Muslims flock to Abu Dhabi mosques for this year’s first Ramadan morning prayer

Worshippers said the soaring temperatures of the UAE would not dampen their duties to Allah but only strengthen their faith in understanding the Islamic values.

Worshippers pray at Dubai’s Jumeirah mosque. Thousands of Muslims went to mosques to hear the first morning prayers of the holy month at 4.30am. Duncan Chard for The National

ABU DHABI // Following the first suhoor of Ramadan, thousands of Muslims went to mosques to hear the first morning prayers of the holy month at 4.30am on Thursday.

Worshippers said the soaring temperatures of the UAE would not dampen their duties to Allah but only strengthen their faith in understanding Islamic values.

Meder Abdul Dayef, 26, an Abu Dhabi resident from Kyrgyzstan who was in the mosque for the first morning prayer of Ramadan, was determined to complete 30 days of fasting in the UAE heat.

This is Mr Dayef’s first Ramadan in the UAE. He arrived eight months ago and chose to perform his first Umrah pilgrimage in the holy month.

“I am travelling to Mecca this evening by bus to perform Umrah for the first time,” said Mr Dayef. He woke up at 3am for suhoor.

“Since I moved to the UAE I loved the environment which prompted me to perform Umrah and now I have the opportunity for this,” said Mr Dayef who started fasting when he was 14.

“I’ll be fasting the whole month. First ten days, I would spend in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah. I am new here so I am learning more and more about my religion,” said Mr Dayef.

This year again Ramadan is at the height of the summer, but the devout are determined to complete all fasting days.

“It’s hard and a testing time for us, but Allah gives us strength to fast, we are going to respond dutifully. It’s an opportunity Allah bestowed us to observe fast this year again. Who knows what will happen next year. So I feel fortunate to fast,” said Mohammed Saleem, an Indian.

All the city’s mosques register a wider footfall for Fajr prayers on the first day of Ramadan.

“Huge gathering of people is because of “barakah of Ramadan” (Ramadan blessings). The number of worshippers mosques reached to few thousands for Fajr, while during regular days for similar prayers only a few hundred turn up,” Mr Saleem said.

Adhan (call for prayer) of Fajr at dawn, abstains eating until dusk. Fasting Muslims break their fast when the Maghrib prayers' adhan is called.

Mr Saleem said, “I slept for few hours only today. I went to bed at 12 midnight and woke at 3am (Thursday) for suhoor and Fajr prayer.” He has lived in the UAE for 20 years.