Ask Ali: Tips for how to weather the sandstorms and can non-Muslims use Islamic banking?

Dear Ali: Recently, I experienced a sandstorm in the UAE. It wasn’t a strong one, but I was a little scared, as I had no idea what to expect. What should you do if you’re walking in the street during a storm? DE, Dubai

Dear DE: I think for many visitors to the UAE, sandstorms are a new experience. However for us, it is a part of our life in the desert. Usually it doesn’t cause major harm, though to avoid any inconvenience we do have certain habits that are practised when we’re expecting a storm.

Sandstorms are clouds of sand and dust that move like whirling walls. Its power can even move a whole sand dune, changing the landscape and posing the risk of getting lost in the middle of the desert. That’s why our ancestors were well aware of alternative ways to find a way in the desert when moving from place to place – for example, by following the stars. Now, there’s not a big need to possess all the knowledge of sandstorm survival in the desert, though there are some tips for when a sandstorm occurs.

Despite all the precautions, sandstorms are natural occurrences that are easy to get over when following these few rules.

First of all, regardless of how long the storm lasts – several minutes or hours – the skin should be covered. Your eyes, mouth and nose should be also protected from the sandy air, as it might irritate them. When inside a car or any building, the windows should be tightly closed for the whole duration of the storm, otherwise the sand will fly in and cover all surfaces.

Emiratis’ traditional clothes perfectly match the environment we live in, from top to toes. The gutra, which is our daily head cover, is a handy thing to cover the face from any dusty weather; and the naal, our special shoes, are absolutely perfect for wearing in the desert.

Dear Ali: I’ve just heard about Islamic banking and can’t figure out the main differences between it and commercial banking. Can a non-Muslim have an Islamic bank account? WM, Abu Dhabi

Dear WM: Islamic banking is not a new practice. More and more countries have started using the Sharia-compliant finance system because of its clear policies that are beneficial and convenient for both parties – customers and banks.

So what’s the main difference between Islamic banks and conventional ones? Briefly speaking, Islamic banks don’t charge or give interest. It might sound strange for banking, but it’s not when we understand the concept of profit-sharing that Islamic banks follow.

Let’s say, you want to buy a car. The bank will actually buy this car for you, instead of giving you the money. Then the bank will sell you the car on an instalment basis at a marginally higher overall price. Hence you get the car and the chance to pay off its set price for as long as you need. This system is protected from any sudden increase in the instalments.

The religion of an account holder doesn’t play any part here. However, it wouldn’t be allowed for an Islamic bank to invest in a business that operates activities that are forbidden in Islam, such as selling or purchasing alcohol or pork.

A quarter of all banks in the UAE are Islamic. These banks are internationally recognised and have branches all over the world. So if you’re planning to open an account, you’re welcome to try any Islamic bank.

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 him a question.

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