Ask Ali: What do Ramadan iftars include and is it true that most UAE marriages are arranged?

Dear Ali: I always see UAE restaurants advertising special Ramadan iftars and wonder what exactly does Ramadan iftar mean and what does it include. Are there any specific dishes we can find in any of them? And is there any food we may not eat during the iftar? RO, Dubai

Dear RO: Ramadan is the month of fasting, but only from sunrise to sunset. When the sun goes down, Muslims are allowed to break their fast. We call it iftar, which literally means “break fast” which, as you can see, is the same idea in English for the morning meal, breakfast.

To break the fast, it is advised to avoid heavy food and start with a light meal consisting of dates, water, salad, yogurt and soup. So we should have some of those things before eating a full meal. However, during the actual period of fasting during daylight, we may feel tired but we are also excited about the upcoming Iftar. And of course we anticipate eating our favourite dishes. Restaurants know this and so that’s what they offer us. This is definitely the time of year when you can try their best recipes.

Customs for the food eaten after the fast differ from country to country. In such a multinational country as the UAE, you can find all kinds of world cuisines, with their own special Ramadan dishes. But for us, traditional Emirati dishes are an essential part of any iftar meal, including machboos, biriyani, harees and lugaimat.

We would not drink or eat anything that is forbidden to us by our religion, such as alcohol, pork or non-halal meat. We avoid these things completely, not just for Ramadan. Have a blessed Ramadan and generous iftars.

Dear Ali: Is it true that most marriages in the UAE are arranged? And do I have chance to get married here if my family is in another country? LN, Abu Dhabi

Dear LN: I will maybe surprise you by saying that most of the marriages all over the world are arranged. How did it happen? People did it. We are perhaps introduced to strangers by mutual friends and straight away we might find that we have things in common. A good attitude can grow into love and marriage. That’s how it happens here … but with a little difference. Our parents and relatives are constantly searching for the perfect match and make beautiful introductions – which often succeed.

Arranged marriage doesn’t mean a bad marriage or a loveless one. Actually it’s the opposite: it is often a strong relationship based on respect. Love is also there … because, when two people meet, they spend time together, but not only “behind closed doors”. If they believe that they match each other, preparation for the marriage begins. Some will take months, others may take years. At the end, everything depends on the couple’s decision.

Yes, you can also get married here even if your family is far away. Just make sure you don’t leave them unaware and try your best to introduce them to your future spouse’s family before the wedding day.

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.

weekend@thenational.ae