'Ramadan Mubarak': Prince Charles sends well wishes to Muslims across the Commonwealth this holy month


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

Britain's Prince Charles has shared a video message, wishing Muslims across the UK and the Commonwealth a happy and healthy Ramadan.

"I just wanted to convey my heartfelt best wishes to you all," he says in the video message, "and to tell you just how much my wife and I are thinking of you at this special time of year."

The royal posted the video on social media on Friday, April 24, the first day of Ramadan, after joining a virtual iftar where the message was first shared. The video was posted with the hashtag "#RamadanAtHome".

The Prince of Wales then touched upon the coronavirus pandemic, and the ways it may affect typical Ramadan celebrations.

"In different circumstances, this would have been a joyous time," he said. "Mosques would be filling with life, Muslim families would be coming together to share food and prayers and many of them would be inviting their neighbours and friends, of all faiths and none, to join them.

"This year, of course, due to our ongoing public health crisis, none of this will be possible in the usual way."

In March, Prince Charles tested positive for Covid-19. By Wednesday, April 1, the future king confirmed that he had recovered, having only suffered mild symptoms.

The video message goes on to pay tribute to the many Muslim healthcare and key workers in the NHS and further afield, offering his "profound admiration".

He goes on to send his "deepest of sympathies" to the families of those who have lost loved ones to the "pernicious virus".

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans
Jasmin Mujanović, Hurst Publishers

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat