Holy Quran and Dhikr.

• Help your Muslim colleagues make the most of the holy month by exchanging information, and encouraging each other.

• Get your family involved; you can get the help of your family members in household responsibilities.

You should always know that time management is not a tool for more duties to accomplish. It’s rather a system that helps you having a clear vision of what you want to do, identify your responsibilities, feel productive, which will finally grant you con-trol over your life with a sense of empowerment.

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RAMADAN is the best month to train your child and teach him how to overcome the desires of his body

and develop his ability to shoulder responsibility.

It has been proven that the month of Ramadan is the best time to train children to per-form religious obligations at an early age. Modern studies and field research have proved that the psychological and physical growth of those children who fast during the month of Ramadan is much better than those who do not and that they are therefore more responsible. The age of 10 is the best time to start training the child to fast, because at this age fasting will not cause any health problems for the child.

How to monitor your child?First: The mother should moni-

tor her child during the fast. If she feels that he is visibly tired or sick due to the fast, she must make him break his fast immediately. We must also pay attention to the fact that there are some diseases that prevent a child from fast-ing particularly kidney diseases, because a person suffering from such diseases needs water all the time. This also applies to those who suffer from diabetes, tuber-culosis, anemia, gastric ulcers and similar diseases as diagnosed by a specialist doctor.

Second: Training the child to fast should be gradual, because increasing the hours of fasting day after day and year after year helps to create balance in the body regarding the physiological changes that happen due to the fast. Consequently, the child will be able to fast without any nega-tive health effects or exhaustion. This will also make him taste the sweetness of fasting.

Third: The mother should not fear for her child due to the fast under the pretext that he is still young, she would be surprised when she sees his enthusiasm to imitate his parents and older brothers and sisters who fast. This will also accustom the child to the beloved traditions of this great month such as the family gathering around the table at the Suhoor and Iftar meals, not to mention the popular traditions that distinguish every Muslim country.

Fourth: We have to break our fast as early as possible by hav-ing some ripe or dried dates, fruit juice or small amounts of sweetened water slowly. The child should not drink iced water immediately at the time of Iftar (breaking fast) because this dis-turbs the digestive system and hinders digestion. It is preferred to have warm liquids such as soup first because such foods stimulate the stomach.

Fifth: The Iftar meal should be balanced and provide the child with the necessary calories. It is recommended that the Iftar contains proteins (pulses, meat or chicken) that help in building new tissue and making up for those that have been destroyed. It should also contain vegetables, fruits, and starches (bread, rice and pasta) in addition to very few fats.

Sixth: The Suhoor meal should be delayed as much as possible. This meal should be rich and sati-ating and it should also contain proteins, sugars and fats that can be found in eggs, beans, yoghurt, vegetables and fruits. It is also recommended to have dairy prod-ucts as they contain a high per-centage of the proteins, fats and liquids that secure the needs of the child. These products are also considered integrated foods and they cover a long period of fasting.

Seventh: The Suhoor meal

should not contain any pickles or spicy foods because they cause thirst. It is also recommended at that time to have small amounts of liquids repeatedly, particularly fruit juice or water, to make up for the deprivation of water during the whole day. If it is necessary to have some sweets (kunaafah, kadayf, and so on), this should be after the Iftaar and not in the Suhoor meal so as not to feel thirsty the next day.

Eighth: The physical activity of the child should be reduced dur-ing the fast, but mental activities are allowed because they are not exhausting. Hence, children can study before Iftar.

Ninth: Finally, the mother should be keen on waking up her child to have the Suhoor meal and getting him accustomed to see-ing his family members practic-ing this great religious rite until he himself becomes acquainted with the religious practices of this blessed month.

We should also make use of the opportunity of the month of Ramadan to train the child in observing the prayers on time in addition to the fast. We should also teach him how to recite the Holy Quran and recognise the sublime meanings of the fast to implant the values of mercy and kindness to the poor and the needy in his soul.

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For Women: Tips and advice

Training children to fast

Total Time: 4 hrs 40 mins Prep Time: 40 minsCook Time: 4 hrs Servings 6-8

INGREDIENTS:1 kg lamb or 1 kg chicken, on the bone 1 kg whole wheat (called ‘habb

harees’ ) or 1 kg pearled durham wheat (called ‘habb harees’ )

150 gram ghee (or traditional samen) Ssalt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste water, as needed

Extras Option 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons roasted ground cumin Option 2 3-4 whole bruised cardamom pods 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon sugar

METHOD1. Soak wheat overnight in plenty

of water. 2. In a large pot, place pre-soaked

& drained wheat, add 1 & 1/2 litre of water & boil until the wheat is

beginning to fluff up & soften — skim off any foam or skummy bits on the surface!

3. Soak the lamb/chicken in plenty of lightly salted water whilst the wheat is cooking.

4. When the wheat is fluffy, rinse & drain the meat.

5. In a large, heavy bottomed pot (or special harees pot), place the wheat & the meat with a little salt & pepper and enough water to come about 5cm above the wheat & meat. Cover with a tight fitting lid — you can place a damp cloth or aluminium foil over the pot & then place the lid over that of the lid is not a tight fit.

6. Bring to a boil, reduce heat & cook on a very low heat for 3 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally & skim-off froth or fat on the surface.

7. Once the wheat is very soft & has lost it’s shape & most of the water has been absorbed, remove from heat & allow to cool a little, then remove any bones & grissle. (If all the water has been absobed add about 1/2 cup — 1 cup of boiling water — if there is too much water but the wheat is cooked, ladle out the excess water.)

8. Shred the lamb or chicken if any larger pieces remain - there shouldn’t

really be any as almost all of it will have ‘melted’ into the wheat.

9. Now begin whipping the wheat & meat until it forms a homogenous, slightly elastic, paste-like consistency - add a little salted boiling water to thin it down if required. Use a large wooden spoon, or pound it with a wooden rolling pin to get the desired consistency. You could also pulse it in a food processor or use an immersion blender but if you are lucky enough, you might have a medhrab which is specially for harees.

10. Check the seasoning & re-sea-son if desired. Transfer to a warmed serving pot, cover & keep warm.

11. Place the ghee in a pan & sea-son to taste with salt & pepper (& any of the spices listed below). Gently warm the ghee & mix well.

12. Pour the seasoned ghee over the harees & serve immediately.

13. N.B : You can serve the harees with 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon & 2 tsp roasted ground cumin seeds, or 3-4 whole bruised cardamom pods added to the ghee (remove the podes before serving!). You can also serve harees with plenty of sugar & cinnamon.

Cooking at home:Al Harees

SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2014X