Muezzins ring in start to Ramadan

Worshippers up before dawn for the first fajr prayers of Ramadan.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi at sunrise on the first day of Ramadan. Christopher Pike / The National
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DUBAI // Thousands of worshippers were up before dawn for the first fajr prayers of Ramadan.

At 4.11am yesterday, muezzins across the country announced the call to prayer, summoning the faithful for the first day of this year’s holy month.

Nadeem Khan, 27, was among them. The foreman at a building company said he had to rush from work to make it to Salama Mosque in Al Barsha on time.

“In Ramadan, we usually start early in the morning so that by noon prayers we can return to the camp,” said the Pakistani, who is having his fifth Ramadan in Dubai. “The first day is a bit tough but I will get used to it.

“At first I used to miss the comfort of my home a lot in Ramadan. But now I can’t imagine Ramadan away from Dubai.”

Akbar Karim, an engineer from India, said the holy month is a “fascinating time”.

“I’ve lived in the UAE for 15 years. I don’t go anywhere during Ramadan,” said Mr Karim, 40. “Here we celebrate the holy month in such a beautiful way.

Abdullah was there with his son, 9. “My son is fasting for the first time so I brought him to offer prayers. It will be a long day but this will show him the importance of Ramadan and prayers.”

The Egyptian said he and his family intended to visit different mosques for taraweeh prayers.

“Each mosque in the city offers unique experiences,” he said.

Later in the day, a canon was fired at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi to signal the end of fasting while in the Bur Dubai neighbourhood of Dubai a traditional iftar meal was served to hundreds of people at the Masjid Kuwaiti Lootah Mosque.

akhaishgi@thenational.ae