Ramadan – what to drink, how to behave and the tragic events in Yemen – were the biggest stories on social media.
Yemen’s agony
It was the night before Ramadan and four car bombs, which were timed to coincide with sunset prayers, went off in Sanaa. ISI, or Daesh in Arabic, claimed responsibility for the atrocities, which left 31 dead and wounded dozens, even as the Twitterverse repeated its plea for peace – or at least a Ramadan ceasefire – in Yemen.
@TTaaaaRq tweeted bleakly: So Ramadan in Yemen has started with suicide bomb blasts in four mosques.
And in a reference to the attack on a building reportedly used as the headquarters of the Houthis @press__c said “Daesh has disabled the Houthis”.
@almadaorg said that now, more than ever, a humanitarian ceasefire was needed and the Russians and Americans had been discussing it.
@News_Sa24 wondered if there was any hope to be read into the fact that the Geneva talks between representatives of the Houthis and exiled president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi would continue for another day.
But @ALAYYAM_net commented on the country’s dismal reality, pointing out that things were going downhill now that an alleged ISIL ally was able to surprise the Houthis and Yemen’s former president Saleh “with new tricks”.
@japr_almeshal sent a fervent prayer to Muslim countries around the world facing conflict, instability and political trouble: “May Allah protect our brothers and sisters in Syria, Iraq, Burma, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Gaza.”
Ramadan Kareem
Social media will probably get much more inventive about Ramadan in the weeks ahead. Watch out for Week One fasting selfies and lots of new hashtags. But for now, the start has been marked by lots of discussion on what it really means to fast.
Reem @Rgattarneh explained that fasting “forces you to forget about food and remember who you are and why you’re here.”
@Mister__khan suggested that with all the sacrifices, Ramadan was “a month of forgiving, of healing, of changing, of reflecting, of helping, of improving, of reviving and of remembering.”
@Mooni_lb decided to use the first day of Ramadan to acknowledge past mistakes by sending a general note seeking forgiveness from “all those whom I ever made sad, if even for a day”.
Yosra @AfterHardship mused on one of the little realised problems of this month — socialising a little bit too much and enjoying its so greatly that you’re sad when Ramadan ends. “The danger isn’t in becoming more inward-looking during Ramadan, “ he tweeted, “it’s spending too much time with people and enjoying it a lot.”
Food for thought
If a month can be said to have a favourite drink, for Ramadan it has to be Vimto.
It tastes different doesn’t it during Ramadan said @Lara_M7.
@9999_a7md suggested giving another drink a try, something Zahra @S2ktfyBk408 seconded, whilesuggesting healthier options such as any kind of natural juice. Omar @Dantani mused on overindulging in the sugary hit and tweeted that the whole month was probably going to be marked by zombie-like behaviour with everyone drinking Vimto and no one doing any work.
Several strands of discussion started to suggest suitable replacements for Vimto.
@ysf_SG8 named Sunquick juice, Nade @nadayaseen15 tweeted Suntop juice and Ohood @ohoodhady and @TriixO_ were united in their appreciation of Tang.
Sara @se123941 and @bahalkarbalia suggested laban (yogurt) but @ghalazayed11 said there could be no better, more healthful drink than water”.
Khalid @itii1992 was jokey. By the time the day’s fast ends it doesn’t make any difference to me, he tweeted, “whatever I find in front of me I will drink it.”
And Mohamed @Moehassan1991 didn’t care much about drinks but iftar food: “Ramadan is here and you know what that means - it’s samosa season.”
Sarah Khamis is The National’s social media editor
salalawi@thenational.ae
On Twitter: @SarahKhamisUAE
