Ramadan- A testing time

Every year Muslims around the world get together to observe the holy month of Ramadan. It is that time of the year meant for complete devotion to the almighty, self-control and reflection of truthfulness and spirituality. During the month of Ramadan Muslims show their devotion to God by fasting or refraining from any kind of delicacies.

Ramadan in a way is considered important for the Muslims, as not does it only bring them closer to the almighty, but also makes them believe in the hardships faced by the poor and the destitute, thus making them a part of their prayers.

Amidst the busy streets of Bur Dubai, somewhere in the suburbs of the Rolla streets stands a very shabby building, a part of which is the Ahmed Murad grocery. Pushing through the dusty covers hanging at the door opens a very small and quite congested grocery having all the necessary food as well as certain household items stacked randomly on top of one another.

An area sufficient for maximum four people to fit in, I walked up to one of the employee’s of the grocery who was seated at the counter.


A slightly hesitant Noufal Ahmed when asked as to how Ramadan is treating him replied with a slight grim on his face that “Despite fasting through the day, sitting at the grocery from morning 11 to midnight comes as a major shortcoming to me, as I can hardly devote some time to Allah and I have to get done with my Iftar meal in half an hour thus giving me merely some time to spend with my family.

When asked whether this holy month brings any benefit of a sort, he replied; “Plenty of customers come beaming in minutes before Iftar commences which is surely a boon as well as delivery orders come in bulk during this time.

He also said that water to which Muslims have to refrain from during their fast is the best sold commodity in the month. Ahmed feels glad that he gets a little raise in salary during the month, which may not compensate with the time lost to be spent with his family but surely benefits him in a good way.